Evening star., 1898-10-08

lhcredulously curious as It went on. His
curiosity grew. Already, If that was the
case this extraordinary man must have
counted some hundreds of pounds. At last
MI Ledbetter could resist 1t no longer, and
ne h3gan very cautiously to fold his arms
and lower his head to the level of the floor
IN the hope of peeping under the valance.
He moved his feet, and one made a slight
scrapng on the floor Suddenly the cfnk-
ing ceased. Mr. Ledhetter became rigid.
After awhile the ch!nking was resumed.
ihen 1t ceased again and everything was
Stll-eXcept Mr.. Ledbetter's heart. The
organ seemed to him to be beating like a
drum.
The stiffness continued. Mr. Ledbetter's
head was now on the floor and he could see
the stout legs as far UP as the shins Tn2y
were quite still. The feet were resting on
the toes and were drawn back, as it seem
ed, under the chair of the owner Every
'hlnS was quite still, everything continued
stili a wild hope came to Mr.. Ledbetter
that the unknown was in a fit or suddenly
dead, with his head upon the writing
The stiffness continued. What had hap
pened? The desire to peep became irresis-
tble Very cautiously Mr.. Ledbetter shift
ed his hand forward, projected a pioneer
hnger and began to lift the valance i'm
n,edlately next his eye. Nothing broke the
Stiffness. He saw now the strangers knees,
saw the back of thu writing table, and
then-he was staring at the barrel of
heaVy revolver pointed over the writing
table at his head.
Come out Of that you scoundrelr' said
the voice of tho stout gentleman in tons
oi quiet concentration Come out. This
side, and now. None of your hanky -panky
come right out, now"
Mr.. Ledbetter came right out q little ra-
luctantly, perhaps, but without any hanky-
panky, and at once, even as he was told
kneel,' said the stout gentleman "and
hold up your hands,
The valance dropped again behind Mr.
Ledbetter, and he rose from all fours and
held up his hands. Dressed like a par
SON. said the stout gentleman. I'm
ID If he isn't! A little chap. too. You
scoundrel! What the devil possessed you to
come here tonight? What the devil pos
sessed you to get under my bed?"
he did not appear to require answer,
put proceeded at once to several very OBJ
Jectlonable remarks upon Mr.. Ledbetter's
personal appearance. He was not a very
big man, but he looked strong to Mr. Led
Dettef' ne was as stout as his legs had
promised. He had rather delicately chisel-
ed small features, distributed over con-
siderable area of whitish face, and num-
Der Of chins. And the note of his voice had
sort of whispering undertone.
get under my bed?'
Mr.: Ledbetter, by an effort, smiled wan,
propitiory smile. He coughed Il can't
quite understand" he said, 80
Why, what on earth?-''
It's soap! No-you scoundreL Don't YOU
move that hand
ITS soap" said Mr.. Ledbetter, from
your washstand. No doubt if"
Don't talk" said the stout man. Il see
It's soap. OF all incredible thingsr'
IF l might explain"
Don't explain. It's sure to be lie, and
there's no time for explanations. What
was l going TO ask you? All! Have you any
mates?'
In a few minutes, if you"
Have you any mates, d-n you. If you
start any soapy palaver I'll shoot. Have
you any mates?''
NO" said Mr. Ledbetter.
Il suppose it's lie," saiathe stout man
but you'll pay for it if it is. Why the
ueVli didn't you floor me when l came up
stairs? You won't get a chance to. now,
anyhow. Fancy getting under the bed. |
reckon it's a fair cop, anyhow, so far as
you are concerned"
don't see how could prove an alibi,"
remarked MIR. Ledbetter, trying to show by
bis conversation that he was an educa ted
man. There was a pause Mr. Ledbetter
perceived that on chair beside his captor
was large black bag on a heap of crum-
pied papers, and that there We're torn and
burned papers on the table. And in front
OF these. and arranged methodically along
the edge, ware rows and rows of little vel
low rouleaux-a hundred times more gold
than Mr.: Ledbetter had seen in all his life
before The light of two candles in silver
candteaticks fell upon these. The pause
continued TT is rather fatiguing holding
up my hands like this" said Mr.. Ledbetter,
with a deprecatory smile.
That's all right" said the fat man "Rut
what to do with you don't exactly know"
know my position is ambiguous"
'Lord.' said the fat man. "Amb:guous,
ana goes about with his own soap, and
wears laundering great clerical colIarI
You are a blooming burglar, you ar.-if
ever there was onen'
TO be strictly accurate" said Mr. Led
ostter-and suddenly his glasses slipped off
and clattered against his vest buttons
The tat man changed countenance, a flash
of savage resolution crossed his face. and
something in the revolver clicked He put
MS other hand to the weapon. And then
he looked at Mr.. Ledbetter. and his eve