The Washington times., 1905-10-22

to the door, He whispered. BE ready.
my beauty. TO start at a moments
notice The money is on the way.
You shall live like queen before many
days are gone"
I'VE shall see." she answered, with q
smile. but shutting the door between
| them.
He clinched his fists and muttered.
! I'm figure it all up and take my pay
I Mf=sy. She's worth II. / will have TO do
some crooked things to get her; but by
Il, I'd kill dozen men and hang an
other. Just to stand by and see her braid
| her hair
Returning TO his house. he ran nimbly
up the stairs, half fearing to find Sleeny
there. but he had not yet arrived. He
seized the hammer. put il in his pocket.
and came down again. Still intent upon
accounting for as much OF the evening
as possible, he thought OF q variety
show in the neighborhood and went
there. He then walked TO the box office
and asked for ticket. addressing the
man who sold ii to him as Jimmy"
and asking how business was. The man
handed him his ticket without any reply,
but turned to a friend beside him, and
said. Who is that cheeky brother that
knows me SO well?''
"Oh. that's a rounder by the name OF
Ofitt. He is a sort of Reformer-raakes
speeches to the puddlers on the rights OF
man"
Seems rather fresh.' said Jimmy
"A little brine wouldn't hurt him.
| Ofiitt strolled into the theater, which
was well filed. The curtain was down
at the moment, and he walked the full
extent of the center aisle to the orches-
| ira, looking about him as II in search
Of some one. He saw one or two ac-
quaintances and nodded 10 them. He
| then walked back and took a seat near
the door, The curtain rose. and the
star OF the evening bounded upon the
stage-a strapping young woman in the
| dress Of an army officer. She was
greeted with applause before she began
her song, and with her first notes Offit
quietly went out. He looked at the clock
on the city hall, and saw that he had
no more time to kill. He walked, with
out hurrying or lettering. up the shady
side OF the street till he came to the
quarter where Farnham lived He then
crossed into the wide avenue and, look
ing swiftly about him, approached the
open gates of Farnham's place. Two or
three men were coming out one or two !.
were going in He waited till the former
had turned down the street, and the lat
ter were on the door step. He then
walked briskly up the path to the house:
but instead OF mounting the steps, he
turned TO the left and lay down under
the library windows behind a clump of
lilacs-
If they catch me here he thought,
they can only take me for tramp and
give me the grand bounce.
The windows opened upon the stone
platform a few feet from the ground
He could hear the sound of voices with.
in AL least he heard the men rise, push
back their chairs, and say Goodnight"
He heard their heavy shoes upon the
front steps Now for it" he Whisper
ed But at that moment belated ten
ant came in. He wanted to talk of some
repairs TO his house. OMIT lay down
again. resting his head on his arm The
soft turf, the stiffness, the warmth OF
the summer night luiled him into drow-
siness. In spite of the reason he had for
keeping awake, his eyes were closing
and his senses were fading. when a shrilI
whistle startled him into broad wake
fulness. 1t was the melancholy note OF
a whippoorwill In the branches OF a
lime tree In the garden. Ofitt listened
for the sound of voices in the library He
heard nothing Can 1 have slept
through-no. there is a light" Asshadow
fell across the window. The heavy tread
Of Budsey approached. Farnham's voice
was heard: Never mind the windows.
Budsey- will close them and the front
door. 1 VIII wait here awhile; somebody
else may come. You can go to bed
Goodnight. Eir.''
Goodnight"
rose and looked cautiously In at the
window. Farnham was seated at his
desk He had sorted, in a metho6ical
way peculiar to men who have held COM
mand in the army. the papers which he
had been using with his tenants and the
money he had received from them.
They were arranged on the desk before
him in neat bundles. ready TO be trans
ferred TO the safe. across the room. He
had taken up his pen to make some
final Endorsement
omit drew of his shoes, Ieaped upon
the platform, and entered the library az
swiftly and noiselessly as a panther
walking over sand
L think" said Mrs. Belding. that
fhraSy Dallas gets more and more stvI-
ish every day. 1 don't wonder at Ar
thur Farnham's devotion. That would
make an excellent match-they are both
so dreadfully clever BY the way. ha
has not been here this week And l de-
clare! L don't believe you have ever
written him that note or thanks"
No" said Alice, sniling-she had
schooled herself by this time to speak
of him carelessly. II was too much
frightened 10 thank him on the spot
and now it would be ancient history. We
must save cur thanks till we see him.
Il want TO see him about other things.
You must write and ask HIM 10 dinner
tomorrow or next day"
Don't you think he would like it bet
ter If you would write? "
There you are again-as if ii mat
tered Write that Mamma bids me-
There. your hair is braided Write the
note now, and will send it over in the
morning before he gets away"