The Hollow of Her Hand

e a nature like hers. Fine-minded, gently bred women who can go through an ordeal such as she experienced without breaking under the strain are rare indeed. They must be wonderful. I

that dreary room without a spark of the old affection in her soul. Her love for him died in giving birth to the hatred that now possessed her. While he lived it was not in her power to control the unreasoning resistless thing that stands for love in woman: he WAS her love, the master of her impulses. Dead, he was an unwholesome, unlovely clod, a pallid thing to be scorned, a hulk of worthless clay. His blood was cold. He could no

side, skidded and leaped with terrifying suddenness, but held its way as straight as the bird that flies, driven by a steady hand and a mind t

number in the years gone by, but he had always come back, gaily unchastened, to remould the love that waited with dog-like fidelity for the touch of his cunning hand. But he had taken his last flight. He would not come back again. It was all over.

hand belonged. It had been her divine right

n she had said to th

her own hands to pay that man what she owed him. I shall not be the one to say that he did not deserve death at her hands, whoever

d him," the sh

, that hasn't anything to do with t

I am not def

d retorted. "It would appear tha

yed the life that belonged to her, who had killed the thing that was hers to kill. She could not mourn for him. She cou

, she spoke aloud in a shrill, tense voice, f

en him all these years. They will know him as

She heard him, and recalling her wits, asked which turn she was to take

she resolutely reached out and shook him by the

" she cried. "Do you w

s the s

wave his hand toward the left. She took the chance. In five minutes she brought the car to a standstill beside the station. Throu

e agent?" s

lookin' for a woman-Say!" He stopped short and stared at th

you want. Do you know an

lephone to the s

of the sheriff's deputies in my automobile,

heard 'em say you we

What do you

train in bef

even-forty i

me out and get your fellow-deputy. He is useless to me.

low hes

e will freeze to death if I leave

stared

ur husband?" h

dded h

ook at the fellow you've got wi

crossed over to the car and pee

" he said. "Fu

him from the ca

t figure in the big rocking chair, and panting

so good as to direct

business," he declared, assailed by doubts. "Suppose y

the man Morley opened his blear-e

oin' here, Mis' Wr

e," he said. "I don't envy you the trip. Keep straight ahead after you hit the Post-road." He stood there listening until the whir of the motor w

t courage and decision. The natural confidence of an experienced driver was hers. She had the daring of one who has never met with an accident, and who trusts to the instincts rather than to an actual understanding of conditions. With her, it was not a question of her own capacity and strength, but a belief in the fidelity of the engine that carried her forwar

eous shadows and deeper into the black abyss that lay ahead. No friendly light gleamed by the wayside; the world was black and cold and dead. She alone was on the highway, the only human creature who defied the night. Off there on either side people lived, and slept, and were in darknes

road in this black little world? What of the other woman? The one wh

and hastily applied the brake. There was another and more dangerous crossing a hundred yards ahead.

feet ahead, in the middle of the road and directly in line with the light of the lamps, stood a black,

sed. At last the forlorn object in the roadway lifted her face and looked vacant

led from the stiffening

tightened

This was

ttering veil! "A woman about your si

ed by the lights, she bent her head and shielded her eyes w

rilly, at the same time spreading her arms

er breath. Her heart b

want?" she cried out, with

had not expected to he

side of the road, out

t was like a wail of disappointment

manded the other

the spare tires and gazed into the eyes of the driver. Their faces wer

ted Mrs. Wrandall, her vo

an inn. It must

?" with

me. It is not far from

mean B

me?" The voice of the girl was

" said Mrs. Wrandall, still looking

an of despair came through

rew herself up with a fine show of resolut

l turned to her once more. "Is-i

e. "Yes. I must find my

ly gloved hand on the slim f

esolve ringing in her voice. "I am going to

and apprehension struggling

other way. To the

ot go back there. I know what has happened there. Come

" faltered

!" There was infinit

id her head

out of the unknown and, by the most whimsical jest of fate, into the custody of the one person most interested of all in that self-same world. It was unbelievable. She wondered if it were

fingers sought the friendly

e," she cried hoarsely. "I don't know what impulse was driving me back there. I o

et in," said the woman in the

ed interest that her garments were covered with mud; her small, comely hat was in sad disorder; loose wisps of hair fluttered with the unsightly veil. Her hands, she

pity the slayer of her husband? It was a question unasked, unconsidered. Afterwards she was to recall this hour and its st

beside her and fell back in the seat. Without a word, Sara Wrandall drew the great buffalo robe over he

nce, but sat upright and fixed her gaze on her companion's face. "You-you are not doing this just to turn me over to-to

ou up. I am simply giving you a chance to get away. I have always felt sor

meant to go back there and have it over with. I know I can't escape. It will have to come, i

l not turn you over to the police. I will give you th

et you do it! You do not understand. I-have-co

her level tones. "I have been tempted more than once myself

l happened," muttered the girl, as if to

Mrs. Wrandall, throwing in the clutch. The car starte

f her sufferings from exposure and dread was too much

all this weather?"

