The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-22

Tom out of that horrid den, and we
will go home. I'm sick to death Of
of practical joking"
The lawyer frowned and lifted the
lantern to a gas jet, flooded the
apartment with light. Miss Ouless,"
he said, severely, though his brown
pupils twinkled, this is no practical
joke. You did not know that l would
be here tonight. l did not know it
| myself. Look at that lock removed,
survey that rifed letter-box; they
would get both you and Tom II
months, or from that to IA years, for
burglary"
argaret-otherwise Margie - sat
down suddenly and wept. Il think
you're very cruel" she sobbed, "and
Tom didn't want to do it, only II
persuaded him it was for your hap
piness."
The young lawyer stopped over the
detected figure. ''Margie, DEAR" he
said, gently. Il was merely chat
fling. Don't cry, dearest; what was
the trouble-something you had
written and repented of? 1 would
not have read it if you had forbid
den me by, say, a telegram or an
express letter. But why go in for
heroics and run all sorts of risks"
'It-it's worse than-than that"
stammered Margie; ''it-it was some
letters I had written to some one
else-to-to Mr.. Prout."
Richard Parramore's countenance
darkened. "Prout!" he said, mot
Hamilton Prout, the actor!"
Margie nodded miserably. "They
were only silly, spoony letters"
she murmured, "but l hated the idea
of your reading them. II thought
l cared for him-before I met you.
And l had been begging himfor them
back ever so long, and he - he
wouldn't give them to me. And to-
day 1 saw him by appointment, to
| get them, l understand. But he
| he"
Her lover waited patiently. "He
showed re- them" burst out Margie,
in an envelope addressed to you, with
a note asking your professional adj
vice about bringing an action against
me-for-breach of promise. And he
he mailed it under my very eyes"
$50 l knew" faltered Margie, that
they would reach here by the last
delivery - l hoped, after you had
gone. And Tom agreed to help me
4 10 1Naf,NYa on1t1H
them. We had managed so nicely
i when you came-we had crept down
just about the tine for closing the
hall door upstairs, and when all was
| quiet Tom had cut a piece out of the
! glass panel there, with a diamond and
unscrewed the lock. Once we were
inside, breaking open the letter-box
was easy. If you could have stopped
| away another half hour. As it was,
Tom put you off with his talk, and
| | did for one moment believe we'd
/ got you in the strong room. Then
we could have slipped off and you
need never have Known. But now, if
you like, you can piece the bits to-
gether again and read them every
! one"
With which incoherent ultimatum
| Margie laid on the table a heap of
torn fragments. The lawyer swept
them into his palm, tossed them into
the fire CRATE, and put a light to
| them.
"You foolish child" was all he
| put hn nd ly;Sco1 hoy
and somehow the kiss took a singu-
larly long while to negotiate.
81 wonder" observed Parramore, at
length, ''if Tom really has enough
air. We may as well make sure"
He suited the action to the word,
and there stalked forth from the
strongroom an extremely cool and
self-possessed youth-like his sister
in the full light-with a clean-cut,
boyish face, an incongruous plaid
neckerchief, a travelling cap, and an
ill-fitting, obviously borrowed, over
coat. He considered the situation
cheerfully.
Smart trick that of yours, PARA
more!" he said, assuming patroniz-
ing air; well, I suppose you know
all. Going to throw Margie over?"
mo, you young dog" answered the
lawyer; ''going to see the pair of
you home in a cab"
Tom Ouless put his hands in his
pockets. every WE'LL" he commented;
make a deuce of row and blame it
on me. 1 shall say 1 found Margie
and you clipping and brought you
back-by force! But you had much
better let us sneak in as we sneaked
out"
The lawyer psf a little gloved
hand on his arm. "I-I imagine ]
had," he conceded; ''but if you ex-
pect me to screen you, just refx that
lock, and never as long as you live
let me hear that vile imitation jar
gon of yours again
Master Thomas Ouless grinned. at
was bit of a jolly for you, wasn't
it?" he chuckled; "but look at this
my revolver!" And he held up-a
river!"-Chicago Tribune.
Parliamentary Bulls.