The action that followed rendered the menace of the mad woman too easily intelligible.
As she gave utterance to it she passed her hand under the mantle in which her figure was enveloped; and, as she drew it forth again, a shining object appeared between her fingers.
It was a pistol, with silver sheen and ivory handle—small, but large enough to take life at such close quarters.
It was presented as soon as drawn, but not at Herbert Vaughan. It was towards his companion that its muzzle was pointed!
Scarce a second passed before the report was heard; and, for a time, the kiosk was filled with smoke.
When this cleared away, and the shining light once more penetrated the apartment, a woman was seen extended on the floor, her form quivering in the last throes of life. In another instant it was motionless—a corpse!
The shot had proved fatal; but the victim was not Kate Vaughan, but Judith Jessuron!
The transposition was due to the Foolah maid. Seeing the life of her mistress in such imminent peril, she had sprung up from her seat by the door; and, bounding forward with the supple quickness of a cheetah, had seized the wrist of the intended murderess, with the intention of averting her aim, and, in doing so, had directed it upon herself.
It was by accident, therefore, and not from design on the part of Yola, that Judith Jessuron thus terminated her life by an involuntary suicide.