Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-01-26

Kimbolton still fingered by
the dying fire in the great,
lonely drawing room, absorbed in the
memory of long-dead past.
"Jean!'
She started violently. Had she heard
At or only dreamed it? Dreamed that
stiaed, stricken whisper? Only one
human being ever called her that, and
it was twenty years
At that moment the electric light
was switched off, and a curt, incisive
voice came to her out of the darkness.
Don't scream. You needn't be
afraid. l swear not to harm you"
Then Janet Kimbolton realized the
situation. She had dreamed it, of
course-dreamed that whisper. But
she was no coward, though her bray
cry was of the kind that comes when
life has lost its SAVIOR, the bravery that
fears nothing because it hopes moth
ing.
Il am not afraid" she answered,
composedly, and waited.
For a few moments only the faint
tinllle Of gems striking against a pol
the man was struggling hard for self
control.
"You are a brave woman" he said
at last, with genuine admiration.
Il am not going to take your Jewels"
he went on; "when l have gone you
will find that they are all here"
"Are they - not worth the taking"
she questioned, with touch of the
humor that never deserted her.
They're worth just about 100000"
he answered quietly. "That's not much
to me. You see," and his voice took
on a certain note of pride, 81 am the
man they call Dandy Dick"
"Ohw And little ripple of laughter
came to him out of the darkness.
"Then | have the honor of conversing
with the most notorious burglar in
Christendom-the man who spirits
away the jewels of duchesses-the
bonds of stockbrokers-the moneybags
of banks, and the treasures of
princes|
"You have heard of Carshalton, the
American; the King of Millionaires, as
they call him? Well, l am he"
A sudden horror seized her. Was
she shut up alone with madman and
not a mere burglar, as she had been
supposng?
"Oh, I am not mad" he told her, re-
assuringly, his quick intuition divin-
ing her thoughts. when l am sup
posed to be in the Rockies, in Russia
in Italy, I'm here, or in Paris, or Wen
ma, anywhere there happens to be any
thing worth taking"
"It's dangerous" she haZarded, at n
loss what to say in a situation so
bizarre.
He laughed joyously.
Dangerous? / live for danger. It's
the sap of life. If it weren't for that,
l should be n respectable citizen to-
morrow"
She listened, amused, perplexed,
sorry.
''Of course, l have realized before
this that you are what the world calls
a gentleman. Why, then. do you do
this horrible thing?"
His face fell, and his voice took on
humber tone.
May l tell you Wny!'
"Yes," she said, "do. 1t is all very
interesting, and it's long while since
L have been really Interested"
"And you're not afraid?" he ques-
toned.
"You have given me your word" she
answered with quiet serenity.
''Thank you"
In the darkness she could see the
flush that dyed the mans face.
Then she sat down on the cushioned
window scat and q ray of moonlight
stealing through crack in the shut.
ters fell upon the silver-gray of her
hair. The man came quite close, and
stood looking down at her, then sud
denly he bent and touched her arm. 4
curious magnetic thrill seemed to pass
through her and she leaped to her feet
who are you?" she demanded. "In
heavens name. who are you?"
He stepped swiftly back, and con.
trolling himself by supreme effort
answered in dull and measured mon.
Otone:
DANDY Dick, burglar. Francis Car
slalton, millionaire"
There was short silence, then he
began to speak
Il was born too late. l ought tc
have come into this world 200 years
ago, the world of Drake and Frobishel
and Raleigh, the world when men LIVED
and dared, not the world OF to-day
when they stagnatc and exist The
curse of sOmc bygonc ancestor was II
my blood. the curec of rcstlessness. oi
lawl9sSncss. of untamcd ambition
From my very bahyhood l was Il rebel
and rebellion grew on me. l coult
never be rs others were. could never
bear the shackles and trammels an(
the emptiness Of civilized Efe. 10: