The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-04


IT was nearly O'clock when arrived
opposite my little home. l had to pass
IL on my way to the general shop.
where ] had left the door key for safe
keeping. looked up at my bed room
window, when, to my horror and sur
prise. / saw the curtains move, then a
long, thin hand, n mans hand. latched
the window and disappeared. For a
moment | felt frightened; the evening
was fast fading into darkness. MY
cottage ought to have been as / left 1t
two weeks ago, empty. and yet. unless
my eyesght had played me some fam
ciful trick, there was a hand, and II a
hand, as natural sequence man.
do not know what made me do 1t, II II
was the outcome Of foolhardiness or
courage, or extreme nervousness, or
mixture Of all three, but marched to
the front door and gave a rat-tat-ta
that would have aroused the seven
sleepers.
II it's thief, he win bolt thought.
and if-the door opened. and a young
man in his shirt sleeves stood before
mn.
''wen7" said he Interrogatively.
'Well?" said I. feebly
do you want anybody"
Yes" answered. is Miss Christ
Inc Smythe at homer"
"Oh. yes; she expected you. Step in."
ard. mechanically / stepped In.
Take a seat In the parlor" he said,
affably And here I must apologize TO
any of my friends who read this. !.
Christine Smythe. a woman noted for
her strength OF mind and immunity
from feminine weaknesses. l. who had
always derided hysterIcal and fainting
women. weIl--I tainted.
When I regained consciousness he
was standing beside me with some
brandy in one Of my best wine glasses.
Drink a little Of Il; Il VIII do you
good. Miss Srnythe."
'You know my nRme7"
Eyes. Now drink" I did so.
Il win draw the curtains and light
the lamp. only don't you speak" He
said the lest three words In such a pc
culiar manner that ! imagined II bet
ter TO obey him. but thought would
give tremendous scream IL | could
see anybody passing, and ! looked out
Of the window.
He had lit the lamp. and, having
drawn the curtains. turned TO me-
II shouldn't do that" he said.
do what?" / asked.
Scream for help II you saw anybody
pass the window. II should have to-
and he stopped and smiled pleasantly
at me.
Have TO what2"
y Ever see a woman gagged Miss
! Smytho7"
NO" / answered. felt quite
creepy sensation all ever me.
You win excuse my shirt sleeves,
but l took off my coat when / was
working about the house this after
noon" He sat down on the easy chair
opposite me-"
He wasn't at all bad-looking young
man. In fact. perhaps he was rather
handsome; and then. his eyes we're so
ingenious. mis- manner so candid.
Il suppose you are wondering who !
ann" he said pleasantly.
looked around the room. and my ac-
customed eye missed my silver candle
sticks: my beautiful clock. my bronze
statuettes; even the Persian hearth
rug was rolled up and stood waiting in
. n corner.
Well" l said. II should think you
were a.. i stopped. l was alone in
4 country cottage with a desperate
criminal. and candor seemed strangely
out of place.
Go on" he remarked, persuasively.
t''Remember that you are my guest. and
that you will be treated with all the
Difference and chivairy which your
charming sex commands; that is. OF
course. as long as you don't scream"
do not like 10 say a burglar; be- ,
sides he was so unlike one; and, as
for calling him thief. l couldn't: and
so / compromised matters and said. Il
suppose yop--are-a-robber?"
Now. that is where you are wrong.
entirely wrong: and, really l am sur
prised that a young lady who is not
the usual brainless female-you will
pardon the reflection on your sex-but
who has written so clearly and expllc- |
lilly on the question OF capital and la |
Dor and on the division OF wealth, |
should call me robberl Surely. Miss |
Smythe. the word is misplaced"
) I really felt quite ashamed. 1T is |
not often" he continued, that. In the |
pursuit of my profession. l have the /
opportunity OF a tete-a-tete with a |
charming authoress whose books have \
given me such great pleasure. and. II /
you VIII allow me to make use OF the |
opportunity and converse with you. J
should be obliged. Understand me. |
madam. do not insist. The few things /
that I have thought worthy OF collec- !
tion are now mine. II not legally at |
least morally. Shall we exchange I
ideas7"
Invoiuntarily my eyes fell upon lit
tie sack in the corner OF the room. \
peeping out Of the mouth of which l
could discern the only piece OF silver I !
possessed. sighed.
why sigh?" he urged. Surely a
Ilady endowed with so much philosophy /
as yourself has mind above the triv-
ial exchanges Of everyday life; or can |
Il be that your books are only a sham2
Why only lately. a charming little
treatise OF yours fell into my hands
during a professional visit which I !
paid one evening to the house OF well
known money-lender. II was entitled
The Inequality OF Wealth, a charming
pamphlet. mostly logical and so true"
Ills expressive eyes dwelt upon me
With an admiring glance.