The Portland daily press., 1895-07-12

hair, and when l had finished / went tc
the pocket Of my gown and took out the
package of money, looking at it and count
ing it in as interested manner as could
feign. Then I 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. Before went to
bed I knelt down to pray in hope that
some latent feeling, some inherent good
ness, might come to that wretched man at
the sight of innocent devotion. NV only
prayer was: "God help mal God help
mel" 1 turned the light low and laid my
self in bed, acting like some one in
trance. I thought, can this be II Can
this be Dorothy Clyde?
closed my eyes and waited. 1t seemed
a lifetime before I heard Harry Allan let
himself down over the transom and creep
softly in his stocking feet to the foot of
my bed. Oh, the horror of it! groaned.
I thought then that was done for, but
he evidently took 1t for the breathing of a
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 the lock, and he
was gone.
lay there some time in state of semi
consciousness, but after what must have
been about 30 minutes 1 pulled myself to-
gether and managed to prepare for my
part in the game. rose hastily, dressed
and went quietly out Of the lonely house.
L stood waiting on our steps for the po-
Hceman to pass on his beat. He saw me
and paused, looking at me suspiciously.
II am Miss Clyde" said. II came to
town today and am staying alone in our
house. find have forgotten one of nv
principal errands. wish to go up to Mr..
Allan's house. He leaves early in the
morning for the east, and if I don't see
him tonight it will be too late and father
will be SO put out. If you have any doub.
of my being Miss Clyde, here is my watch,
with Dorothy Clyde on 1t, and see-this is
the latchkey of our house.
AS I showed these slight proofs of my
identity 1 pressed S5 bill into his hand
and was pleased at it's effect and his ap-
parent belief In my improvised story.
How can l serve you, miss? Shall ]
walk up to Mr.. Allans house with youf
1t isn't exactly on my beat, but can fix
that all right"
AS we approached the Allan house my
OOdAoSO Oo3A6 w 4dAl, buu L W1o dSuttlQ0u
then to back out and determined that if
died for 1t I would make an effort to get
back that money. asked the policeman
my strength. The house was dark and
quiet and it was after continued pulls at
the bell that sleepy servant let us in.
IT wish to see Mr.. Allan" said l.
"Sure mum, he's in bed"
ftNovay, wind ho Sc To1-o 49,. H. A..
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 hall, 1 said to
the policeman, "and wait till I want you
to walk home with, I added, seeing his
surprised look.
We paused on the landing and the girl
pointed to a door at the head of the stairs
"Sure, that's his room, Teddy. Will you
be wanting me any more?'
"Please stay here, SO you can show me
out after have seen Mr.. Allan, replied
With sudden courage, born of despera-
tion, I knocked firmly at the door,
is that you, mother? 1 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 a
baby. Do go back to bed" Harry Allan
said In irritaked tones.
"No, Harry Allan, it is I, Dorothy
Clyde, who stands outside your room. %
With that I opened the door and stepped
in. There he sat in most detected atti-
tude. Closing the door SO as not to be
overheard, continued:
"I've come for my money, you thief I
will have it! You are in my powerl A po-
Hceman stands below ready to help me at
any moment"
For heavens sake, he cried, "there
must be some mistake! Dorothy, you are
crazy!"
I looked at him firmly in the eye, and,
stretching out my hand, said:
"Mr. Allan, il you will give me my
81, 900 Twill never tell living soul of this
nights work II you do not return it to
me will give you up to justice!"
Do you swear itP' he gasped, and his
white face grew more pallid.
II give you my solemn word of honor"
answered. and he tremblingly handed
me the package of notes, just as it was
when it lay in my bureau drawer.
GOOD night" I said scornfully as /
started to leave.
"Stay! Let me tell you why did it,
can't let you go without your knowing
that an act so low was not done except at
a moment of greatest extremity. A fool
ish 1nvestment-or speculation rather
has so crippled me that unless can meet
note Of 81, 200 tomorrow am ruined
man. would not go to my mother for
aid, as the last time she helped me out
promised never to dabble in stocks again.
When met You and saw that exact sum
in your hands, for heard the paying teller
count it cut to you, an idea came to me
like an inspiration from satan. 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. was well pleased
when you Insisted upon staying alone, for
after Jack left returned to the house and
entered Though the basement door. How
did you know it was II"
II saw you in the glass. My first i'm
pulse was to speak. T thought you had
come to saye 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
from myself. May God bless you."