The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-11

table. Its nearly III O'Clock, ana time
to clear the decks. We mustn't keep
him waiting too long; he might get dis
couraged and go away, you know"
Five minutes later Helen kissed her
husband good night, much as she might
have taken leave of him on the steps
of a gallows. When she had gone, and
Leonard heard the bolt click on the in
side of her bedroom door, he realized
that she had something less of the ar
tistic feryor to sustain her than he had.
Then pity was swallowed up in enthusi-
asm. and he made his preparations for
tahe burglars reception as carefully as
an astronomer about to take an obser-
walton the time for which would not re-
cur for another generation.
First, he unfastened all the windows
on the grouid floor and left the front
door ajar. Then he put Opaque shades
on one of the incadescent globes in the
hall and two more i'll the parlor and
dining room, so that when the other
lights were turned off n dim twilight
pervaded the lower story. This done,
he damped the matter in his bed
room till it glistened with ii dull metal
lie luster under the shaded lamp, and
sponged the front and top of a small
steel safe which stood between the win
dows.
These prelminaries arranged he strip
ped to his shirt and trousers and lay
down under the coverlet on the bed, with
his fingers touching a keyboard of cleo
trio buttons cunningly hidden beneath
the pillow, and settled himself to wait
with what sang froid there was in him.
In all his imaginings of the culminat-
ing moment in his plan he had entirely
ignored the factor of personal unhero-
ism: but after Il tense half hour of sus-
pense. he began to realize that this, too
would have to be reckoned with.
1t is one thing to be heroic by proxy
in the persons of ones puppets on pal
per, and quite another to face actual
batteries of double-shotted guns, with
flesh and blood enemies ready to jerk
the lanyards when the proper moment
arrives. Or to lie unarmed and alone in
an isolated house. awaiting the incom-
ing Of n desperate criminal, who might
be inconsiderate enough not TO listen to
explanations before putting the apollo
gist out of the running-which is much
the same thing in the end.
Leonard came face to face with the
reality. lying there in the semi-darkness
with his heart drumming in Il most un-
nerving fashion, and the perspiration
trickling from every pore, making him
damp and uncomfortable.
The success of the enterprise and,
possibly his life-hung upon the chance
of critical moment, the chance of get
ting speech with the robber before he
Should have time to commit murder.
That point safely weathered. and the
man given to understand that he was
wanted for purposes of mental ana
moral vivisection. and not vengeance.
| Leonard thought he could see plain sail
ing beyond.
But while the crucial moment re-
NAMED in allegiance, the agony of sus-
pense grew and waxed until 1t gave the
author precious glimpse beyond into
the region of hysteria-a glimpse which
he made sure he could use with telling
effect in some future story, if he should
win through the nights adventure alive
and fit.
Luckily for Leonards fortitude, which
threatened more than once to desert
him entirely. the time of waiting was
not greatly prolonged The chime of the
hall clock was still echoing the double
stroke of the half-hour after 10 when
he heard one of the parlor windows go
with noise that was anything but
ereditable to the skill of professional
housebreaker.
Leonard's finger sought the button
with the bell in Helen's room
while he waited breathlessly for a con-
frmation of the alarm. 1t did not tar
ry, There was crash, as of some one
falling over a chair, followed by a NUT
tered imprecation. and Leonard pressed
the bell push.
Now that the battle was fairly on he
felt equal to anything. and he antici-
pated the next move of the enemy with
nerves Alright That too. came quick.
ly. Ten seconds after the crash the fig
IRE of a man appeared at the open door
of the bedroom and Leonard saw that
the intruder was carrying his shoes in
his hand.
Stocking feet on the dampened metal
lie mating would simplify matters i'm
and the second signal went to
Helen with no uncertain ring.
Cautiously. and feeling his way with
his free hand, the robber crept across to
the safe; and when the outsretched
hand came in contact with the damp
metal Leonard knew that the moment
had arrived.
With one touch he sent the third sig
nal to Helen, and with another flooded
the room with a glare of light from
half a dozen electric lamps. The burglar
gasped dropped his shoes and fell back
against the safe with many emotions
for simultaneous expression
on his unbeautiful face. Leonard sat up
in bed with his hand still under the pill
low and strove to be decently calm and
ma tter-of-fact.
Good evening"" he said, Hospitality;
don't be alarmed you are in no danger
so long as you keep perfectly Quiet. If
you don't, however, you are a dead
man."
The robber obeyed the Injunction.
though his eyes were apparently meas
uriDg the distance to the floor in con-
nection with the hand under the pillow.