The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-01-20

to doing nothing. He did it well.
Such u career met the severe disapprov-
al of Dorotlea Walton, who, like most
women of the suburbs, was cultured and
had ideas. Never having done any work
herself except to study tho labor question
from its pliilosophic side. she believed that
every man should DO busy eight hours Of
the 2i so when Whitridge asked her
to marry him she said abruptly: But
you Gon't work. You are man without
IN aim iii life.
My grandfather worked and had aims
for me, " Whitridge replied.
Every man should do something in
this world, even if it is only driving an
express wagon" said tho girl warmly.
"You are n man without ambition-a
man who might as well not be living at
all YOU
1T seems to me you are just little
hard" he interrupted rcproachfully.
"Of course you know l like you," Doro-
then went on more kindly but it seems
50 much nohler for man to say to wo-
man 1 shall slave all day in the Office for
You than I've got 81 GOO, 600 and am
willing TO share it with you. Now,
doesn t it,"
Il think tho average woman would say,
III share tho million; don't bother about
the office, was tho grim reply.
Dorothca flushed.
You consider me an average woman,
thcn:"
NO, nor cried Whitridge. "And if
you will 1 shall slave fer you. I'll go
down town and I Tod along at the law and
we can live OH what make"
Now you talk fColishly," said she. II
do not demand work for work S sake, but
1t seems to me that for man to be with
out an occupation in these times shows
lack of brains"
But it takes n great dcnl of brains to
do nothing and to do it respectfully. And.
after all, don't think you can say that l
am very bad"
NO And that's where moro trouble
comes You are not even rcfCr.nuble. y
woman might devote herself 10 the work
of reforming man, but you offer nothing
but mere money"
And love" WhitriGgc blurtcd out,
and he was overcome with confusion. He
bushGd and began to tear ncrvously ut
the l.pcls of his coat. But his enibarrass-
ment served to emphasize his honesty and
sincerity.
The girl recognized this and said kind
ly: Il know am foolish, Sam, but l
have queer ideas perhaps. So don't talk
of it any more"
Then good night" said he, rising
abruptly from his chair and holding ont
his hand.
Coed night" said she. II trust you
will be able TO find Jour way to the street
without trouble 1t is very dark. "
II have Travelled the path often enough
to know it, he said with u forced laugh.
I guess l shall not have much reason
to follow it often after this" Nhitridge
turned and walked from the room. Doro-
thea Walton stood as he had left her, gaz
ing abStractedly into tho fire. She heard
the door close with il bang few minutes
later, and by q sudden impulse she ran up
to her room, turned out The light, threw
back the curtains, nOiseleSsly raised the
window aid peerei out into tho darkness.
If she expected to get glimpse of Whit
ridge rs he disappeared into the blacknGss
or to hear the gravel crunching beneath
his feet, she was disappointed She closed
the window with u crash.
Dorothca Walton's disappointment had
its origin in doorknob, one Of those
modern contrivances that arc sch bane
to tho man who calls Whom Whitridge
reached tho hail. he put on his oycrcoat
and hat, opened the first door and closed
1t behind him. This left him standing in
the vestibulc. He seized the knob of the
outer door, turned il and pulled, but to
no avail Then he turned the knob the
other way and pulled, but the door did
net bulge. He turned and pushed and
pushed and turned, but his efforts were
not rewarded.
Now, in the 25 years of his life Whit
ridge had learned that locks arc very hui
man; that they resent harsh treatment
and arc susceptible to Kindness and per-
suas:on, SO he gnve this particular one
coed long breathing spell, approached it
again, as though he were afraid of disturb
ing it, and turned it SO gently that had it
been sleeping it would hardly have been
awakened. He went just so far and stop
ped. Hc gave it violent jerk and a force
full jam-aH to no avail. Again he rested
and again attacked the obstinate mechan-
ism only to confess himself utterly beaten.
He thought of arousing the family, but
pecring through the frosted glass into the
dimly lighted hall he saw that the family
had retired for the night. The idea II
being found in such a position was repul-
sive to him. After what had occurred
was he to confess that he had been con-
quered by doorknob2 He certainly was
not, or ut least until all hope was gone.
He remembered that she had said that her
father WAS in town and would be at homo
at IL o'clock. 1t was an hour yet, but he
believed that he could persuade the old
gentleman to hold his peace, and that was
worth long and weary waiting.
Ono more attack on the doorknob con-
vinced Whitridge CT tho uselessness OF fur
ther efforts ut freedom, so he settled down
in a corner and made himself as comfort
IL L., I, Il,
As lie sat there on the floor of the dark
vestibalc he forgot his unpleasant predica-
n:ent and fell to thinking of her, and as
he thought Of her he forgot all else.
The sleeping man was awakened by a
gentle dig in the ribs and he opened his
eyes into the dim glare of dark lantern.
He tried to raise himself, but there was
weight on his chest and he was forced back
to Il PROSTATE condition. He would have |
cried out, but IL heavy hand was clasped
over his mouth.
From the blackness behind the lantern |
came Il hoarsc whisper:
IS -sh! Mr.. Whitridge, it's me, Grogan, |
who You got off. You amt goin to be
hurtr'
Whtridgc was wide awake now, and |
the situation came to him in u flash. He |
recalled his one client, and though he |
realized the mans mission at tho Walton |
house he felt that to him Grogan was |
messenger sent from heaven to release him |
from the tolls. The weight was removed |
from the chest and tho hand from his
mouth after another admonitory SSH"
The lawyer got to his knees. and leaning |
toward tho dark form of his quondam eli
ent seized the grimy hand and squeezed it
atfectIonately. Cant you get me out,
Grogan?" he whispered.
There was achuckle. The light CULVER
ed in evidence of the amusement of the
man who held it.
Cant your" repeated Whitridge.
"S-sh!" Grogan answered. "Turn about
nd be fair play, seein ez you saved me
once from the Jug"
But I'm not a burglar" Whitridge
expostulated.
at looks suspicious, was the reply
The light quivered again and more vio-
lently. You seem anxious to get out
without n row.
See here, Grogan," said Whitridge, 81
got in here honestly, ard I'm going to
get out honestly. These people arc friends
of mine, and l think I'll just give the
alarm"
GLOW about meP" said the burglar az