The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-12

revolver fell upon the floor. l pulled
her to her feet. l realized that it
must be getting light, that something
must be done now:
LOOK here I said. II don't know
you. 1 didn't know him. 1 don't care
whether you killed him or not, but
I'll help you"
YES" she said, looking up at me.
In the beautiful green eyes lay child
ish trust and complete WEAKNESS.
| l picked up the revolver: There's
only one way. We must make it look
as if he committed suicide
Yes" she said, listlessly
viii you wait here for moment
while 1 arrange things7"
She nodded, but just as 1 reached the
desk and its CHASTITY occupant 1 heard
her footsteps behind me. She dared
not remain alone. 1 caught a glimpse
of her now and then, as I fitted the
fingers about the weapon. I managed
to curl the little finger to make firm
the grip of the nerveless band. Yes,
it was complete. Then I was sur
prised to hear behind me a hysterical
little laugh. and the woman's voice.
.
could not help smiling through my
horror at this revival of the spirit of
self-preseryation, and shifted the re-
volver to the left hand.
Now said. turning to her. It's
quite simple. Where does your doc
tor hve?"
"Oh. not him. please Any
how, he lives quite some way on"
$50 much the better Better not
have your doctor if we can help it.
Isn't there one in this road?"
Yes. DIR. Felstead near
~ opposite
"AIl right You know the story to
tell? You went to bed at
better tell the truth, at what time?'
Eleven O'Clock"
And your husband stayed in the
study working; he said he had some
thing urgent to prepare. Round about
half-past five a shot woke you up. You
jumped out of bed, ran in here, and
found him. You understand? Really,
pull yourself together. Repeat what
have just told you"
Starting at me. in q hypnotized
voice. she said: AT half-past 1--WE a
shot woke me up; I jumped out OF
bed, ran in and found him. and then !
and then
Then you lost your head, and you
telephoned for me, Mr. Brown.
= Mr. Brown"
Yes. I'm an old friend Of the /
family. I arrived. and you asked me
10 go for the doctor. III go now"
j
No, ring up. please. Don't leave /
NE"
IAN right. But when the doctor /
comes, it's you who must open the
door"
1t seemed a long time before Doc
tor Feistead came. I had had trouble
with him over the telephone, for he
did not Seem to understand how per
son who was not a patient should
want him so early in the morning. At .
last, I made him realize that there .
was a casualty: he arrived at twenty .
to seven. All that time | had been
pacing about the tragic room, watch
ing my CHASTITY companion. and trem
-llously feeling that he was obstin-
ately staring at me through those
balf-closed eyes. l kept a watch, too,
upon the woman in the other room.
who had thrown herself into the arm
chair. From time TO time I went TO
her, forcing her to sit up and to re-
peat her story. She terrified me, for
the words came as from a sramo-
phone. Also, at the last moment, F
when she heard the front door bell, I.
she gave a scream Of terror and I
clutcheG me round the neck in a
maniacal grip; could feel her shiver- /
ing all over, her heart beat as if she /
were about to suffocate. I had to /
use violence at last to tear her hands
apart, to shake her to her feet and to /
drive her, whimpering and crying, to
the front door.
I heard the door open, the doctors /
voice, his steps in the hall. Just as
was moving toward the door, A
sound caused me to turn, a loud /
sound which had come from the
corpse. Shaking with terror 1 gazed
at the motionless thing. 1t was only
as the doctor entered that I realized
that the revolver had fallen from the
hand. I don't know why, but this
made me feel sick with fear; It
seemed to me that our scheme was
set at naught by this trif1ing acct /
dent. I don't know why. but
formed the idea that if the pistol
were not grasped in the dead hand, we
should be exposed. I rushed toward I
the body. The doctor was coming .
in. In a sudden fit of madness. .
picked up the pistol and thrust It
into my pocket.
The doctor gave me a curt nod |
went up to the body. felt the pulse. |
The woman in the doorway was watch |
ing me. her eyes blinking with hys-
terra While the doctor was sound |
ing the heart. [ could hear her voice I
mechanically reciting ITO /
bed at III o'clock was
asleep, and at half-past five e."
She was tying the rope round her
neck. now that the pistol no longer /
lay on the floor, for I had no chance
yet to put it back. If I could only
get behind the doctor, I went up TO
the woman and seized her arm in
grip so savage that she WINGED with
pain; Hold your tongue" ] whis-
pered hoarsely. She stopped sudden
ly as if paralyzed. I rejoined the
doctor. If only I could get on the
otoher side The doctor was
strange He would not know that
this man was left-handed. Then he