Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 6, 1923 — page 133: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

DUST TO DUST. these things; the State will show you that this woman sitting here in insolent uncon- cern, considering herself above the law and its just decree, is a cold-blooded, calculating murderess and you will be asked to render’ a verdict on the evidence set before you!” The towering, dominant figure blurred and waved before her eyes and Claudia did not know when that forceful, insidiously compelling voice ceased and court was ad- journed, Blindly she rose when the guard touched her arm and moved amid black, menacing shadows from the room and across the Bridge of Sighs to her cell. The kindhearted matron petted and min- istered to her, but she was unaware even of the woman’s presence, her flesh deadened and insensate and her spirit writhing. But the guard appeared once more, sum- moning her to the counsel room and again she followed blindly. But on the threshold she paused, her heart suddenly pounding and the blood rushing warmly to her very brow. Matthew Rowe was there and Quin- cey Dreyer, but a third man stood where the waning light of late afternoon fell full upon his face and Claudia held out her hands with a little choking cry. ‘“ Stephen!”’ ‘“T have kept my promise to you, Claudia. It is almost too late, but, thank God, I am still in time! I have found Hugo Zorn!” CHAPTER XVI. THE ELEVENTH HOUR, TEPHEN’S voice fell upon Claudia’s ear like a message uttered in a dream, so often had she heard it in the dark watches of dreary, interminable nights and she tottered and would have fallen had not he sprung forward and caught her in his arms. For a moment she clung to him trembling, the surging beat of his heart against hers vibrating through all her frame, seeming to endow her with new strength. Then she gently withdrew herself from his protective embrace and let him lead her to a chair. Matthew Rowe cleared his throat, but his tones were still husky when he spoke. 915 ‘This is wonderful news, my dear! Dreyer and I found Stephen waiting at my office, and although I knew how nearly prostrated you must be I felt that you must hear his story without delay. He has learned the whole truth, the details of the affair in your husband’s past that Zorn was holding over his head and notwith- standing the fact that it is bound to revolt and hurt you—”’ ‘“Do you think that anything can ever hurt me again, Uncle Matt?” Claudia in- terrupted. ‘ Don’t you suppose that I am impervious to all suffering after the revela- tions of the last twenty-four hours and that experience in court to-day? Whatever it is in Niles’s past, however revolting, it is far better that I know it in every detail than imagine the fearful things which have thronged my brain since that man appeared, leering from the end of the pew as I came down the church aisle!” “TI told you!” Dreyer nodded quickly. “The knowledge of her husband’s real char- acter may be a shock to Mrs. Hamersley, but she is right; it is best that she know the truth. “Munson, don’t bother now with how you discovered Zorn: get down to cases and tell her just what you told us as nearly in the fellow’s own words as you can remem- ber, from the minute you confronted him this afternoon in that flat on the Con- course.”’ Stephen regarded Claudia with troubled eyes. ‘“T don’t like to be the one to bring an added blow to you after all you have en- dured to-day nor to speak disparagingly of the dead as I must, but I’m not going to think of myself now. I know from Mr. Rowe what you told Inspector Dawes about Niles Hamersley’s early history which he had let fall to you from time to time, but you said later to Mr. Rowe that you thought he had not inherited all his money, but made it in stock speculations in some Western city. Did I understand that cor- rectly?” “Yes, Stephen.”” She nodded, “I didn’t tell the inspector because, looking back, I could see that Niles’s manner had been odd and constrained after that single occasion COMmiclooe S (©