The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-06-21
Finally getting somewhat sleepy

Ny impulse was TO call MIN by name,
but as | looked again his desperate
expression showed me that should |
speak or scream no course would be
too brutal for him. For one moment
| felt dumb and cold, and any action
seemed impossible, but | reused my
self and by what now seemed an al
most superhuman effort / forced my
self to carry out Il plan that formulat-
ed like Il 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 u manner as | could feign.
Then | carefully place it under some
boxes in my bureau drawer. All
this time felt his cleaning eyes upon
me, though | did not again have the
courage to look into the glass. Before
| went to bed | knelt down to pray,
in hope that some latent feeling, some
inherent goodness, might come to that
wretched man at the sight of innocent
devotion. My only prayer was, God
help me God help Inc ~ | turned
the light low and laid myself i'll bed,
acting like some one in a trance.
thought can this be l, can this be
Dorothy Clyde?
| closed my eyes and waited. 1t
seemed a lifetime before l heard Har-
ry Allan let himself down over the
transom and creep softly in his stock
ing feet to the foot of my bed. Oh,
the horror of it! l groaned.
thought then that | was done for, but
he evidently 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. l heard the key
turn in the lock and he was gone!
| lay there some time in a state of
semi consciousness, but after what
must have been about thirty minutes
| pulled myself together and managed
to prepare for my part in the game. |
rose hastily, dressed and went quietly
out of the lonely house. stood wait
ing on our steps for the policeman to
pass on his beat. He saw me and
paused, looking at me suspiciously.
II am Miss Clyde" | said. Il came
to town today, and am staying alone
in our house. | find have forgotten
one of my principal errands. l wish
to go up to Mr.. Allan's house. He
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 S. bill into his
hand, and was pleased at its effect
and his apparent belief in my impro-
vised story
"How can serve you miss? Shall
walk up to Mr.. Allan's house with
you? 1t isn't exactly on my beat, but
can fix that all right
AS we approached the Allan house
my courage began to fail, but 1 was
ashamed then to back ont and deter
mined that if 1 died for it would
make an effort to get back that money.
I asked the policeman to ring the door
bell wished to save all my strength.
The house was dark and quiet and it
was after continued pulls at the bell
that sleepy maid servant let us in.
81 wish to see Mr.. Allan" said I.
Sure, mum, he's III bed"
Never mind if he is. Take Inc to
the door of his room"
with sleep to see anything unusual in
this demand of mine.
You stay here III the hall, said
to the policeman, ''iind wait till I want
you-to walk home with L 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. Will
you be wanting me any more p
please stay here, so you can show
me out after 1 have seen Mr.. Allan" 1
replied.
With sudden courage, born of des-
peration, knocked firmly at the door.
rs that you, mother? I am all
right. You are old enough to know
better than to prowl around in the
middle of the night, worrying about
me as if | were IL baby. Do 90 back
to bed" Harry Allan said, in irritated
tones
No, Harry Allen, it is l, Dorothy
Clyde, who stands outside your room.
With that l opened the door and
stepped it. There he sat in Il most
detected attitude. Closing the door
so as not to beOverheard | continued
y
[ will have it. You are in my power
A policemen stands below ready to
help Inc at any moment.
For heavens sake" he cried,
''there must be some mistake Doro
thy, you are crazy ~
l looked at him firmly in the eye,
and, stretching out my hand, said:
- Mr.. Allen, if you will give me my
! 81 900 1 will never tell living soul OF
/ this nights work. If you do not re
turn it to Inc 1 will give you up tc
justicen'
"Do you swear itn' he gasped. and
| his white face grew more pallid.
II give you my solemn word of hon
Or" 1 answered, and he tremblingly
handed me the package of notes, JUS
as it was when it lay i'll my bureau
drawer
Goodnight" 1 said scorntully, as
started to leave.
Stay. Let me tell you why 1 did it
1 can't let you go without your know
ing that All act so low was not done
except IL moment of greatest eXtrem
| ity. A foolish investment-or specu
lation, rather-has so crippled me
| that unless l can meet a note of $1,000
| tomorrow 1 am q ruined man.
would not go to my mother for aid, AZ
the last time she helped Inc out
promised never to dabble in stock!
again. When met you and saw tha'
exact sum in your hands, for 1 hearC
the paying teller count it out to you
an idea came TO me like all inspira
ton from Satan. Learned your plans
Everything you did seemed to favo
my theft. In the evening, when you
sang, 1 stole down stairs and unbolteC
the basement door. 1 was well pleas
ed when you insisted upon staying
alone, for after Jack left l returned t.
the house and entered through tn,
basement door. How did you know
it was I?'
Il saw you in the glass. Ny frs
impulse was to speak. 1 thought you
had come to save me from some dan
ger, but the expression in your fac,
frightened me-"
'If you had spoken or screamed
would have killed you. 1 was mad
stark, staring mad! Miss Clyde, you
have saved me from myself-may Goo
bless youn'
Prove your gratitude by going t.
your mother for help" 1 answered
"she has never failed you yet" 81
saying I left, clinging tenaciously to
that hated money.
When we arrived at home 1 CAV,
my stalwart escort another greenback
confessing to him that 1 was quite
timid and asking him to especial.
guard the house during the rest of tn
night.
In the morning, when Jack came,
threw myself into his arms and criet
as if my heart would break.
"Oh, Jack; have had such hor
|