The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-11

small steel safe which stood between
the windows.
These preliminaries arranged, he
stripped to his shirt and trousers and
lay down under the coverlet on the
bed, with his fingers touching key
board of electric 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 culmin-
ating moment in his plan he had en-
tirely ignored the factor of personal
unheroism; but after a tense half hour
of suspense 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 pa
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 in
coming of a desperate criminal. who
might be inconsiderate enough not to
listen to explanations before putting
the apologist 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-dark-
ness, with his heart drumming in a
most unnerving fashion, and the per-
spiration trickling from every pore,
making him damp and uncomfortable.
The success of the enterprise-nay
possibly his life-hung upon the
chance of critical moment, the
chance of getting speech with the rob-
Der before he should have time TO COM
init murder. That point safely wealth
cred, and the man given to under
IL ha tod for
poses of mental and moral vivisecticn,
and not vengeance, Leonard thought he
could see plain sailing beyond.
But while the crucial moment re-
manned in allegiance, the agony of sus-
penSe grew and WaXed until it gave
the author a 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 ad-
venture alive and fit.
Luckily for Leonard's fortitude,
which threatened more than once to
desert him entirely, the time of wait
ing was not greatly prolonged. The
chime of the hall clock was still echo
ing with the double stroke of the half
hour after 10 when he heard one of the
parior windows go up with a noise that
was anything but creditable to the
skill of a professional housebreaker
Leonard's finger sought the button
connecting with the bell in Helen's
room while he waited breathlessly for
a confirmation of the alarm. It did
not tarry. There was a crash, as of
someone falling over a chair, followed
by muttered imprecation, and Leon
ard 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 a-tingle. That, too, came
quickly. Ten seconds after the crash
the figure 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
mensely; 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 outstretched
hand came in contact with the damp |
metal Leonard knew that the moment i
had arrived
With one touch he sent the third sig
nal to Helen, and with another flooded |
the room with glare of light from |
half dozen electric lamps. The burg |
lar gasped, dropped his shoes and fell /
back against the safe with many emo
lions struggling Tor simultaneous eX- |
preston on his unbeautiful face. Leon |
ard sat no in bed with his hand still !
under the pillow and strove 20 be de-
Gently calm and matter-of-f
Good evening" he said Hospitality; |
don't be alarmed; you are in no dan
ger 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 We're apparently meas
uring the distance to the door in con-
nection with the hand under the pill
low.
'Wot er We givin' us?" he growled.
when the factor Of escape seemed to
have eliminated itself from the equa-
ton.
Cold facts" Leonard answered. af-
fabiy. In connection with the hazards
Of your profession you have doubtless
become more or less familiar with the
process of electrocution, have you not?''
The burglar nodded.
Il inferred as much. Well the mat
ting under your feet is metallic, and it