The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-01-22

| low, and a. she was in an alcove out Of
the range of the window, the burglar
did not suspect her pesence until he WA
fairly in the room. When he did, hi
probably thought he would not have biz
labor for his pains. At any rRte the
lady, in her subsequent account of the
open her eyes to see man standing by
her toilet-table. with his hands on her
gold watch; that she sprang forward
with scream and caught at the watch
which had been the gift of dead friend
that the burglar tried to make his
escape, and, when she still chung to him
in her endeavor to get possession of the
watch, struck her savagely on the head
until, at the approach Of the people who
had been alarmed by her cries, he
wrenched himself violently from her hold
and disappeared by the same way he
had come.
1t was fashionable clearinghouse,
and the lady was well-known in society,
and the whole affair naturally made .
great sensation in the city. Wyllis,
however, had his own special reasons
for feeling excited about it. Did not
the Shadow also live on the second
floor, and though there was no porch to
the house, was there not a trellis, by
means of which an evil-disposed and
tolerably agile fellow could gain an en-
trance? When Wyllis came home on
the evening following the burglary, it
was with a beating heart. He had
heard the details, as given by the daily
papers, discussed all day long, and his
ready imagination had varied and ex-
banded them to suit the case he had in
mind. As soon as he came in sight of
the window he looked up with eager,
anxious haste. But there was the be-
loved shadow peacefully outlined upon
the still, white curtain, and stirring
only with the movements of the hands
as they went up and down the key
board in the exigencies of the music.
Wyllis drew long breath of relief, as
he turned the latch-key in his own door
and went up stairs.
For few evenings all went well. but
ON the fourth the questioning eyes of
this self-appointed guardian saw
sight that chilled his blood. He looked
up as usual, and-rhat! just above the
unsuspecting Shadow, distinctly drawn
upon the smooth, white surface is an
other head, and two hands that slowly
cautiously descend until they reach the
girls shoulders, where they fasten in
vise-like grip. Turning with start
she struggles to rise, she throws
up her hands in vain appeal,
her head drops backward, and she falls
fainting from her seat!
In far less time than it takes to tell it,
all this has passed before Arthur Willis
agonized gaze, and shaken off the hor-
ror that stiffens him, he dashes across
the street, through the door standing
ajar, past some one in the vestibule,
and up the unlighted stairs to the pas
sage-way on the second floor. Gaining
the fateful door with bound, he stops
short to recover breath and listen. Not
a sound! Absolute, awful silence! Sick
at heart for what this stiffness NAV
mean. he filings the door wide open
and is confronted in the brilliantly
lighted room by two figures who spring
to their feet and stare at him. There
are suspicious signs which make it prob
able that he has interrupted love scene.
and it is certain that the girl who now
stands looking at him in surprise and
confusion is not his Mabel!
Her companion was the first to re.
cover himself. what the what do
you mean anyway, by bursting in here
like cyclone ?'' he said angrily.
"I-beg your pardon" began Wyllis.
and stopped short. blushing like a girl
over his absurd position. Then seeing
that something more in the way of ex-
PLANTATION was expected-"I-I thought
it was murder" he added.
Thought what was murder ?" de-
manded the young man, contemptuous-
y.
"Your-your-shadows-" stammer-
ed Willis.
The other looked as if in doubt wheth-
er to conclude him insane or intoxica-
ted, but before he could make up his
mind the door was opened again. and a
gay voice was heard to exclaim What
makes Maggie SO economical of the gas
tonight, I wonder? l was almost
why Dick pas she entered.
''Oh, This is your exclaimed Wyllis
in relief. as he turned to recognize the
pretty face and yellow hair of the true
Shadow.
''Oh, Bell! Do you know himp"
from the other girl; and simultaneously
from Dick
$50 this gentleman is an acquaint-
ance of yours, is he?"
The newcomer blushed crimson. Il
Il have seen him" she answered, eva
sively.
''Then perhaps you'll explain him."
said Dick, still indignant, .'for he goes
beyond me. Is he always as startling
and dramatic in his style as he is to-
night?"
II don't know" getting still more
covered with confusion under their
gaze. 1--WE never--never met him,
but believe he-he lives opposite"
''Aha! Lives opposite, does he? I
begin to smell a mice" said slangy
Dick. "Well, Miss Bell. judging from
the murder-and-shadow business just
now, can't say think he's very de-
sirable acquaintance for a damsel all
forlorn."
"Oh, Bell! I do hope you haven't
been doing anything imprudent, alone
by yourself here" murmured the other
girl, with an elder-sis.erly readiness to
distrust the wisdom of her junior.
"Of course Haven't Clara" retorted
Bell, a fash of anger in her blue eyes
showing that she was not at all celestial.
Wyllis was finding the situation UNI
He felt like fool. and feared
he must look like one. And this in the
presence of the divinity whom he had
for weeks been adoring! He clasped his
hat convulsively and struck into the con-
versation.
"Allow me to explain! II think I
can make Il all clear-n