The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-06-28

coat, towsled his hair, and taking hi
shoes in his hand cfept up to the head o.
the stairs, prepared to wait.
Mr.. Childers was never hard drinker
but sometimes when the company at the
club was especially conviyial, and the hoi
stuff particularly good, and when he had
enjoyed a fine run OF luck at cards, be
would imbibe just enough Of the potent
teddy or punch to make hima little mel
low and hilarious, and then his head was
not as clear as it was wont to be, nor his
perceptions quite as accurate. From the
end Of his street he always looked for the
light shining through the hall window
of his own house, as a beacon ray to guide
his footsteps home on the darkest night.
There was no gas lamp just in that
part of the street, and the hall lamp was
naturally his safest guide. Now the
night being somewhat overcast, with a
white fog rising from the river, Mr..
Childers' perceptions were slightly OBJ
scured. he looked for the cheering ray
from the window, and saw it plainly boz
fore him, but the familiar objects about
his own house seemed not to be exactly
in the right place. After imbibing con-
siderable hot toddy Mr.. Childers knew
that old landmarks are apt to shift In
an extraordinary manner. He had ex-
perienced this peculiar illusion several
times before. lie had never, however,
allowed it to obscure his clear Judgment
of places the result of experience. 1t
was always safe, he knew, to be guided
by the home light. Now in the mist
trees and houses took on the oldest
shapes, and the steeple of neighboring
church seemed to have been knocked
into cooked hat.
Mr.. Childers walked very erect. nor
did he mutter to himself. He felt no in
clination to embrace a la1nppost. nor te
lean against the fence wan his hat
pitched over his eyes, and make an address
to group of his imaginary fellow citi-
zens. lie was as sure of himself as any
man need be as he fumbled about a lit
tie in the fog to find the way to his own
door.
Mark heard the clock strike one and
lost heart. Old Childers never remained
out later than one. It wasemore than
probable his little ruse had failed. The
crafty old fox had been too cunning to
fall into the trap. At that very moment
came the sound of stealthy steps on the
veranda. The old man had smelled the
bait after all. He had stopped to slip off
his shoes not to wake his wife, and was
bringing them in his hand Mark heard
him cautiously open the door, lock and
bolt it noiselessly, then tiptoe into his
own little room and tumble about in
search Of match and his bedroom can
die.
At that instant Mark, who was saying
to himself that all is fair in love AND
war, bounded down the steps like a
young panther, his suspenders hanging,
his shirt open at the throat and hair
wildly towsled, as If just aroused from
sleep. In less than half q minute he was
in his fathers little Office, where Chill
ders was fumbling about the open safe
in search of his bedroom candle. Mark
leaped upon him and pinioned his two
arms in a grasp of iron. The old mans
hat ard glasses fell off. He stood, after
the FIRST struggle, gasping stupidity with
his mouth open.
"You Internal scoundrelr' he muttered
as Mark let go his arms and stood con-
fronting him in the dim light, ''are you
trying to rob my house?"
Mark smiled peculiar smile. 'Loolx
there, Mr.. Cllilders, at my fathers safe.
Do you know where you are2"
The old man sank heavily into chair,
and putting his fat hands on his knees
gazed up bewildered into Marks face.
sYou don't tell me that this is Spot
ford's house, and that THAT l have
been caught trying to rob his safer"
Mark had softly closed the door and
lighted little lamp that stood on the
chimney piece.
Looks bad, deuced bad" said he,
strolling about the room with his hands
in his pockets.
"Loolz here. Mark Spofford. " and the ole
man gazed up with a heavy and troubled
eye In his face, 81 have known you ever
since You were born. I've carried you
on my back many time when you were
q little shaver Yer wore for years as
near to me as my own son. Now, You
don't, you can't, think I sneaked in here
to rob your father. had been to the club
and spent jolly evening. and suppose
must have taken too much hot toddy
which, to tell the truth, was uncommon
ly strong. 1t was a foggy night, and
made mistake in the house, that is all
Now, don't you believe me, Mark Spot
ford?'
"But the open SAFE" said Mark witt
deep gravity. "That is suspicious cir
cumstance most people will find it hard
to explain away"
'Bnt / am not a pauper," cried Child
ers, losing his temper II am a rich
man. What could tempt man of ny
character and standing to such an in
sane actg"
'But you hate nay father" returned
Mark judicially sYou have sworn tx
injure him, and are known to be his bit
ter, unrelenting enemy, You have sale
and done all in your power to make hi
life miserable. Now you see yourself
sir, the case has very ugly look"
Childers' mouth quivered, blur came
over his eyes, his chin sagged down OF
his breast, his arms hung helpless at hi.
sides.
This thing, if it gets ont, will ruiz
me, Mark. 1t viii wither me root ant
branch. l shall be cashiered at tn,
| club, shall be posted as a villain and ;