The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-01-09

you il i could.
Flash Dick laughed
There is only one way tc help me
Where do you keep your valuablesi
must insist upon an answer at
once"
For answer the old lady raised heI
delicate white hand and pressed the
knob of the electric bell.
There is Just time for you to es
cape" she said. "the way you came
If you stop to kill me you may be
late"
Flash Dick, who at no time was
the man to use violence, turned away
with a muttered curse, and darted
swiftly to the window,
He glanced cautiously out to see
that the coast was clear, and then
staggered back into the room pale
and trembling.
That glance had shewR-him- at
least a dozen shadowy figures dart.
ing to and fro on the snow outside.
AT the same time there was the
sound of hurrying footsteps outside
the door.
"Trappedl' he muttered, white to
the lips.
Step behind that screen" said the
old lady's calm voice.
Flash Dick opened his eyes wide
with establishment, but he was quick
to obey.
As he disappeared the door was
flung open unceremon:ously and a
group of excited men and maid SER
wants swarmed into the room.
But On seeing their mistress seated
calmly and undisturbed by the fire,
they came to standstill awkwardly
and in silence.
At length the gray haired old
butler, who was a lifelong servant to
the family, came forward.
Excuse me, my lady, but er-er-
you rang"
Yes, Parker. the fire wants more
fuel. But what is the meaning OF
this?"
And she looked coldly at the group
OF frightened servants.
excuse me, my lady, but have
you not been disturbed"
Not until this minute
The fact is, my lady, a well known
thief has been staying at Sylvester
Ans in the village for the last two
days. He has been watched by
private detective, and tonight he
was seen to leave the inn, and his
footsteps have been traced in the
snow right up to this window. There
is every reason to believe, my lady,
ne is somewhere in this room"
"This is nonsense.
You will permit us to search, my
LADY,"
"No: kindly retire, all of you, and
do not let me be disturbed again."
But while the conversation had
been going on, Tomkins, a courag-
-eous and iinquisitive footman, had
been peering cautiouslyin the dark
corners of the room.
At this very moment he peeped be-
hind the sheltering screen.
What he saw satisfied his curiosity
and demolished his courage Witha
shrek of terror he leaped back, drag
ging the screen with him.
1t fell with a crash to the floor,
and Dick, fully master ofhimself now
that the game was up, STRAIGHTFORWARD
with a smile on his handsome face.
The women servants shrank back
with a chorus OF shrieks.
chats him, my lady, that's the
thief cried the old butler, stepping
pluckily forward between his mistress
and the desperate.
Lady Sylvester arose.
Parker" she said, calmly, "do
not make yourself ridiculous. That
gentleman is no thief"
The old servant looked at her in |
bewilderment.
"Then who"
The old lady turned and faced the
group of wondering servants, and
said in clear, even tones:
This gentleman is my son, Mr.. |
Harry Sylvester.
A gasp of surprise was the only an
swer to this astounding statement,
but the old butler looked at his mis-
tress, and their eyes met. The old
lady's were stern and steady, and
Parker, with the intelligence of a |