The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-10-18

"Jean!'
She started violently. Had she heard
Il or only dreamed It? Dreamed that
stined, stricken whisper? Only one
human being ever called her that. and
il was twenty years
At that moment the electric light
was switched on, and a curt, incislve
voice came to her out Of the darkness.
Don't scream. You needn't be
afraid swear not to harm you"
Then Janet Kimbolton realized the
situation. She had dreamed IL. Of
course-dreamed that whisper. But
she was no coward. though her bray
cry was Of the kind that comes when
life has lost It's SAVIOR. the bravery
that fears nothing because it hopes
nothing.
Il am not afraid" she answered CON-
posedly. and waited.
For a few moments only the faint
tinkle OF gems striking against a pol
shed surface broke the stiffness, for
the man was struggling hard for self
control.
You are brave woman he said at
last with genuine admiration
Il am not going to take your jew
els" he went on; when | have gone
you will find that they are all here"
Are they-not worth the takingT'
she questioned. with a touch OF the
humor that never deserted her.
They're worth just about E10.OOO."
he answered quietly. That's not much
to me. You see," and his voice took
on a certain note OF pride. Il am the
man they call Dandy Dick"
"Oh." And little ripple Of laughter
came to him out OF the darkness.
Then have the honor OF converslng
with the most notorious burglar in
Christendom-tHe man who spirits
away the jewels OF duchesses-
bonds OF stockbrokers-the money bags
OF banks. and the treasures Of princes
You have heard OF Carshalton. the
American; the King Of Mnllonalres, as
they call him? Well. am he"
A sudden horror seized her. Was she
shut up alone with a mailman, and not
a mere burglar, as she had been sup
posing?
''Oh. am not mad he told her. re
assuringly. his quick Intuition OWNING
her thoughts. When l am supposed
to be in the Rockies. in Russia. in Italy
I'm here, or In Paris, or Vienna, any
where there happens to be anything
worth taking"
Its dangerous" she haZarded, at 9
loss what to say in a situation SO bI
zarre.
He laughed joyously.
Dangerous? live for danger. It.
the sap OF life. II 1t weren't for that
| should be a respectable citizen to
morrow"
She listened. amused, perplexed
sorry.
''Of course, have realized 'befor,
this that you are what the world call
gentleman. Why, then, do you d,
this horrible thingY
His face fell, and his voice took on 1
humber tone.
May tell you why?"
Yes" she said, do. 1t "a all yer,
interesting, and it's a long while sine,
| have been really interested"
And you're not afraidY' he question
ed
You have given me your word" sh,
answered with quiet serenity.
Thank you"
In the darkness she could almost Sc,
the flush that dyed the mans face.
Then she sat down on the cushioned
window seat and a ray Of moonlight
stealing through a crack In the shut
tiers fell upon the sIlyer-gray Of he
hair. The man came quite close, AM
stood looking down at her, then sud
denly he bent and touched her arm. 4
curious magnetic thrill seemed to pas
through her and she leaped to her feet
who are your" she demanded. I'll
heavens name, who are your
He stepped swiftly back, and con
trolling himself by a supreme effort an
swered In a dull and measured mono
tone:
Dandy Dick, burglar. Francis Car
shalton. millionaire"
There was a short silence, then b
began to speak.
Il was born too late. | ought L
have come Into the world two hundre,
years ago. the world Of Drake and Fro
bisher and Raleigh. the world whel
men lived and dared, not the world o
to-day, when they stagnate and exist
The curse OF some bygone ancesto
was In my blood, the curse OF restless
ness, Of lawlessness, Of untamed ambI
ton. From my very babyhood / wa
a rebel. and rebellion grew On me.
could never be as others were. couI,
never bear the shackles and trammeI
and the emptiness Of civilized life. Fo
long. long hours | would sit and DON
| der on a way out. There were thing
the exploration Of wild and sayaR
lands for Instance. but they were 10
the rich, and was poor So the year
dragged by, and I tried many things
and my lawlessness grew and grew
and then"
Yes? She leaned forward, fcrgetfu
Of the hour, the circumstances, o
everything but the quiet, monotonou
voice. with its ring Of absolute truth
the voice that seemed to be giving he
Kaleidoscope glimpses Of strong soul
hopelessly hampered; a soul that hat
somehow lost Its way in time an,
space, and strayed into q wrong cen
fury.
And then-I met a woman and love,
her, loved her as such a man would
but l left her was an elementa
person; she the product Of an overrip
civilization"
He paused, but she sat silent, spell