Mary Roberts Rinehart

“ He went into the parlor and putting on his overcoat stood awkwardly in the little hall.
She faced him, the child's bottle in her hand.
"I guess you know how I hate this Molly," he said. “I—I—this isn't the time for talk and there ain't any disloyalty in it, but I was pretty fond of you one time—I guess you know it, and—I am not the changing sort. I have never seen anybody else I liked the same way. It don't hurt a good woman to know a thing like that. Good night." ”

“ Wait until he comes in the next time and then slip out the back door.”
"The snow will cover them. Jim, there's a thousand dollars on you!"
“Well, why don't you sell me out? I haven’t been worth much to you living. A thousand dollars dead wouldn't be bad."
Her lip quivered, but she made no reply. That was what the detective had said.
"If I could get to the barn," he grumbled. "I could work around behind Shultz's fence and get to the railroad siding. Where is that fool standing?"
"He's just across. You can't get to the barn. Jim, is that sleeping stuff of yours bitter?" ”

“ She had gone to listen at the parlor door. When she came back he was looking more himself. He was a handsome fellow, with heavy dark hair and dark eyes, a big man as he towered above her in the little kitchen. His face did not indicate his weakness. There are men like that, broken reeds swinging in the wind that yet manage to convey an impression of strength.
His wife brought the overcoat and held it out for him.
"By Shultz's fence you said, Jim, and then to the railroad. There's a slow freight goes through on toward morning, and if that doesn't stop, there's the milk train. ”

“ When I'm gone, Molly, how are you going to make out?"
"I'll manage somehow; only go, Jim. Go!"
"I don't know about this going," he said after a moment. "They'll grab me somewhere. Somebody'll get that thousand. You'll manage somehow! What do you mean by 'somehow'? You'll get married again, maybe?"
"Oh. no; not that."
He cared a little then—in spite of the girl at Heideger's!
If he would only go! This thing for which she had schemed the whole night might fail now while he talked.
"You can't stay here," he said slowly. "You can't bring the children up where everybody knows about their father. ”

“ It was still very dark. She crept to the window and looked out. It was a gray dawn with snow blowing like smoke through the trees. The cold was proving too much for Cooper. He was making his way cautiously across the street through the snow toward the house. Once in the parlor again, she could get to the barn. The freight waited on the siding ten minutes sometimes, and to-night. with the snow, it might be longer.
She leaped off the bed and hurried down the staircase, just before the front door opened to admit the detective, the kitchen door closed behind her. She was out in the storm. ”

“ Molly was a mild woman, but now she was desperate.
"I'm afraid I would mind," she said quietly. "This is a very sad night for me. I should like to be alone; absolutely alone."
The kitchen door closed with a bang. She was alone—with the papered door.
She ran up the stairs and brought down the sleeping powders in their pasteboard box. One she emptied swiftly into the teacup on the parlor fender. The box she put into the stove and waited until it was entirely consumed.
"I've fixed it, Jim. Listen for three raps. ”

“ He hesitated. The village street was quiet. Owing to its semi-isolated position, he had commanded all approaches to the house from his vantage point across the street. Once inside— But then again—the house was small and lightly built: one could hear a footfall through it. A man ought to be able to thaw out now and then.
"I don't know but I will for a minute or two, Mrs. Carter," he assented, "if you'll unlock the door."
****
SHE came downstairs very soon, a shawl over her thin wrapper, and set a match to the fuel ready laid in the parlor stove before she admitted him. ”

“ She did not understand at first. When she did she broke into quiet sobbing. She knew his obstinacy; the dogged tenacity of the weak. Now when every second counted to have him refuse to go!
She pleaded with him. went down on her knees, grew hysterical finally, and had to be taken in his arms and quieted as he had not quieted her in years. And still there was no sound from the parlor.
"They'll get me somehow," he repeated over and over. "And I—I would like to feel that I had done one decent thing first. That red-eyed ferret in the parlor will get the money if you don't. ”

“ He stamped cautiously on the low porch and opened the door. A homely odor of tea met him. mixed with comforting warmth. He turned up the lamp and took off his overcoat. It was his best overcoat and shabby at that. If he had any luck and the storm drove Carter back, he'd be able to buy a new one. He dusted it off with his hands before hanging it over the back of the chair to dry. On one shoulder a few grains of sawdust caught his attention. He looked at them with speculation, but without suspicion. He had a sense of humor.
"Ha!" he said to himself. "Even the sky had gone in for adulteration. ”

“ But it had been almost midnight when the detective took up his position across the street, and in the interval——
****
MOLLY CARTER went back to the kitchen and lighted the lamp. The room was stifling, but the fire in the range was low now. She put in a fresh piece of wood and set the kettle over it. Then, and not until then, did she go to the wall beside the range and put her lips to it.
“Can you breathe?" she said, cautiously. The reply came with astonishing clearness through the thin wall; even the sound of a body turning in a narrow space. ”

“ He nodded.
"Cooper is locked in the parlor, asleep. You can get away now. My God, don't close your eyes again. Listen! You can get away."
"Away from what?" he asked stupidly.
"Away from the police. Try to remember, Jim. You shot the clerk from the drug store and—the girl at Heideger's. The police are after you. There’s a thousand dollars on your head. ”

“ If he gets away you are better without him. If he doesn't——" He threw out his hands. "He has never supported you. You have worked for him, haven't you, and borne his children? What have you had out of it? ”