Alone in the Shop

Later in the day Jordan Morse and Molly Merriweather met at the hospital. They looked into each other's eyes, not daring to mention the terrible consternation that possessed them.

"Have you heard anything?" murmured Molly, glancing about before speaking.

Jordan nodded his head.

"It's awful," he said. "Bates is dead--if you say a word, I'm lost."

"Depend on me," Molly assured him. "Oh, how dreadful it all is! Theodore must get well," she continued in agitation.

"Well, he won't!" snarled Morse. Then he went on passionately. "Molly, I swear I didn't intend to shoot him. I was mad clear through and aimed at the cobbler."

"Hush!" warned Molly. "Some one's coming."

A young doctor approached them with gravity.

"Mr. King?" murmured Molly.

"Is slowly failing. The bullet found a vital spot----"

"And the other man--Bates? Is it true he's dead?" interjected Morse eagerly.

"Yes, he died shortly after the tragedy. It's all a mystery, but I think they've arrested the guilty man."

Both listeners stared at the speaker as if he'd told them the world had come to an end. It was Morse who managed to mutter: "What man?"

"Haven't you heard? They've arrested Lafe Grandoken. The shooting occurred in his cobbling shop, and the gun was found as proof of his crime. Of course, like all Jews, he's trying to invent a story in his own favor.... He's undoubtedly the criminal."

Not until they were in the street did Jordan express himself to Molly.