The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-29
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

An, poor mdnI she excidimcu. No
 wonder you have been driven to irregular
 courses. I, too, have suffered from an
 embarrassment of parents, and know how to pity you. am at present afflicted with my fathers third wife, who after my fathers death, married a second husband. It was the excessive indulgence of the matrimonial habit on the part Of my &C., tuai and required relatives that drove me to perfect myself in the use of this. She patted affectionately the tiny firearm which still held mo at vantage. One hover can tell how long ones patience under persecution will last. My stepmother once removed Is heshy party. Not being a skilled anatomist fear I could never discover her vulnerable parts. but my fathers successor being lean. is easier to come at. I've made a study of his angles, and got his heart q refer to it purely as an organ of the body) we'll located. I am confident 1t could not escape me. Now, would you mind removing your mask, please. l am consumed with curiosity as to your looks. But wait moment. l feel quite nervous over the event. You see I've been an- tieipating this moment for years. I've formed dozen pictures of you in my
 mind, and do so hope you won't disappoint me. Tell mo first--are you good-looking?' OH6- pduSeu, feSdTulnB HIe "itH must f1attering interest. Certainly she was the most original creature under the sun
 Moment by moment she bewitched me
 more and more.
 'On the honor of house e-breaker, an Adonis" answered, immensely amused. "A troubled expression crept over. her face.
 "Hm-m," she unused. half aloud. "I don't think you should be. It's rather upsetting. don't you know. didn't look for it at all. Aren't you in the least ruffianly lookingT'
 Not in the least" I said with con- viction.
 She looked quite dissatisfied. Perhaps. you are not competent judge" she suggested hopefully.
 T have perfect confidence in my own
 discernment," said I firmly. But since
 you doubt me, pray permit me to -
 I raised my hand to the mask, but she
 cried out loud and sharp.
 No, no; you are not to move your
 hands, you know. It is never allowed"
 Pray, then. my dear young lady, how
 am I to uncover my face?"
 She considered a moment
 q think" she remarked presently. "that
 shall be obliged to do it for you. Please
 come nearer.'
 Stlil WItn fHy HdIuS up-illlbi III liiC
 traditional attitude and covered by the
 small revolver, I advanced to the side
 of the bed. When I got quite close she
 reached out a beautiful hand and touched
 the mask that hid my face. 1 breathed
 the perfume of the exquisite flesh and
 felt my heart beat in ecstacy at the near
 proximity of the lovely form. Worth
 was it to be burglar, to find ones self
 detected in crime, to suffer Imprisonment aye, even death itself. for the delight of feeling that soft hand steal to ones cheek of drinking deep of the intoxicating beau- ty of those wonderful violet eyes. of tast- ing that fragrant breath upon the lips.
 One moment-and the fair, shapely
 hand dropped again to it's former posi- tion, the mask held daintily between its white fingers. Another and a soft mur- mur of pleasure and approval escaped the curved. red lips
 What cared I that I was captive and she captor; that the muzzle of revolver stared me in the face: that word from her, cried aloud, would bring the house. | hold, a posse of police about my ears! In that moment was man and not a burglar-a god. not a criminal With a quick, passionate movement I l threw out my arms to clasp that seduct- lve that exquisite being to my heart Alas, Hdb Wdo MY 0ubCl cti HIS
 struck hard upon some wooden substance. ! The fable of Apollo in pursuit of Daphne 1 occurred to my mind. At the same time familiar and none too amable voice broke upon my ear.
 For Heavens sake, Fred" it said fret fully, "what are you trying to do? You've been snorting and mutterng to yourself
 so that there's no such thing as my get
 ting wink of sleep. l do wish to good i ness you'd stop reading Conan Doyle be- l fore you go to bed. I think those dotec- tive stories excite your brain altogether 1 too much Try turning on the other side, do: and see If you can't sleep more
 quietly"
 I followed thls conjugal advice and turned on the other side. and l guess I slept more quietly. But I remember how very flat and disappointing life. seemed , to me for a few moments, dearly as I love that buxom Jane who has been for twenty years the partner of my joys and sorrows. I could not be surely that was not vastly relieved to wake and find my self respectable member of society, a trustworthy hank clerk instead of a pro- fessional criminal; the husband of a tried and virtuous wife instead of the Infatuated victim of a doubtful goddess! Perish the thought! But to think to clasp Daphne and find oneself struggling
 with mahogany head-board. to feel oneself riding life at a devil-may-care
 pace of a Dick Turpin and wake to the discovery that one has been CaYorting in
 dreamland and astride nightmare! Well.
 there is no use in disgusting tho fact
 that during the brief interval between my awakening and the renewed ministrI tions of Morpheus I was bit inclined to curse fate and to feel the uses of my daily life. sane and healthful as they were, decidedly fiat, stale and unproht- able. I was cross the next day; so cross that Jane resolutely hid from me the exciting mental fare on which had been feastng, and substituted for it Il Iarg y advertised l story of adventure. Since then 1 have slept in peace.