The Washington times., 1930-09-10
CHAPTER 80

here there was nothing to do.
She didn't dare wake him to tell
him she was frightened .
Poor Mr.. Farnsworth She
could spare him her imaginary
worries at least
He must be sleeping Soundly.
She picked her way carefully to-
. ward his bed.
The light Of great moon lay
in slanting white rays on his
pillow. It would be In his eyes
soon. That curtain Tapping
was annoying, too. She moved
to the window to adjust the cur
tain. AS she got there, just be-
fore she shut out that streak Of
bright, silvery light, something
impelled her to turn.
On the floor, in the path OF
the moonlight, lay the small,
blush pistol that he was accus-
toned to keep on the little table
near his bed.
Revolver Found
Cathie stepped back involun-
tarily. The thing had always
frightened her. She wondered
II she ought to pick 1t up. She
glanced toward the bed. Some
thing about his hand :.
hanging out Of the bed (.
"Alfred!" she whispered. "Al-
fred, it's Cathie!"
That noise 1t WAS q
shot the pistol oh,
my God, no! It couldn't be.
Things like that. .. "Alfred!"
she shook him. alfred, my
dear, look at me! Alfred! It's
Cathie!"
She couldn't rouse him. Her
hand came away, all blood. She
looked at it, sickened, not quite
understanding Blood. Then
there had been shooting
Mr.. Farnsworth Her hor-
rified eyes took it in gradual
1y. The dark pool on the pill
low and the back of his
head and the back Of his
She backed away, fell over a
chair. She ran out of the room,
up and down the hall, half
mad with horror. She could
feel the sticky blood on her
right hand, and she didn't
know what t do. Mr.. Farms
worth could tell her. but he
was dead Dead, with a
hole in his head. =.
Maid Summoned
What do you do when some
body is dead? You call people
-. but when you're too fright
ened? Cathie stood still, wiring
ing her hands, listening to her
own teeth chattering, and a lit
tie moaning, way down in her
throat: -. She began to cry,
helpleSSly. Gordon! Oh,
why didn't he stay longer?
Then this wouldn't have hap
pened. he'd have stopped it.
he wouldn't have let any.
thing like this happen tol her,
all alone in the dark in the
horrible house.
''Marguerite!" she cried,
Marguerite, I'm afreid!" But
her voice vas Just q squeak in
her throat. She began to run
up the stairs to the third floor
-. into Marguerite'S room,
calling all the time.
Marguerite's room was di-
rectly over Farnsworth's. The
same great, white moon lit
Marguerite's pillow.
The room was very close. The
windows were never opened,
and the air was heavy with
the stale, heavy odor Of the
perfume that Marguerite and
Chester'S wife both used.
Marguerite's heavy, dark red
hair lay over her pillow, trail
ing to the floor. Her features
looked almost beautiful in sleep
Sleep? Or was it -.
''Marguerite!" Cathie gaSped,
''Marguerite!" Her voice ended
In a shuddering, broken cry.
The woman did not stir.
But the sheet over her chest
was rising and falling
oh, thank God for that
thank, God!
Horror Reflected
Marguerite, wake up! Help
mel" Cathie heard herself
whimpering in a voice that
! was not her own.
AS the last wall died away
Marguerite sat bolt upright,
and the horror in her eyes
was .iNe that in Cathie's. It
was as If Cathie were looking
into a mirror, seeing her own
face reflected in Marguerite's
greeniSh pallor, eyes wild
and wide, mouth working
Mrs. Farnsworth! Mrs. Farms
worth, tell me for the love Of
God"
Her wild eyes were staring
at Cathie's dark.stained hands.
Cathie looked down at her
own hands, dispasSionately. She
SAL softly: "Mr. Farnsworth
is lead ." quite dead. ."
Marguerite Sprang out of bed
like a wild woman. Fool"
she cried. Fool, touching him!
oh. what did you do that for?
Don't you know oh. what
shall do? Here, stand still
I'll fix It ." You