Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-12-18

had been out on business and would
stop there for a minute or two at his
desk Perhaps there was, after all, a
chance for escape. He was cool and
careful He dropped the jewels on
the bed. 1t would not do to be caught
with them about him. And he went
out.
The door squeaked this time, and the
! young wife started in her sleep, awoke
and half rose in her bed.
Donaghue at the same time heard
the shuttle of feet in the room below.
He paused and listened at the top of
! the stairs.
| Even though the man had heard the
door squeak, he had not left the back
room.
Donaghue tripped down the stairs
as softly as a cat. He had been in a
tight fix before, and he was never
i~cleverer than when he knew that he
was in danger.
But luck was against him. There
was a fur rug at the foot of the stairs.
The floor beneath was polished. He
slipped and fell, and in spite Of himself
he uttered an exclamation thatwas pro-
fame enough to be Enthusiastically mas
culine. He heard the man rush from
the library, and how it all happened
he hardly knew, but some way or other
he managed to dash into the dark par
lor, to throw open the window and
jump out.
lie expected to fall at least eight or
ten feet. He did not fall two. He had
jumped out on a porch, evidently, for
he could see the railing in the moon
light. There was one thing to do-to
hide directly beneath the window in
the shadow and wait. He knew his
pursuer would be there in a moment.
He knew there would be a hue and cry.
Still, there was a chance.
True enough, the man came to the
window; but, to the infinite surprise of
DOnaghue, he made no cutlery. He
heard the man utter a half articulate
Heaven! has it come to this?' He
heard him walk few steps and strike
a match. He saw the light of the gas
jets from the window, and then he
knew that he was safe, and he cursed
himself for a fool for leaving the
jewels behind.
He heard woman's step in the
room. The man at the window turned.
"How dare you look me in the face?'
he cried. How dare you come to me
after this?''
Calmly the woman raised herself to
her feet and, looking at the man, said
in forced whisper:
"What do you mean?"
"What do l mean? You know what
1 mean" answered the man. HE has
been here at last-perhaps not for the
first time. But L have found it out. l
have found you OUT
Donaghue heard a little stif1ed moan
and the crash of a body as it fell on the
floor. He began to gather crude idea
of what it was all about. He had hand
some experiences with Maggie. He had
been jealous himself once. He raised
himself a little higher and peered over
the sill of the window.
The woman was not moaning now
but in a dead faint, and, with her face
as white the sheet that had covered
her IN the room above, she lay notion
less at the feet of the man who accused
her.
The man stood over her with burning
cheeks and clnched hands
"And the cur ran away from you?
He didn't even stay to fight me like a
mani He's Il coward. | knew it when
we met him in Baden. He's a villain
l knew it when he followed US to Lon
don. He can take you now. l don't
want you. And some day he'll run
away from you, poor, beautiful, mis-
cradle fool, just as he has run away
from me-
There was considerable human ma
ture in Donaghue, even though he did
make his living in a peculiar way.
This was a little more than he could
stand. He jumped up and leaped back
through the window.
Look herer' he shouted, and then
was suddenly silent, for a pair of
strong hands were clasped about his
throat, and the heavy weight of the
larger man had borne him to the floor
in moment
You, such being as you, my wife's |
loverr' reared the man.
Nor screamed Donaghue, making a I
desperate effort to free himself.
well, who are you? said the man.
"Let me sit up and I'll tell YOU" an |
swered Donaghue.
The man released him, still keeping I
him within arms reach in the corner
Of the room. Donaghue felt his throat t
tenderly.
'Well?' said the man peremptorily.
Pm the man that was in the house." |
said Donaghue sullenly.
What do you mean? Why were you
here?" asked the man.
WELL" answered Donaghue, regain
ing some of his customary bravado,
Il wanted to add some of your jewelry
to my collection. See? If you don't
believe me. You'll find it Uhera I