Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-06-21


formulated like flash i'm my dazcd 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, lookingat it and count
ing it in Us Interested IA manner as | could
fcign. Then | carefully placed 1t under
some boxes in my bureau drawer. All this
time / felt his cleaning eyes upon me,
though l did not again have the courage
to look into the glass Before ! went to
bed | knclt down to pro in hope that
some latent feeling. some inherent good
ness, might come to that wrctchcd man at
the sight of innocent devotion My only
prayer was: God help mel God help
mo-" turned the light low and laid my
self in bed acting like some one in
traLce. l thought, can this be II Can
this be Dorothy Clyde?
closed my eyes and waited. 1t seemed
a lifetime before heard Harry A Han let
himself down sver the transcm and creep
softly in his stocking feet to the foot of
my bed. Oh, the horror of It'll groaned.
l thought then that l was done for, but
he evidently took it for the breathing of
heavy sleeper and went ON over to the
bureau, opened the drawer, took the mon
ey package and stole back to the door. /
heard the key turn in fhc lock, and he
was gone
lay there some time in state Of semi
consciousness, but after what must have
been about 30 minutes pulled myself to-
gether ana managed TO prepare for my
part i'm the game. l rose hastily. dressed
and went quietly out of the lonely house
l stood waiting on our steps for the po-
liceman to pass on his beat. He saw mo
and paused. looking at me suspiciously.
Il am Miss Clyde ] said. Il came tc
town today and am staying alone in our
house. l find | have forgotten one of my
principal crrnnds. l wish TO go up to MIR
Allans hcus, He leaves early in the
morning for I .c east, and if l don't see
him tonight II will be too late, ana father
will be 50 put out. II you have any doubt
of my being Miss CLYDE, hcle is my watch
with Dorothy Clyde ON it, ana see-this is
the latchkey ct our house. -
As l showed these slight proofs Of my
identity pressed 50 bill into his hand
and was pleased at its effect and his APP
parent belief in my improyised story
"How can l serve you miss? Shall l
walk up To MIR Alians house with you:
1t ism exactly On my beat, but l can fix
that all right.
As we approached the Allan house my
then to back out and determined thai if
died for it l would make an effort to get
back that money. l asked the policeman
to ring the door bell. l wished to save all
my strength The house was dark and
quiet and it was after continued pulls at
the bell that sleepy servant let us in.
81 wish To sec Mr. Allan, said l.
"Sure, nlu.l. he's in bed "
"Ncvcr 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 de-
mand of mine.
You stay here in the hail., l said to
the policeman, and wait till | 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 ; his room, Teddy. Will you
be wanting me any more:"
"Please stay here, so you can show me
out after have seen Mr. Allan, " l replied.
With sudden courage, born of despera-
ton, knocked firmly at the door.
is that you, mother? | 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 l were n
baby. Do 60 back to bod Harry Allan
said in irritatcd tones.
"No, Harry Allan, it is l, Dorothy
Clyde, who stands outside your room. "
With that l opened the door and stopped
in. There he rat in a most detected atti-
tude Closing the door SO as not to be
overheard, l continued;
i've como for my money, you thief!
will have it, You are in my power A po-
/ liceman stands below ready 10 help me at
any moment.
For heavens sake" he cried, "there
must be some mistake Dorothy you arc
crazy"
I looked AZ him firmly in the eye, and,
/ stretching out my land, said:
MIR. Allan, if you will give me my
/ $1,000 will never tell n living soul of this
nights work. If you do not return it to
me | viii give You up to justicel"
! do you swear it, be Fasped, and his
white face grew more rallid.
Il give You my solemn word of honor, -
answered, and he trcmblingly handed
mo the package of notes just as it was
when it lay in lay bureau drawer.
Good night l said scornfully as
started to leave.
stay Let me tell you why l did it.
can't let yDu go without your knowing
that an ac1 50 low was not done except at
n moment If greatest extremity. \ fool
ish inNcstmcIt--or speculation rather
has so crippled me that unless can meet
/ a note Of 81, 900 tomorrow am Il ruined
man. l would not go TO my mother for
aid, as the last time she helped me out
promised mover to Labblc in stocks again
Whom l met yoV and saw that exact sum
in your hunG., for heard the paying teller
count it out To you. an idea came TO me
like an inspiration from satan. l learned
your plans. Everything you did seemed
to favor my Theft. IN the evening when
you sang | STOLE down stairs and unbolted
the basement door. l was well pleased
when you insisted upon staying alone, for
after Jack left | returned to the house and
entered through the basement door. How
did you know it was ~
Il saw you in the glass. My first i'm
pulse was to speak. l thought you had
come to save me from some danger, but
the expression in your face frightened me. -
"If you had spoken or screamed, would
have killed you. was mad, stark, star
ing mad Miss Clyde, you have saved me