The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-11

heart would be with me STILL Do
you see now, Dick"
She stared at him little wildly.
$50 that we are-hand In hand
YOU see, and our souls are to-
gether."
Her voice grew hushed-"Only,
Dick, do not want to 60 on living,
now it is like that with us. There
could never be any more happiness
like it used to be in the garden.
You would not care to continue
long like that, any more than /
should. Side by side in a guilty
darkness. So. -. look, Dick"
She ended in a whisper and
opened q hand which she had kept
concealed under the coverlet, re-
vealing little bottle filled with
tiny white tablets.
'1 got these long ago In New
York in the early years of my mar
riage," she aid. "And three of
them-each-will release us--to
go together-to sleep-drowned in
the deepest sea--together."
Her voice trailed off. She was
watching him intently with shining
eyes.
'"That is what | wanted to say,
Dick" she whispered.
He reached out, gently lifted the
bottle of norphia tablets from her
open palm. and dropped It in his
pocket.
His lips moved but he made no
sound. There was a terrible and
intolerable aching at his throat and
he could not speak.
He raised her hand and pressed
It to his lips and remained so for
q long time, silent.
But at last he found words.
'sIf I had not left you here see
now that / should have saved you
q great deal Of suffering" he said.
81 thought was doing rightly to
obey Julie--she seemed to be 80
confident and capable. Don't
think that | haven't understood
you, my dear, dear wife. Every
word burnt me. Oh, you are 50
wonderful and brave and loyal
To share your very soul, my dear.
That was what you meant. Yes,
II | were doomed you would come
with me to be my comrade. In
the dark places. Oh, my God p
He choked, stiffened in q fierce
effort at self-control and went on
with ring Of strange triumph in
his voice.
"I only left you here because
believed it was better so, but ]
see now that you have tortured
yourself all the time. But there
was no need, dearest. Let me
speak now. | will tell you the
truth. l did not murder Charles
Lammarsh-Sais has used that
word for her own purpose. Listen
to me, now"
Then, very carefully and slowly
emitting nothing of the events OF
that fatal evening, he told her the
truth of the affair at the house OF
Sais.
She listened with strained, al
most poignant attention, and as he
spoke slowly the tense and tragic
stare in her eyes died out.
IS. He came there, to that
house, wildly excited, and angry
so angry that he did not seem able
to explain exactly what he was
angry about. But it was Jealousy
"a sort of jealousy. He claimed
Sais-and insulted me. | did not
want to quarrel-certainly not tc
fight. Only man of the lowest
class ever wishes to entangle him
self in a brawl ina house like
that. But he was dressed as g
Turk or an Egyptian-his face
was very da''--purposely stained
| suppose. He was not like ar
Englishman or an American. He
spoke French without a suspicion
Of accent. Sais said he was a Turk
and a hashish slave and told mo tC
send him away.
"Then he seemed to lose contro
of himself and sprang at me.
had to defend myself. There was
a struggle, and then he collapsed
quite suddenly. had no weapons
did not want any. | should moi
have used one if l had it. It die
not seem a really serious thing tt
me-until he collapsed. Then
was horror-stricken. Do yol
understand, dear? / just wanted
to get him out of the house and tt
shut him out. | hadn't enough
interest in him to hate him or tt
want to hurt him.
ale insulted me-but one
doesn't want to kill a man wher
under the influence of drugs OF
drink he insults one or makes {
nuisance of himself. It was ter
rible that he died. But it was ar
accident. If only l had not beer
SO foolish to listen to Sais' propose
that i should leave the house anc
Cairo and allow her to deal will
the matter. But | was Mortified an,
shaken-and Hoodless seemed tt
think it best to do as Sais sug
gested. And so | agreed"
He paused for moment, watch
ing her anxiously.
~ acknowledge that | was veal