Evening star., 1897-05-08

three coins, nickel and two coppers.'
HIM. Now up again and try the other
Ah, you don't like that Got a knife, per-
haps, my friend, or another pistol.'
The man shook his head, but still hesi-
tated.
Turn them out,' said De Peyster, saw
agely. No tricks, or it'll be the worse for
you!"
The others left hand came down slowly
anG turned the breast pocket of his short
jumper wrong side out.
Empty! Well, now the other!'
The thin-gloved hand shook a little as
it fumbled in the trousers pocket Then
1t came out. slowly withdrawing-a baby's
rubber rattle!
De Peyster gasped. What on earth
lcok here. old chap. you're down on your
luck, aren't your
The man nodded.
Drop your hands and sit down in that
chair. Now, then, before 1 hand you over
to the police, / want to ask one or two
questions. You needn't answer unless you
want to. and you needn't speak anyway.
Then / shouldn't remember your voice If
didn't want to. Is that all the money you
! have got about your pointing to the seven
cents on the floor.
The discounted criminal nodded.
Got more at home, l suppose?'
A decided shake of the head.
Married man?'
ALotner nod.
Children"
The guilty head nodded again, and
dropped little.
having some sort of a struggle with him
self He was looking at the rattle, which
the man still retained in his gloved hand
travesty upon the murderous weapon
before.
Look here" said De Peyster, a sudden
thought striking him, ARE there any more
of your sort in the house just now?'
The same mute denial.
"Ill just turn the key. all the same, to
guard against Interruption suiting the
action to the word. mot that l doubt
what you say" he added apologetically, as
Another silence. The affair was becom-
ing embarrassing.
Say, old chap Reginald broke out at
length. glancing at the thin wrists, 'it oc-
ours to me that it's just barely possible
that you're not a regular hand at this sort
Of thing, and are driven into 1t by hard
times?"
A pair of dark eyes, through the mask.
seemed to meet his with a pleading ex-
PRESTON as their owner assented to his
captor's suggestion.
You might be even, well, say, hungry?'
Another nod more vigorous than before
sit right up to that table and finish of
my lunch, then" exclaimed the young man,
with rush OF generous emotion he could
not resist. "Pll trust you with the-well,
l know you'll act on the square, won't
your
There was no mistake about the earnest
| ness of the assent this time. AS the man
rose and walked across the floor, De Pey-
ster noticed that he lmped slightly and
looked feebler than ever.
Don't take your gloves nor your mask
on II you can get along as you are," said
the host Luckily it's domino. SO you
can eat under the fiap."
The burglar devoured the food raven
ously and in silence.
Sorry, I've got nothing up here stronger
than lemonade, continued Reginald, re-
gretfully, as he poured out a glass of the
lukewarm beverage. Il could have some
wine brought up
very decided shake Of the head.
ON, hang it, 1 forgot" added the host,
with ludlcrous haste.
We'll. had enough? Yes? Finish 1t right
up, you know, If you want to. No? Then
we'll be moving"
The featureless masked face turned to-
ward him.
'Of course, 1 ought to take you to the
station and give you up" said Reginald,
thoughtfully, but on the whole think /
won't. III give you another chance"
TREMENDOUSLY
I'm not going to give you any money"
SAID Reglnald, with vague sense of the
ridiculous situation, and the hopeless
laughter which would greet him should his
adventure get out among the boys; but
I'll keep your pistol and the rattle-buy
them OF you. That'n give you something
TO start with II you really want to quit
this business"
He picked up the pocket book and ex-
tracted a crisp SO bill. handed 1t to the
burglar, whose amazement and gratitude
| poured through their only vents, the eye
holes OF the black mask.
NOW, II you please, my friend. I'll light
you down stairs"
| Softly the two crept down over the deep
AxmiaSter carpets to the front door, as II
| they were pair Of successful burglars
| Good night, old man." whispered ReRi-
maid. If anybody about your height
4 should come to my office, 16 High street.
| tomorrow morning at 10. / might help him
| ABOUT getting a situation. He'd be n
| stranger to me, of course"
| He took the gloved hand-it felt singular
iy frail and thin in his own-for an Instant.
| and then the tall. shambling figure limped
| rapidly away. Reginald could see that he
| paused a moment in the shadow of the first
| tree, and knew that he was removing the
mask A moment more and the burglar
| was lost to sight
Glad you 'ad such a good happetite.
| sir, said Thomson as his master came
down to breakfast next morning. II was
| feared you wouldn't like the meat, sir:
twas such 'ot night"
| "Ah: yes. Thomson" said Reginald.
good indeed. You needn't bring any to-
night. though. The cake will be quite
enough,
As he was smoothing his six hat just be