Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-13

will you, I've got to take-er-my sis ter wants 60 see the brakeman, you know With you the night of the fire" And with that MT. Ray hopped briskly away to the elevator, the ex- trainman following, leaving Stuy- vesant standing enyiously at the coun- ter.
 Even a brakeman could go to her and hear her pleasant words and re- ceive that beaming smile and perhaps a clasp of that cool, slender little hand, while he who so longed for it all stood without the pale.
 Then an impulse that had been spurring him for half an hour over mastered him. The parlors were pub lic At least he could go and take a peep at her.
 He started for the Elevator, then changed his plan, turned, and, with his cape still thrown over his arm, ascended the stairs. The clerk at the office desk glanced curiously at him, but the uniform was sufficient. In moment. he found himself in the broad corridor and almost in front of the doorway to the parlor. Half dozen groups, women and officers, were scattered about in merry con. versation, but Stuyvesant's eyes were riveted instantly on little party close by the elevator shaft. There, hat in hand, lowing and blushing, stood the brakeman. There, with a bright, genial smile on her serene and happy face, stood matronly woman who, despite her soft blue eyes and fair hair and complexion, was patent at once as the mother of the lovely, dark-eyed girl and the trim young soldier who formed the other members of the group.
 Three or four officers, some of them past the meHidian others young sub- alterns, stood looking on in evident interest, and Stuyyesant halted spell bound, not knowing just what to do.
 It was over in a moment. The rail- wayman, confused but happy, had evil dently been the recipient of kind and appreciative words, for his face was glowing, and Miss Rays fairly beamed with the radiance of it's smile. Then the door flew open as the elevator-car stopped for passen- gers, and the ex-brakeman backed in and disappeared from view. Then the mother Iwined an arm about her daughters slender waist, and two young officers sprang forward to her side. Together they came sauntering towards the parlor door, and then, all on sudden, she looked, up and saw him.
 There was no mistaking the flash of instant recognition in her peauUl- ful eyes. Stuyvesant's, heart leaped as his eager gaze met the swift glance, and noted with joy that she certainly saw ahd knew him; more than that, that the sight gave her pleasure. Butsin another instant she had recovered herself and turned to ask some quick question of the young gallant at her side, and Stuyvesant, who was almost at the point of bow ing low, found himself savagely hat ing those yellow straps and stripes and wishing the cavalry in perdition. Somebody was speaking to Mir. Ray, and he couldn't catch that young of ficer's eye. The party stopped mo- ment at the threshold, one of the officers was saying good night, and c1AOAA O NOtSO eio koUdy fC0alAI SApOW said: Which is Lieut.. Ray" It was the bell-boy.
 A sudden inspiration came to Stuyvesant., "What is it?" he said. Have you message for him?" ..'Yes,'' was the answer. They're telephoningfor himsfrom the Presid- 10. Want him Fo come at once."
 'Tell me the whole message and I'll give it." said Stuyvesant. ''Any- thing wrong?.
 '.Yes, sir. The clerks at the phone now, but I couldn't get the trouble. Something's broke loose, as under stand it.''
 And that delay was fatal. Bound ing up the steps, three at stride, came a young officer, breathless, and made straight for the group. Seeing that Mrs. Ray and Miss Marion were | close at hand, he paused one moment, | then with significant gesture called Ray to his side Then ,Stuyvesant | could not but hear every word of the sudden and startling message.
 Ray, you're wanted at the bar racks at once. Prisoners 'scaped and | your house is robbed!''
 Stuyvesant ran beside him as Ray | went bounding down the stairs and | cut into Montgomery street.
 Gan be of any service? Can't I | help you some way?" he urged, for I he saw the young officer was looking white and anxious. But Ray hur- riedly thanked him and declined. He. | could not imagine, he said, what his loss might be, yet something told him if anybody had escaped it was that hulking sinner Murray.
 He sprang upon the first street car at the corner, waved his hand in parting, and was whisl1ed away west ward, leaving Stuyvesant standing 
 How now could he hope to meet her? The clerk at the office seemed friendly and sympathetic when | wandered back there, and gave him such particulars of the situation at the Presidio as he had been able to gather over the wire. It seemed that rumor had reached the commanding officer that num- Der of tools had been smuggled into the guard-house by the prisoners, and by the aid of these they hoped