The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-07-16

work Of an instant. Mark seemed to
obey an irresistible impulse. he dipped
Of his shoes, tiptOed up the steps, softly
opened and shut the outer door without
. sound, and was then In the abode Of
hiS divinity, where the very air seemed
warmed and peFfumed BY her pressnca
he Rlided into the darkest corner Of the
drawing room, filed with distilled odofs
from the great Jam Of roses Shs had ar-
ranged that morning.
The piano was open, and the keys
seemed warm with the touch Of her
white hngera. The books she had been
reading lying on Q little table IN her own
pet corner, and an embroidery frame
laid aside near . banjo-the one he had
given her yeaFs ago-an spoke Of her
gentle influence. Marx, buried In an
armchair, fell INTO % profound . reverie
he took no note Of time, until suddenly
. latch hey grated In the lock and
Q quick step entered the hall Mark
knew that step Itwas Tom, Whistling
under his breath little opera air. Tom
had taken the longest ITO escort Miss
Amy Nash to her home, and had now
stopped under the han lamp, smiling to
himself At the thought Of one or two lit
Tie JOKES he had been able 10 get Of,
which, albeit, rather ''moldy chestnuts,"
had made Mis Amy laugh imnoderate-
y. At that moment Tom regarded him.
Sslf 10 . dsucodly clever fellow. And,
moreover, he had felt emboldened at
parting 10 give Miss Amy's hand . ten
der squeeze, and had ahstrActed ring,
which be was now trying on his little
finger, turning II in the hight 10 catch
the reelection Of the ''catseye." Evident
y Miss Amy was ''mashed" on Tom,
and the conviction filed him with pride.
Meantime, Mark, sitting in Q dark cor
ner Of the drawing room. with the door
open into the hall. was in Q peculiarly
ticklish situation. There was no time
even to slip behind the wiDAow curtain,
and the slightest movement might be-
tray him. Mark, in any case, would not
have made Amovement 10 hida Hs had
always been able 10 whip Tom in their
boyish encounters, and he thought that
he could now trust to his muscle should
be be discovered But happily Tom, In
total ignorance Of the proximity Of the
enemy, went TO his own room, and pres
emily the whole house was sunk In slum-
Der. ir
An idea had come into Marks invent
i've head. He chuckled over 70 Slightly
a. the thought dAwned upon him. There
would be no harm in trying the plan,
and IL II failed who would ever be the
wiser? A little seven by nine apartment
opened oR the broad hall Of the Childers
mansion, known In the family Is ''papa's
room" There, on . little table, when
''papa" staid out late at the club, was
placed his bedroom candle ready 10 his
hand. A the Spoford house was built
on the same general plan, the little room
corresponding 10 this was dedicated to
old Mr.. 6poRord Here stood the writ
ing desk Of the master Of the house, and
some bookcases where he kept . mAll
library. Here he transacted his local
.business a. town oflcer, and received
his male friends who dropped IN 10 chat
at odd houfs.
But the spoROrd eden" had one i'm
portant piece Of furniture Of which the
corresponding room In the ChilderS
house was destitute-a money safe. with
Q combination lock. Mark noted that
the little table where the bedroom can
die stood awaiting the return Of the
master Of the house was In almost the
enact position Of the safe In his fathers
room 81 home He therefore cautiOusly
turned ont the hall light, put down the
night lAtch. and softly closed tho door
behind him. The SpoRord house was
profoundly dark and silent under the
stairs, but fortunately Mark had his own
ksy In his pocket, BY which he could let
himself IN. he listened for sounds from
the kitchen. Not q whisper. The ssrv.
ants had all been In bed and asleep for
ct least an hour. Mark, like . guilty
c6nspirator,. lighted the hall lamp and
put up the night latch. He tiptoed into
his fathers room In his stockings, and
striking . match examined . certain
place behind . small cupboard door,
where he remembered to have seen his
father mark up the combination in pen-
oil 10 aid q somewhat treacherous men,
0ry. Yes. there Il was, plain q day
light-two thousand and Ex. But what
ifthe old man had changed the combina-
ton. At any rate, Il was worth trying.
The safe door gently opened 10 Marks
conspiring. He looked within. and saw
Q sum Of money In banlmOteA
Marks arrangements were now nearly
complete. He took OF his coat and waist
coat, towsled his hair, and taking his
shoes in his hand crept up TO the head Of
the stairs, prepared 70 wait