The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-06-26
CHAPTER II

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this He can get me out" Mrs. Lor-
rie assured herself, 'if he wants to
You stand by mel I'm Myrtle
Myrtle Silver Lorrle. You call me
Myrtlel You're Agnes"
Agnes did not answer; she contin-
ued to step back away from the hands
seeking her. She stared at the hands,
white and soft and sensuous, and with
scarlet stain on the nails; and she
thought of one of those hands-the
right one-holding a pistol, and that
weak forefinger, with its scarlet stain,
pulling the trigger once, twice-three
times?
Some one raped a demand for ad-
mittance upon the door; and Colver
opened it.
Three men had come, none of them
in uniform; but they were the police.
They stepped in, instantly the door
was opened.
The nearest man was the shortest
of the three, but he was tall enough
he was straight and alert-looking and
wiry. He was gray-eyed, and there
was gray in his hair. Agnes had no
need to be told that he was in COM
mand Of the other two men, both big
ger than he, and younger.
The last man in had quickly closed
the door behind him, and he posted
himself with his back against it; the
other man advanced with his leader.
Agnes found that she had retreat
ed, as they came In, or she had let
Myrtle Lorrie pull her back to the
center of the room; for she was stand
ing there with Myrtle Lorrie's arms
clasped tight about her.
These police in ordinary clothes
were looking at her-at her and Myr-
tie Lorrie.
"You live here?" the gray man said
to Myrtle. you're the wife?"
But the wife did not answer; SO
Agnes did. "Yes, she lives here; she's
the wife,"
"Who are you?"
81 don't live here" said Agnes. Il
just happened to come in."
"You mean you're friend of hers?'
mo"
SLOW did you happen to come in?"
'Tll tell you." Colyer now hurried
to help her. an tell you, Lieuten-
ant Dolega. was showing her, and
the gentleman with her, some apart
ments! I had them upstairs; then
the gentleman had to go; but she
stayed. We heard the radio going in
here; we Knocked"
Colver's quick, incoherent words ran
over each other, and Lieutenant Dole
ga let him go on. At the end, he
asked one question:
where is it?"
'Down there" said Colver: and
Lieutenant Dolega and the other man
moved away.
The man at the door had notebook
in his hand, and his pencil kept writ
ing.
Lieutenant Dolega and Ahis man, who
had accompanied him, were walking
very slowly. Would they never get
there? Agnes pulsed with Impotence.
The calmness, the elaboration Of these
police in ordinary clothes, tantalized
her. She watched them slowly pro-
coed, studying the walls and the floor
Of the passage; when they were out
Of sight, she listened for some out
cry such as Mr.. Colver had made.
But there was none.
They must have reached 'it"-this
girls husband, shot and dead upon
the floor. They had stopped and
were STOPPING. probably, to see exact
ly what Myrtle Lorrie's soft, sensuous
hand had done. How many times had
she shot her husband?
That petty, particular curiosity
strangely plagued Agnes. How long
they had been married. How long
had 1t been?
Agnes had to ask 1t, though she
spoke in that awful silence. "How
long were you married?" It came
out in a whisper.
1.-Two years." Myrtle Lorrie whis-
pered back. my God. two years! !"
From the bedroom there came no
word nor voice Of any sort-merely
succession Of slight, rasping, mechan-
zeal sounds.
Myrtle Lorrie could stand this no
longer. She dragged herself up until
Nehe supported herself on her own feet
and she screamed. She convulsed her
arms tighter, but her scream gave
Agnes strength to throw her of. Ag-
mes was free, and she staggered on
from her. shivering.