The Washington times., 1904-02-07


Don't stand there shoutin'. You're
enough to wake the dead. The Wilders
viii be up for the day before we get
there, at this rate
Behind the barrels Joe nearly fell at
this hint OF the destination OF his fell
lows. Then he remembered the wallet
in his pocket. and slipped his hand TO II
quickly II was there safe enough.
Quinn was not quite sOber-the pota-
'tiOns of the Massap0ags were the cause
Of much virt1Ous civic Indignation In
Pelham. where once year the respect,
people in embattled array at the polls.
Quinn was one OF the most constant pa
irons OF the skilful evaders OF the Law
against liquor selling. ard his thick
tones now told that he had solaced him
helf for the long wait in the cupboard.
Say. someone told me you was stuck
on the lady yourself once. an that she
give you the throw he hic-
coeRhed.
Wiider's nails bit into his palms. II
was true enough The ne'er-dO-well.
whose dalliance had brought only ques-
whom he dangled. had aspired TO Lucy
once. But there was evidently no pride
In Leary's recollection Of that episode,
for he spoke with impatience-
Come on. come on, you blithering
fool"
Tnen their voices died away. their
steps noiseless in the plushy snow.
Wilder followed silently. lodging
among the elms and blessing the men
who had lined the streets with them
The two men did not turn. but went
steadily on toward his cottage.
Before the modest section Of the town
where II stood was reached there was
colonial estate to be passed-a whole
from the sidewalk by high hedge.
The arbor vitae grew tai as a mans
head. When he reached :his WildSs
forced his way through it. and safely
scr - al al .1rr Of
conspirators. The snow sileuced his
steps. and the white-weis-hted ever
greens lowered above his modest height.
I got it in my pocket, I tell you.
Quinn was insisting They bought II
at the Graftons' 70 kin a pet cat. an
they left it in the stable. an'-there YOU
are" He modestly eluded the portion
of the testimony bearing upon the
transfer of the chIorOfOrm from the
Graftons stables 10 his pockets "A
Whit Of that, an it's 'goOd-by. care.
for a while
Leary cnuckled appre tiativeIy Say.
Quinn" he said. slyly and with deep
enjoyment. well be able to pay Wilder
He must have well on to a hundred
dollars speculatcd Quinn. reveren-
tally.
Fifty men paid up their dues to-
night. calculated Leary, an the bows
that took in money atsthe fair turned it
over Yes. there'n be well on to a hun
dred.
NO onen believe him when he says
he was robbed. 4" OUiDn's delight in
This thought was deep. That was a
smart thought of yours. Barney. sayin'
he was in debt"
oh, someone will believe him. pro-
tested Leary. generously. They're all
the time talkin' about his blamed hon.
esty. But some WON'T
At this hopeful conclusion Wilder set
his teeth grimly. He ran into the trav-
ersing section OF the hedge. Then he
waited for them TO gain on him again
before he broke through it and followed
warily.
They reached the house finally.
slipped by the front entrance and fol-
lowed the narrow side-yard 10 the rear
Wilder waited a few minutes: then he
gently unlocked the front door and was
again within the home he had so re-
Gently repudiated.
he knew how they would erter-how
they would climb TO the roof of the one
stored extension whore the kitchen
was. thence to the rear window of the
second story, thence into the Unfinished
room that was merely a lumber-room,
and thence
He thought of Lucy and OF the baby
In the room beyond A rush of love for
them swept over him. Man the pro-
tector awoke in him. and with that
awakening came the passion Of tender
ness that belonged TO the mart He
wished there was time 10 reassure I,ucy
but he must meet the thieves as thew
er,tered-before they entered. Once they
were In and on a sur footing he was
no match for them.
He gained the Iumber-roorn and
crouched in the blackness beside ami
below the window. There were oT,IV-
the f1intest sounds without Thor
hand tumbled at the casing; the window
yielded slightly, and a painting whisper
demanded: Cant you-get in-o1Iiel--
er? YOu're-sO-heavy.'
Wilder smiled. He remembered the
height OF the second-story window
from the low sheC roof UTpon its nv
certain. sloping roof Quinn had evident
~ been obliged to act as a ladder g.
Leary. Wilder smiled again.
!. Leary voice was hoarsely sibilant as
"Jqst-a minute mere. There she
The Wow slid op. Wilder brsood
himself in the dark. One leg swung oSser
the sill, AN right" whispered Teary
leaning back " Lea y
Then came a shrek. a splinterinr r.
glass; crashing of wood. a fall. more
From beneath, Wilder had forceS ~
unprepared I-eary to turn a back s0Yner-
sauIt through the window In his Sl16
den: rowling descent he had swept the
uhSteauS +ulnn over, and both were
prostrate on the ground below
FOR second after the hubbub there
was silence; then means came from be-
saw the white yard darkened by two
lner' masses prone upon It.
IL was a populous neighborhood, like
most poor ones. Windows were raised
heads appeared Joe shouted q swift di-
rection TO his next neighbor. and rushed
into the bedroom TO find and comfort
Lucy The baby slept blissfully but his
wife was not there
He tore madly down the stairs. fear
straining his heart. There was a faint
line OF light beneath the diningroom
door. He rushed to il, turned the knob
IL would not open. His shoulder against
II met some resistance, but finally il
yielded. There stood Lucy opposing her
little strength to his. terror bleaching
Ner face. her hands tight upon her
bosom. her eyes wild
Lucy. darlingi" said Wilder snatch
ing the frightened thing to his arms
"Oh, Joe. JoeH she cried, abandon.
ing herself in hysterical relief to Their.
safe shelter.
And neither of them noticed in that
moment that il was a buster which fell
from her arms as she stretched them
toward him. and-happy augury-that
the place of their reconciliation was a
room undergoing the awful throes OF a
thorough cleaning