The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-07-17

4
laughed Harry, and, bidding me good
by, ran down the steps. Jack stayed
a few minutes longer, and then said I:
Good night, foolish little girl.
You will be sorry tomorrow, when
you see mo looking worn and haggard
after a sleepless night worrying about
you. You ought to be made to obey,
but declare can't undertake task
at which your parents have so signally
| failed"
And dear, sweet Jack kissed me
goodnight and left.
When he was really gone regretted
the foolish pride that had made me
stick to my threat OF remaining alone
in that great, dreary house, but re-
pentance came too late. Feeling
nervous and excited, took book to
my room and read ior a half-hour or
80, trying toquiet my disturbed nerves.
Finally, getting somewhat sleepy, 1
began to prepare for bed. As 1
stepped to the dressing case to braid
my hair for the night the first glance
into the mirror revealed the face of
Harry Allan at the transom. My first
thought was that was in some danger
and he had come to protect me. My
impulse was to call him by name, but
as l looked again his desperate ex-
preston showed me that should 1
speak or scream no course would be
too brutal for him. For one moment
felt numb and cold, and any action
seemed impossible, but / reused my
self and by what now seems an almost
superhuman effort forced myself to
carry out plan that formulated like
a flash in my dazed brain.
With trembling hands arranged
my hair and when / had finished /
went to the pocket OF my gown and
took out the package of money, look
ing at it and counting it in as inter
esting q manner as l could feign.
Then l carefully placed it under some
boxes in my bureau drawer. All this
time l felt his cleaning eyes upon
me, though did not again have the
courage to look into the glass. Be-
fore went to bed / knelt down to
pray, in hope that some latent feel
ing, some inherent goodness, might
come to that wretched man at the
sight of innocent devotion. My only
prayer was, "God help mel God help
mel" l turned the light low and laid
myself in bed, acting like some one in
a trance. 1 thought can this be /, can
this be Dorothy Clyde?
closed my eyes and waited. 1t
seemed @ lifetime before heard Harry
Allan let himself down over the tran
som and creep softly in his stocking
feet to the foot of my bed. Oh, the
horror Of it 1 groaned. 1 thought
then that / was done for, but he evil
IDENTIFY took it for the breathing of a
heavy sleeper and went on over to the
bureau, opened the drawer, took the
money package and stole back to the
door. / heard the key turn in the
lock and he was gone!
l lay there some time in q state of
semi.consciousness, but after what
must haYe been about thirty minutes
/ pulled myself together and managed
to prepare for my part in the game. l
rose hastily, dressed and went quietly
out of the lonely house. / stood wait
ing on our steps for tho policeman to
pass on his beat. He saw me and
paused, looking at mo suspiciously.
81 am Miss Clyde" / said. 81 came
to town to-day. and am staying alone
in our house. find have forgotten
one of my principal errands. 1 wish
to go up to Mr.. Allan's house. He
leaves early in the morning for the
East, and if don't see him tonight it
will be too late and father will be SO
put out. If you have any doubt of
my being Miss Clyde, here is my
watch, with Dorothy Clyde on it, and
see-this is the latchkey of our
house."
AS showed these slight proofs OF
my identity pressed a So bill into
his hand, and was pleased ht its effect
and his apparent belief in my impro-
vised story.
Chow can l serve you, miss? Shall
] walk up to Mr.. Allan's house with
youP 1t isn't exactly on my beat, but
I can fix that all right"
As we approached the Allan house
my courage began to fail, but / was
ashamed then to back out and deter
mined that if / died for it ] would
makean effort to get back that money.
l asked the policeman to ring the door
bell. 1 wished to save all my strength.
The house was dark and quiet and 1t
was after continued pulls at the bell
that a sleepy maid servant let us in.
81 wish to see Mr.. Allan" said l.
''Sure, mum, he's in bed.
"Never mind if he is. Take me to
the door of his room"
The stupid girl was too far gone
with sleep to see anything unusual in
this demand of mine.
"You stay here in the hall. said
to the policeman, "and wait till l want
you-to walk home with" 1 added,
seeing his surprised look.
We paused on the landing and the
girl pointed to door at the head of
the stairs.
''Sure, that's his room, Teddy. viii
you be wanting me any more?"
please stay here, SO you can show
me out after l have seen Mr.. Allan,
replied.
With sudden courage, born of des-
peration, 1 knocked firmly at the
door.
is that you, mother? l am all
right. You are old enough to know
better than to prowl around in the
middle of the night, worrying about
ma oa 20 xyara a I,aI,,y n, 20 hool,