The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-03-11

the mirror, ! caught sight Of the little
drawer "a the night-stand. went
across aid opened il. And there was
the gun looked at II for q long mo-
ment ! could still hear him 81, the
telephone. l picked up the gun ana
Iounc tnat 1t was loaded. knew then
tnat the moment had come. It was as
though the whole thing had been
planned out for me. did not stop 10
mink about 1t at all. picked up the
gun and hid It In the fold Of mr skirt.
ana went into the studio again.
AS ne turned from the telephone.
was waiting there. watching him.
ne saw something in my ewes that
disturbed him. What Is wronr3s a.
asked me. said. You don't remember
me. DO your He said. No. Have we
met before? ! said. Yes. once years
ago-But | have not forgotten. And
then ! told him. accused him Of the
murder Of my father and brother. He
SAID they were oppressors standing
In the way Of progress. And that be
nau attacked not individuals but q
class. l accused him Of destroying nv
home and sacking It. He said we had
enjoyed the spoils long enough-thas
II mad been time for redistribution
OF wealth. Besides. he said. that had
happened long ago. that must forget
Il. that he would teach me to forget II.
And let you 60 on bearing nv
brothers manner | asked. He said he
had proofs of his identity-that II /
was so foolish as to denounce him.
nobody would believe me. so am L,
forget It all | asked. the death of
my father and brother-the ruin Of
my home-my years OF struggle 10
Paris-the early years when, Just SO
that and the others could live. had
to 60 down into the gutter and make
myself plaything for pigsI And then
he laughed-and said that there
were women who preferred death to
dishonor! :. | shot him then. And
threw the gun down beside him as
he fell. But. he was writhing-suffer
ing did not want to see that.
turned from him-and switched of
the lights. -"
A Chance To Escape
CHE sank back among her pillows
- and closed her eyes.
"And then the others came BACK
prompted Austrelitz after an instant
Yes. | thought they would know at
once that ! had killed him. And that
! would have to explain. But | did
not care. It was something had to do
and had done 1t. That was how felt.
And them saw from their faces that
they didn't suspect me; they suspected
each other. And someone said. We
can't send for the police-l' And then
my brain began to work again. | sug-
gested hiding the body. saw chance
to escape-not the trial so much. |
could have faced that But | did not
wish to tell why | had killed him.
did not wish to reveal my identity.
There are friends of my fathers still
living. And was ashamed Ny father
was proud of his line-proud OF his
name"
Both men nodded in swift UNDER
standing.
HE said." Karsanakoff went on
slowly. shat there are women who
prefer death. /. Their own deaths,
yesl After all. one must face il sooner
or later. Aud when life is endless
misery. why should one wish to cling
to 1t? But there were eight of
US together in that apartment And
the others had taken US in Mariushka
and me-adding TO their own diff
culties. | could not think of myself
alone. gave what had TO give. And
my loss had to be borne only by me.
| was child when reasoned all this
out. But If had the decision to make
again. should still make it as did
then. am telling you this but |
eould not go on the witness stand and
tell IT, And If ! faced my trial with
sealed lips. might be sent to jail for
long years-and | felt had suffered
enough for that man Or | might be
condemned to death-and ! was de-
termined not to die for him.
She reached for another cigarette.
Bigelow lighted it.
"Well-when the party was over
and | reached my hotel. changed
swiftly from my evening wrap to my
mink coat and small hat with veil
and went to his apartment. ! ives
the woman the taxi driver described.
had taken all his keys while we we're
getting him into the cupboard. ] let
myself in and hastily searched the
place. took ali his papers of identi-
fication and all other papers that
seemed of Importance. took the
Vronski je 9els that he had stolen
from my fathers collection so many
years before. Then left the door open
for you so that you would have no
trouble to get inland went home to
bed and slept soundly."
copyright 1887. Frederick JacksonJ
Anne and Bigelow discuss those
IL A..