The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-20
Our Daily Sbcrt Story

uay over. he sauntered idly along the busy thoroughfare. His hands in nis | coat pockets, his eyes downcast as ne walked slowly. thinking and thinking
 After all. why longer continue the u:' equal struggle? He could not remain where he must be constantly seeing MI. ored-where he must constantly behold the simple sweetness of her face and near her free-hearted laughter-now thai they were only friends. He was toe much or Q coward.
 ne must go away somewhere; any where. But how? He had little money He A sudden thought came to him, and as 1t throbbed through his brain he paused on corner and stood rigid, pale, tremb' ling. His blood seemed frozen in his veins.
 A hundred people surged past him, but he saw no one. A constant din of traffic surrounded him. but he heard nothing kIe twas eng- ehinking.
 Then smile-a smile of desperate de termination-curved the lines of his mouth and smoothed the wrinkles be- tween his eyebrows.
 must go-go-go! he cried to him. self. "As for the money-God forgive me. I cannot help it!'' Arousing himself with a start. he board ed car and was carried rapidly away In the direction of the bank.
 No one was to be seen in the massive granite building when he alighted at the corner.
 With pass key he let himself in, and noticed that the dusk was rapidly thick ening in the rooms. Making his way through the corridors. he stood at last in front of the vault. The heavy door l~- T1,,k t l., h. combination-and there were piles oi coin and currency behind the inner bar riers.
 For a moment he hesitated. Perhaps the thought of long years of faithful service. of his good name, of the implic- 1t confidence imposed in him by her fa- ther made him pause. But-he was a coward.
 Glanclng carefully around the apart. ment to make sure there was none to see he placed his hand on the metal knob that worked the combination. A few slow. deliberate movements and he heard the click that told the lock was sprung
 Again he hesitated, the cold sweat unnatural gleam in his eyes. Then throwing his weight upon the handle he threw back the bolt and swung open the door.
 Instantly he shrank back and put a hand to his eyes. For. just within the open vault, Mildred stood, her features palitl with fright, her lips trembling but speeches..
 AS the door opened she raised one hand, palm outward. to shield her blind. ed eyes from the light of day.
 But to the man covering before her she stood in the attitude of one barring the way of a thief. who sought the wealth of which her father was custo. dian With warning hand uplifted, ehe seemed to command: Stand back!
 Tt was kind of you to come back af- ter me-" she said. They must not have known I was in there. for they locked the door and I could not make them hear me. I was afraid must remain there until morning. and felt sure I would smother"
 She shivered and crept closer to the other.
 q am glad I came." he faItered. real. izing that she did not guess the truth. q was thinking you might have been lock. ed in, and when I found you were was startled.
 Walter" she said, softly, and he be. held the old-time love light in her eyes how foolish it was in us to quarrel, ] have not been quite happy-a single moment-since, Walter"