Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-29

walk. and clutcned balustrade for sup
pert. Perhaps it was the silver! God! could
the man WHO had known his father, suspect
the son? And yet. he and Senator Millard
alone had known the combination to the
vault in the library. And both had been
ready to take oath that the rare old Shelf
field loving cup had been placed In that
vault the night before.
When the first piece of silver had disap-
peared. the loss had been laid directly at
The heels of a departing second man. The
city police had been trying to trace him for
ten days. But there had been a second bur-
GIary and a third, with no departing SER
wants as scapegoats. Senator Millard had
Kept the matter quiet. He had no wish to
draw public attention to the fact that he
pc assessed one Of the finest collections of old
Sheffield plate In the country. He had in
sisted that he would act as his own detec-
tive. but none of the family had really rest
ed properly for many nights. And this
very morning another piece had disappear
ed, the burglar leaving no trace Doors
windows and vatt were undisturbed But
the loving cup had followed the comport,
the dreamer AMI the salver. 1t had appar-
eEtly vanished II. thin air and for the first
time Senator Willard had turned absent
minded and yet secretive
McCausland stared duly into the flre-lit
hall. at the stairs down which she would
soon come-the daughter Of the man who
thought him thief-who had undoubtedly
written that day to summon detectives from
town, perhaps 10 lay the case before the
most noted sleuth of two continents-the
woman he loved, the woman who loved-he
dared not harbor the thought-and vet there
had been moments when
Yes. he should have gone weeks before.
NOW 1t was too late. To leave before the
mysterious burglaries had been explained
was not to be considered for a moment.
dorothy Willard swept lightly down the
staircase. Something cold and bright
cleaned amid the rare old lace which fell
from the sleeve of her dinner gown
Wish me luck with the fairies.' she said
as she passed him. He sprang forward
from the shadows and followed her down
the steps.
NO no." she said quickly; you shall not
break the charm"
She was a child for all her twenty years,
a wilful but most winsome child. Now that
she was In fair way to accomplish her
purpose, the imperious carriage bearing dis
appeared. She was all archness and mis-
chief
Frank McCausland laid his hand firmly
over hers-the one that held the dangerous
plaything of iron and steel
Miss Millard, you cannot go to the well
alone. Just beyond is a clump of trees
which would make an ideal lurking place
for burglars"
Il don't think there are any burglars. If
there were. why do they not take 1t all at
one fell swoop? Why this thievery, long
drawn out? And just to show you that
have the courage of my conviction. 1 shall
let you hide in that very clump Of trees
and mount guard over me, while 1 find my
fate In the we'll"
McCausland gave a deep sigh of relief.
Anything, so he could be at hand to protect
her.
II shall be far enough to appease the
fairies and to escape temptation
"Of what?" asked Dorothy, with wicked
twinkle in her eyes.
'Of looking over your shoulder. I should
hate to have you disappointed"
'Oh, really! Fancy, now. Teddy Burrows
and Jack Freeman"
And a score of Others" interrupted
Frank McCausland soberly. That's just
the trouble! There so many of them
that L fear your feelings not strong
enough to summon up a single, clearly de-
fined face"
His tone was no longer bantering. In
stinctively the girl drew closer to him. 1t
was true she had led a butterfly life, dis
tributing her favors and her smiles with