The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-01-26

lie, WlidlcNCl lucy dIc.
A liveried attendant bowed them u
the steps.
In the heart of a silence as deep q
a bottomless pool, with the black hour
that tiptoe on the heels of midnigh
limbs trembling and her hands reluC
tant, Sadie Barnet knocked lightly a
her door, once, twice, thrice, and be
tween each rap her heart peat witt
twice its tempo against her breast.
Then her stealthy hand turned tn,
white china knob and released it S,
that it sprang backward with a click
who's that?"
me, Dee Dee"
She could hear the plong Of the bed
spring, the patter of bare feet across
the floor; feel the slight aperture Of
the opening door. She oozed through
the slit.
"All right, Dee Dee"
God! l must have been sound
asleep. What time is it?'
at isn't late, Dee Dee"
Light the gas"
IL can undress In the dark
Light the gas"
Il"
Light it, | say"
Its lit, Dee Dee"
The figure In the center of the room,
In her high-necked, long-sleeved night
dress, her sparse hair drawn with I'M
pleasant tension from her brow, her
pale eyes wide, moved forward q step,
one bare foot, calloused ever across
the instep, extended.
"Lit?"
dee Dee, what's the matter9"
"Gimme-my glasses"
She tool them from Miss Barnet's
trembling fingers and curved them
about her ears.
"Quit your nonsense now and light the
gas. I amt in no humor for foolin'.
Quit waving that little spark in front
of me. Light the gas. I amt going to
look at the clock. I'm done worrying
about your c~arryings-on. I'm done.
Light the gas, Sadie, there's a good
girl. Light the gas"
dee Dee! My God! Dee Dee, I
/ tell you it's lit-big."
There's a good girl, Sadie. Don't
fool your old aunt"
"See, dearie, I amt fooling. See, the
gas-jet here beside the dresser. Look
! can't turn it no higher. Hear it sing
and splutter. You amt awake good
yet, Dee Dee"
Silence-the ear-splitting silence that
all in its brief moment is crammed
with years and years upon years. A
cold gray wash seemed suddenly to
flow wei Miss Worries face.
"Put my finger next to the gas flame.
You-you're lying to me toto fool
your old aunt. Lemme feel my finger
get burnt"
They moved, these two, across the
floor, their blanched faces straining
ahead. With the sudden sting of heat
finally across her palm, reddening 1t,
Miss Worte flung wide her arms and
her head backward, and her voice tore
out without restraint.
God! God! God!" And she fell to
trembling so that her knees gave way
under her and she crouched on the
floor with her face barred to the ceiling,
rocking herself back and forth, beating
her fists against her fiat breasts.
"Godl God God!"
"Dee Dee darling, it amt nothing!
A little too much strain, that's all.
'Shh-h-h Lemme battle them. 'Shh-h-h,
my darling. Oh, my God darling!
'Shh-h-hl'
"Lemme go! Lemme go! He told
me today 1t would come like this Only
didn't say how soon. Not how soon.
I'm done for, / tell you! I'm donei
Kill me, Sadie; if you love me, kill me!
He told me and / wouldn't believe It'll
Kill me, girl, and put me out of It'll
/ can't breathe In the dark | can't!
/ can't! / can't live in the dark with
my eyes open! Kill me, girl, and put
me out of it-kill me! XIII mel"
dee Dee, my darling. amt l right
here with you? Didn't you always say,
darling, when it came you-you'd face
it?'
"Im donei Kill me! Kill mel Don't
make me live in the dark with my
eyes open-don't! There's a good girl,
Sadie. Don'tl Don't! Don'tl"
From the room adjoining came q
at the barred door between.
"Cut it, in thereI This amt M bar
Go tell your d. It's to q police
They crouched closer and trembling.
@'Shh-h-hi Dee Dee darling, try to
be easy and not raise the house-try!"
Miss Worte lay back exhausted
Miss Barnet's engulfing arms.
mMMMMMMNM