Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-05-06


fire are apt to jump and suck their
fingers" he unused. Matrimonial quar-
rels are so romantic OF the stage and so
easily settled; but it is real life, with a
redfaced ranger to fan 'em, the prairie
flowers are quickly swept away and
nothing left but black, baked soil. Well,
let them go it"
Hugh turned into side street and
stopped before a mean looking shop,
whose windows bore the proud insignia
of Lombardy and displayed a motley
collection of diamonds, harmonicas. re-
volvers, watches, flutes, and razors.
When he came out few minutes later
his derby hat had been replaced by a
broad brim, and his demure black frock
coat by velveteen shooting jacket He
gave his dropping mustache an upward
twist and grinned namely, and looked
far more like German tenor out of a Job
than the confidential clerk of Il reputable
forwarding house.
1t was a fall day, sunshiny, brilliant,
with zest to the air like the Jingle of
wine. Hugh took car to the park and
then strolled across toward Sammis
street, in which the Tracey mansion was
situated. There were but few pedes-
trians abroad, here and there a maid
trundling her charge or watching its
play from one of the benches; but Hugh
saw no futtering CLEAN of little Mary's
golden curls. lie reached a clump Of
evergreens from which he could espy the
house where she was held. To the left
was grove, and beyond this terrace,
at the foot of which ran the street
through which he had arrived.
On the upper and lower sides of the
grove were broad fields, on which the
school children were permitted to play
croquet and tennis. But now these were
deserted. Indeed, if the park was lonely
mornings, this was its loneliest part ;
hardly sound, hardly a motion, save the
crackle of a falling twig or the lazy
curl of smoke from great piles of burning
leaves.
Hugh found an obscure seat and draw
ing his hat over his eyes thrust his hands
into his breeches pockets, outstretched
his long legs, seeming to sleep, narrowly
watched.
Presently flaxen-haired, robust maid
was busted with the ice at the Tracey's
basement entry, and then Hugh awoke.
What more natural than that a poor
German exile should dare approach and
accost q woman of his race What
more natural than that blue-eyed Mad
chen should chatter at the joyful sound
of her mother tongue
Oh. yes, she was more than busy.
She could not linger with the much.to-
be-commiserated respectable stranger.
Her mistress was a housewife with the
eye of II lynx, and her mistress's daughter
had arrived to visit and was quite i'll, and
she must attend on her and the little girl.
besides the many duties Of the ordinary
day. A pleasant hour for a stroll with
the child? Indeed it was, and more the
pity. Her mistress would not let her
grandhild out of her sight; did she fear
that she might harm one so innocentl
And the Madchen shrugged her plump
shoulders and hurried into the house as
the whistle resounded an6 a shrill voice
strained the tube.
So Hugh, by a circutous route, re-
turned to his eyric and waited, feeling
rather discouraged. But by and by the
door of the Tracey mansion opened and
slammed, and a short, stout, rcd faced
woman, who looked angry with herself
since there was no other suitable antago-
MIST present. came down the steps. tightly
grasping a child by the hand. A dainty
little girl, with long golden hair and
happy eyes that danced impatient to the
restraint of her grandmother's stride.
She marched up the street as if to bas-
ton. She wheeled at the corner and en-
tered the park by that very path near
which Hugh lay in ambush. and little
Mary skipped blithely by her side like a
Cupid attending one of the Fates.
deuce take it, " muttered Hugh. al
never shall have better chance.
There's not soul in sight. But what
can do? can't loosen those bread
hooks short of garroting."
He withdrew the closer among the
evergreens as the pair approached, and
lazy curl OF the smoke caught his eve
aud sug Iested a wicked design. But
there was success in it, for SAINT or
shrew, victim or vixen, would surely be
affected alike by such peril. He deity
wove a wiSp of leaves, twigs and gr s..
He lighted it. He crept behind tn ma
iron and dropped it on her trailing
wooden skirt In an instant he was by
Her side with hands upraised and alarm
prorruding eyes.
beg pardon, Ma'am,' be shouted
"but your dress Is all ablaze."
Now Il there was one thing PERSONS
were out of the ruDning-that the Widow
Tracy feared it was fire Their, was a
DIR, ctness about il which she could ap-
preciate. Her lecture on lamps which
she delivered whenever new servant
was engaged. and nsequently very
often, would have been d puteat adver
t.ing IN dunn for a. electric light com
pany. And so. rs she looked behind her
and suw the smudge, she lost her head
anu found her feet al the same moment
Without a thought OF the chi d, sue sped
across the lawn toward Der home. sur
pri.ing the air with singular scteams.
Hugh stamped on the wisp, which be
had adroitly Kicked from the skirt. and
then, raising the terrified little Girl in
his arms disappeared through the wind
ings Of the grove. A momcut later thcy
We're seated IN "a downtown car. little
Murts nontaufntllt tftunrhfYfs Hoe rr..,s,..