The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-06-04
Continued From Our Last Issue))

still somewhat short of nine pre-.
posterous 10 credit that lapse Of time
so little could have wrought the trans
formation of life's kindly countenance
at close OF day to its present cast,
SO bleak, forbidding and implacable :. &.
Lucinda slipped into her sitting room,
turned the key. found the switchbox
year the door, and in an abrupt blaze
of illumination stood startled beyond
speech. face to face with Nelly Marquis.
One OF Nelly's hands was planted flat
against the wall; the other, a begrimed
fist, was fumbling at her mouth. Those
eyes whose haunted beauty had first
laid claim TO ones humanity were now
black pools of pathos in face whose
chalkiness was runneled by tears.
Lucinda started back to the door but
the woman plunged down TO grovel at
her feet.
-. Mrs. Druce! I'm all right now
am, | swear l am! Forgive me, and
for Gods sake don't turn me out. don't
call the police, Did | hurt him bad?"
Desperately" Lucinda replied.
"Whether he'll live or not We don't
know yet
You left him that way Oh. my
God"
Are you reproaching me?" Lucinda
retorted in ama2ement--"as II It had
been / who shot your husband"
My husbandr' Nelly shrlled. IT'S
yours I'm talking abcet, it's Mr.. Druce.
It's not knowing how bad ! hurt him
that's driving me crazy | didn't
hardly know who ne was while we were
fighting =" She drove her knuckles
against her mouth.
Lynn got what was coming to him.
Lynn never treated any woman so
mean, and l guess it was right his pun
shment should come from me. / amt
a bit sorry, hope he dies Do you
do you think he will?'
To the implicit hope that gave vaunt'
ed impenitence the lie, Lucinda return.
ed. in a low tone and against her wish,
the one word, Probably
Il don't care" Nelly walled. 1T was
Mr.. Druce I came here to find out
about Please tell me how bad he's
hurt?'
Not much--a flesh wound in the
arm"
Thank God it wasn't worse. I'd
never have given myself. never :"
Are you in love with him, them"
Lucinda demanded inexorably is Bel
in love with you?"
With hysterical note in the laugh
that scorned this notion, NO, no"
Nelly cried. "He isn't that sort.
don't know what the trouble was be.
tween you two, but 1t wasn't another
woman Mr.. Druce never as much as
held my hand"
Lucinda stood pitiful. contemplating
the creature who huddled in the chair,
shivering, whimpering little, gnawing
at her knuckles. with the dazed eyes
Of an animal hunted 10 Its last gasp.
A murderess by intention, whom the
word OF any moment might prove a
murderess in fact ..
Incomprehenslble the alchemy Of the
human heart, Lucinda was making up
her mind to help sinner circumvent
the Justice Of the social order
The telephone sounded peremptory
call Lucinda, answering. heard the
voice OF her chauffeur
When Lucinda hung up she found
Nelly slowed round in the chair That
was the inspiration. I've arranged TO
let you steal my car. You can leave
It wherever you think 1t safe TO get
aboard q train. You can drive, Of
course?" Nelly nodded.
Are you strong enough TO drive a
cur yourself?" Lucinda misdoubted for
perhaps the hundredth time though for
the first openly
The woman on the bed gave her hand
L small jerk OF petuance. Don't |
worry" she insisted I'm be all right. |
/ can drive any make of car there is
Where will you go?"
North. by the Coastal Highway. ! !
might go right through to Frisco What |
lime is It now? suppose you wouldn't |
want TO call up Lynn's house aud
ask e"
ia rather not"
Il guess it's all over with Lynn now, |
as far as you're concerned. ism: IT."
YES" Lucinda said with the slowness
that spells restraint-"as far as I'm
concerned. it's all over"
I'm awfully sorry" the girl asserted !
her voice in turn carrying the color OF |
complacency-"I mean, sorry for you. |
You must've been awfully STUCK OIL |
Lynn"
Yes :" To offset a choke In her
voice Lucinda added with hard laugh:
"Awfullyp'
The house telephone came TO Lucin. |
da's rescue; Mr.. Druce was calling.
Lucinda promised Nelly to get rid OF
Bel US soon as she could, and In return
exacted the girls promise 10 rest. Then
Lucinda shut herself out into the sit.
tlng.room.
Bells light motor coat hung rom his
shoulders. with empty sleeves, thus dis.
guising that his right arm was in
sling His features We're drawn and
gray, but his eyes keen. steady and
(Lucinda made sure looking sharply
wholly unsentimental.
You look fearfully tired. Bel. Won't
you sit down."
Irony tinged his flying smile. No.
thanks ! promised, so here | am"
Well :"
He's got one chance in a thousand
TO pull through. Say what you like
about that young woman-she can
shoot"
Grim watchfulness was rewarded by
her slight start.
Nothing to say7" Belsmy demanded
In pitiless humor.
Thank you for letting me know"
you didn't know Summerlad was