The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13

over HiSnt, ana Dallas went so Idf as 10
suggest that his aunt should invite Mary
TO dine with them.
Ii was a pleasant dinner for the two
young people were in excellent spirits, and
Dallas was not long before he rejoined
the ladies. He found his aunt browsing
in her favorite chair, With the Persian cat
comfortably ensconsed in her lap. Miss
Jenner was standing 1T the window.
Isn't it glorious night?" she said, en-
viously. Did you ever see such MOON
light? 1t seems almost wicked to stay in
doors and waste so much loneliness"
Come out and look at it, then" said
Dallas, unbolting the French window. 1T
is as light as day, and not a bit cold"
They went across the lawn and walked
up and down in the shadow of the great
trees. Little by little, the silence and
mystery of night laid its spell upon them.
Their light talk tagged and grew inter-
mittent Dallas began to wonder if by any
chance he was growing sentimental.
1T reminds me of The Merchant OF
Venice" Mary said softly. 1T is tho
only play of Shakespeare'S 1 have ever
seen, and moonlight always brings il back
to me-"
ION such a night" Dallas quoted Ibid
49, They had reached the edge of the
grass, and he was turning to resume his
walk, when the girl laid restraining
hand on his arm.
There is some one Sir Rogers
dressing room' she said. Il saw a mans
head reflected on the blind"
Brown, most likely" he answered cas-
lily.
81 don't think so; besides. all the ser
wants will be at supper now. There 1t is
again, and he has cap on
by Jove, that looks queer" said Dali
las, staring at the oblong patch of light
between the trees. Il believe the window
is open," he added, quickly.
Mary gathered UP her skirt under her
arm Come across the lawn" she said
I'VE can see the whole window clearly
from the long walk to the shrubbery."
They ran lightly over the grass ana
turned the clump of Deodoras which sep
arated the lawn from the broad path lead
ing to the strawberries
There's ladder up" Dallas whispered
something is wrong. Look here, will you
go back to the house the way we came
and give an alarm? in stay here, and
stop the chap if he tries to come down.
But" she answered under her breath,
'there may be more than one
They listened. Not sound broke the
stiffness of the night.
Dallas moved cautiously forward, keep
ing a sharp look out to right and left.
What are you going to do?" the girl
asked.
Take the ladder down as soon as I've
seen you cross the lawn"
Hardly were the words past his lips
than a distant sound of knocking was fol-
lowed by womans scream. The next mo-
ment the window was flung up and man
came down the ladder like flash of light
| ming.
AS he touched the ground, he caught
sight of Dallas who was close upon him,
and doubling like a hare, he leaped a cou-
| pie of flower beds, and ran for the shrub
berries. At the same instant Miss Jenner's
voice rang out clear and strong.
"Helpl Here" she cried, Brown, some
| of you, come at once. He's gone to the
| shrubbery."
| Dallas had lost ground by the fugitive's
tactics, but he followed hard on his track,
plunging through shrubs and across beds,
| with the dark figure well in sight.
| He had the advantage of knowing his
| ground, which the burglar evidently did
not, for he had diverged from the direct
line, and headed up a side walk leading to
the rose garden, where four six-foot holly
hedges must inevitably bring him to bay.
| He was big man, and ran heavily, while
Dallas, who had taken good place in ath-
letics at oxford, covered the ground with
| an even stride that momentarily reduced
| the distance between them.
The rose garden was approached by a
| trenised tunnel a six-foot block of black
| shadow between two stretches of brilliant
moonlight. AS the flying form vanished in
| the darkness, there was a fash a sharp
report, and Dallas felt the rush of cleft
air against his check as bullet whistled
| past.
The blood tingled to his finger tips, as he
dashed on.
Seeing his aim was Intellectual the burg
lar had continued his flight. but the hedges
of the rose garden held him like a rat in
trap, and Dallas was hard on his heels.
From behind came a warning cry, mind
| the The final word was lost. for as
he closed with his quarry Dallas felt tie
wires of a trained rose bed catch round
| his ankles. There was a muttered oath,
| sharp struggle, and the two men came
together to the ground, Dallas with lis
| left hand doubled useless under him with
| broken wrist
Instinctvely he knew he was fighting
! for his life now. The powerful body I'M
der, him writhed, twisted and rolled over.
The man was making frantic efforts 10
free his right arm; with his left hand he
got his assailant by the throat, and an
other second must have ended the UNEQUAL
| contest, when even as Dallas felt the fierce
| grip on his neck and knew that he was
overpowered, the burglars arm was J,ln-
ned from behind, and Mary Jenner.
| Wrencnlng the reVOiVer from his grasp,
brought the butt end down on his head
with her fun strength. Then, by main
force, she dragged the half-stunned man
Oft Dallas. and kneelng on his chest, held
the muzzle of the bull dog against his
/ temple
Half an hour later the burglar had been
securely locked up in charge of the viii
lage constable and Dallas, a trifie dazed
and shaky, was in the capable hands Ct
| DR.. Jenner.
There" said the surgeon, cheerfullly. as
he adjusted the final bandage, you keen
quiet and you'll do nicely. / will send you
a draught back by one of the men. some
thing to make you sleep, and you'd bet
ter go to bed at once / must see Lady
Dallas before l 60 I'm afraid the fright
| has upset her a little. Goodnight, shall
look in first thing in the morning"
AS soon as the door had closed on the
doctor, Dallas got up.
Just fasten my waistcoat and slip that
| jacket over my sholders. Brown. / want
to see Miss Jenner before she goes.
He went down stairs to the drawing
| room.
Mary was alone. She stood in the mid
die of the room, in her hat and cloak,
! waiting for her father IIar. faao xrae xrar.,