hills back there. I d

o place of

ay in the cellar of a farmer's house. He d

you kill

ing left for me

did you

rs they will find everything hidden in that farmhouse cellar. God k

ot so bad as that!" And she

ry? You must

said it in such a way that the other knew what her wh

leep-and rest," she said. "Now please don't say anything more. I do not want

f thickly populated districts. They were still eight or ten miles from the outskirts of the city and the way was arduous. She was conscious of a sudden feeling of fati

voice, her manner, even under such trying conditions, were characteristic of the English woman of cultivation. Despite the dreadful strain under which she laboured, there were evidences of that curious serenity which marks the English woman of the better classes: a

s to become of her? At what street corner should she turn her adrift? The idea of handing her over to the police did not enter her thoughts for an instant. Somehow she felt that the girl was a stranger to t

actual realisation. What could be more incongruous, more theatric,-yes, more bizarre, than her attitude at this moment? It seemed impossible that this shrinking, inert heap at her side was a living thing; a woman who had slain a fellow creature, and that creature the

the beginning, else why was she going back there to give herself up? What better way out of it all than self-destruction? Sara Wrandall reached a sudd

r of it. She turned her head for a quick glance at the mute, wretched face showing white above the robe, and her heart ached with s

across THAT bridge and many others. God had directed the footsteps of this girl so that she should fall in with the one best qualified to pass judgment on her. It was in th

to her and answered it as well: what personal grievance had she against this unhappy girl? None whatever. Self it was therefore that slyly thanked her for an unspeakable blessing: she had brought to an end not only the

iven way. For a moment her hands were weak and powerless; her head fell forward. In an instant she conquered,-but only partially,-the strange fe

re, just as she had been sitting for miles, her white face standing o

Do they hang wome

States," she replied, and was unable to

sted the other, almost wit

the electric chair-

nda

ce between them, broke

tude. I can only say that I shall bless you to my dying hour. May I trouble y

You shall not do that. I too thought of that as a way out of it for you, but

toward her. Her

help me to get away?" she c

me th

lay yourse

think,

to surrender

cumstances connected with your association with-with that man back there at the inn. Twenty-four hours passed before they were able to identify him. It is not unlikely that to-morrow may put them in possession

h, what a beast he was!" The bitterness of that wail caused the woman beside her to cry out as if hurt by a sharp, almost unbearab

d trust herself to speak. Then it wa

on, not now. I don't want to hea

e but one inference: she was acutely suspicious. Her lips

ve?" repeated th

l you that? I do

e afrai

to turn to, no one to help me. You-you can't be so heartless as to lead me on and then give me up to-God help

ed the othe

d. "You are so strange

hink hard and-rapidly. Are you willing to come with me to my hotel? You will

ace to rest for a little

l not be disturbed. But leave the

of a small, exclusive hotel not far from Central Park. The street was

m quite warmly dressed. Don't worry. Be quick. For the time being you are my guest here. You will not be questioned. No one need kn

ried the girl, drawi

the hotel by this time. I was called to the death

I am

order food and drink. You must do it, not I. Please t

randall did not speak, but leaned rather heavily on the arm of her companion. The door h

sive words. "Get up at once. You are young and strong. You must show the stuff

her feet. She stood before her protectress, weavin

t again. I dare say I'm faint. I have had no food, no rest-but n

of those muddy, froze

nically followed her example. She was a pitiable object in the strong light of the electrolier. Muddy from head to foot,

scarcely looked at one another, and yet they were acutely conscious of the interest each felt in the other. The grateful warmth of the room,

" she said, an odd timidness in her

, just off the little sitting-room. Thre

, which she tossed across a chair. "Now call up the office and say that you are speaking for me. Say to them that I must have something to eat, no matter what the hour may be. I wil

h a tray and service table. He found Mrs. Wrandall lying back in a chair, attended by a slender young woman in a pink eiderdown

for these things," sh

re blue,-the lovely Irish blue,-her skin was fair and smooth, her features regular and of the delicate mould that defines the well-bred gentlewoman at a glance. Her hair, now in order, was dark and thick and lay soft

is every defection proves it. The others have all been beautiful. And to think that this gentle, slender creature should have been the one to give him his death-blow. It s

put herself in the place of that despairing, hunted creature who knew that blood was on

owering desire for sleep. Suddenly she dropped the fork from her fingers and sank back in the comfortable chair, her head resting against the soft

en as she wondered at the act, she went over and took up one of the slim hands in her own. The hand of an aris

rge, she shook the girl's shoulder. Instantly she was

said Mrs. Wrandall qui

think of c

, she heard her murmur as if from afar-off: "Just ab

u will not be disturbed. Come, take off your clothes

girl, "I cannot take you

ng down, I shall li

ared. "Lie

raid of you, child. Y

ust a poo

ars rushing to her eyes. She raised Mrs. Wranda

d, looking down at the pain-stricken face, and tried to solve t

umanity. It's the debt I owe, that's all. She did the thing for me that I co

or, across the foot of the bed: smart things from Paris and Vienna; ball gowns, street gowns, tea gowns, lingerie, blouses, hats, gloves and all of the countless things that a woma

some not at all, selecting certain dresses, hats, stockings, etc., each of which she laid carelessly aside: an imposing pile of many hu

rnful smile on her lips. "There!" she said with a sigh. "The black pile is mine, the

which she locked. Laying out a carefully selected assortment of her own garments for the girl's use whe