The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1903-04-24
An Opportune
@ @ Burglar

ar OILY CARSON stood at the top Of
NN the kitchen stairs shielding with
NH glowing fingers the candle that
W s sssrd held mice seove sc nrr neaa about
among the pans that Aunt sally
had left on the table when she went to
her cabin for the night. and she shrank
from venturing into the darkness below
But as she hesitated peering anxiously
down the flight groan from another
room ended her reluctance. LIFTING hef
| skirts. she ran quickly over the stairs,
for Edward, her husband, had been seized
at midnight with violent headache. the
result of riding too long In the sun In
the afternoon. and was begging delirious-
| ly for ice. So ice Molly must have. even
If 1t meant Drawing the terrors below.
The refrigerator was in lean-to OPEN
| ing from the kitchen. Mrs Carson found
the door shut and fastened securely
and the end of the key glinted malicious.
| ly at her through the keyhole. as If
haunting her inability
Running up stairs, she left the candle
| on the table in the dining room, and
went out of doors to try to open the out
side shed door. The moon shone dimly
through feecy April clouds and whip-
poorwill called mistakenly from nearby
| ancholy in the North Carolina mountains
than anywhere else in the world.
The outer door proved as obstinate az
the inner Molly ratified 1t in vain. ans
|
over a little window beside It, The tears
| rolled down her cheeks as she tugged
| with no success. ragged DIT of gauze
tore her fingers but she did not mind the
| pain. The sound Of Edwards voice in
side. the house. rising ard falling in the
babble of delirium. spurred her to con-
| tinued effort and deafened her to the cry
OF the whippoorwill. She, did not even
| hear the sound of approaching footsteps,
until a man came around the corner of
the house so quickly that he almost ran
| into her.
"Hellr' he exclaimed standing i'm
| movable.
"Heavens!'' she cried at the same mo-
ment, shaking from head to foot and
| want?"
Her heart thumped furiously. but
through her fear there ran the thought
that whatever happened Edward must
| have the ice.
The man regained his self possession as
| he saw her fright.
1T looks like we-all's on to the same
business he chuckled, pointing to the
window. and giving her a poke in the
arm with dirty thumb.
y don't understand you; ] am Mrs.
Carson" said Molly. throwing back her
| fair head haughtily. Then, recalled by
his gesture to her occupation. she forgot
her terror in the thought tat here was
mana strong man. who. could help
at the netting.
Mr.. Carsons very i'll. He's out of his
head. and l want to get some ice for him.
The door from the kitchen is Locked she
one corner gave way in response to a
vigorous tug. Now you pull on that"
she commanded, and the would-be bur-
gar. nothing, loath., gave jerk that
brought off the whole covering.
Splendid" exclaimed Molly, and pre-
pared to climb in at once.
mo you don't, ma am" said the man;
Let me go in first and assist you-all,"
calamity.
He pushed his bulky frame through the
small easement, and then helped Molly,
with caution not to 'laXerate' herself:
Without thought for the strangeness or
her position locked into the shed with
this rough fellow, Molly went at once to
the refrigerator.
she said. you'll find a candle and
matches on the shelf over the kitchen ia
BILE. Now" with uplifted voice as she
heard the sputter. of the match, bring
What relief 1t is to have this and
filing the tin. she crossed the kitchen
and began to go upstairs, so absorbed
in her purpose that she no longer no
ticed her companion.
Here you ma'am, don't you-all go
back on your pal that-a,wa said ne
with return of the audacity OF whlch
her air of command and her unconscious-
ness of the situation had robbed him
Molly paused midway on the flight.
"Oh, I'd forgotten. You come toIer-
L
went on politely, but I'm afraid there
isn't a thing you'd care for. You see.
this is a furnished cottage. and all the
silver is plated( which isn't any use Ito TO
money in the house, though / think-I
think" with an effort at remembrance,
that l have two quarters In my pursei
II that would be of any service to you!"
tentatively.
The man seemed about to express his
disappointment, when Mrs. Carson
Thought again of her husband.
II mustn't stay here talking. I've been
ages getting this ice" and straightway
she ran up stairs, leaving Gus NC
Claiche standing in the middle of the
kitchen floor.
well. I'll be damned" he said, slow
Nv. Then, as his hostess had not locked
or even shut the door at the head of the
stairs, he followed in her steps
Molly found Edward in wild delirium
that even the ice did not allay.
What shall / do? Oh, what shall ]
do?" was her dumb cry as he struggled
ercely With her; amen ana In answer sSynS zane Ed
ward to fate for a few minutes she ran
to seek her fellow housebreaker. She
found him, in the dining room looking
she had left there. AS she entered he
turned. startled. and made a nervous
gesture toward his pocket.
".oh. I'm so glad you're re-, s stu here here.
with me- Mr.. Carson is dreadfully de-
lirious." and | don't know what to do.
Come" and she twitched his sleeve to
hasten his hesitating progress.
McClatchie followed slowly, but once
in the sickroom his diffidence vanished. |
Many a case of delirium tremens among |
his friends had given him confidence as
a nurse Molly became his subordinate |
with instructive surrender, for she saw |
that with the sick man he was alert and
GA pable and showed a marked gentle |
ness-bred, perhaps, by his vocation.
Three O'Clock had struck before Car |
son sank into the quiet of exhaustion. |
Molly's face fairly glowed with gratitude |
as she turned to McClatchie.
You've been so good-so good she |
cried 81 shall never forget II.
The man grinned with honest pride. |
Though the smile did something to re- |
deem his face. Molly appreciated for the |
first time since his abrupt appearance |
what a rough-looking fellow he was.
Now that all was quiet she grew eager
for him to leave.
IF you're going through the village
she said would you stop at DR.. Frady's |
and ask him TO come here at onceY It's
the rock house opposite the postoffice."
The grin faded from McClatchie's face.
''The rock house opposite the postof-
fce?'' he repeated. I'D rather not go |
there ma'ann You see-you see, I've
visited there once tonight already"
"Iut why should that prevent youi
OH You mean you-G O-oh!
Molly stared at the man with some little
II. H. Il NNa1lI