The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-08-31
The Dark and the Dew.
BY Brucie Dunn.

"Ah!" He crept softly, from shad-
ow 10 shadow, over the velvety lawn.
Servants night out, master
away, and all's WE'LL"
A faint click of metal against
metal, repeated at intervals; an age
In the listening dark-and with
noiseless lifting of the huge window
he gained the interior The air was
soft and sweet with the subtle per-
fume of dainty dresses.
SO busily engaged in filing his
bag, selecting, rejecting not over
looking a bottle of 81 champagne
he did not hear the gentle click of
the street door, Giving the bag a
little shake he rose, thinking the
cold roast and dainty eatables spread
upon the buffers shelf would be ex-
tremely appetizing.
But with a quick movement he
closed the lantern and sprang for the
concealing folds of the hangings
Low voices came to him, and he
smiled grimly, watching the move
4AASAAt9 III AllN WV HNOBAN AAiduC NlSlUlt
by the light of a single taper.
As he listened his eyes glowed
with a fierce light and, dark cords
stood out upon his foreF cad.
Suddenly, with a low laugh, he
pushed aside the draperies and
stood, gracefully nonchalant, a pis-
tol held carelessly by his side.
My dear lady, the debt l owe
your husband is too great to allow
me to suffer your departure with this
gentleman. kindly" a quick
spring, a woman's scream-and he
had the man securely fastened to the
heavy wood settee, effectually unable
TO attempt another trial to ring in
the burglars alarm.
There, there" adjusting a silk
handkerchief as a temporary gag,
you, of all people, can hardly wish
this to get out, you know. And now,
my lady" turning to the frightened
woman staring with white face and
hunted eyes, you surely wish to re-
tire? 1t is late, you see," glancing
with amused eyes at the tall clock
II will accompany you. See that you
are safely within your room"
He flashed on the lights and TAX
ing her firmly by the arm, forced her
to stumble her way up the long
stairs. At the door she turned upon
him and spoke hoarsely:
Il though you were dead"
A look of amused surprise lifted
his eyebrows ever so slightly.
Yes? Surprises are surprising,
are they not? and he waited po-
litely for her to enter. With a ges-
ture Of fear she swept past him.
Calmly removing the door key, he
stood, his massive shoulders and
well-set head framed in the doorway
of the lighted hall
Good night, madame, May your
thoughts be untroubled by visions
of vengeance. Such would be vain,
under the circumstances.
With a mocking bow he closed the
door, giving the key a malicious
twist, and ran lightly down the curv-
ing stairs. With a half contemptu-
Gus glance at the hall prisoner he
strobe carelessly to the dining room
and brought out the heavy bag.
With a little laugh he flung the
contents out upon the rug, and,
turning down the lights, sat upon his
heels, lettering back and forth, OBJ
serving the helpless man with grave,
cynical eyes.
Now, these, my dear sir, are
fruits of my nights work. l show
them to you because we are brother
thieves. o, yes" as the eyes glared
startled interrogation-"Only l
have, perhaps, not yet reached such
a depraved states as you. Really
you ought to think twice before plac-
ing another in outer darkness
though, God knows, there is little
good left in the woman upstairs"
A look of far away came into his
eyes, and he became silent. In those
of his Extraordinarily more than
boy-came a puzzled expression. He
made an uneasy movement, and his
captor drew his gaze back to the
present.
'Listen!" He threw himself to the
rug.
II know you don't wish to be
found here when the servants return.
If you Will give your word to be ST.
lent you may go. But a story comes
first The husband of the woman
upstairs was once my boyhood's and
college chum. Friend, until he met
my fiancee. l never suspected-glad
they liked each other. Two weeks
before our wedding was to take
place, l had to leave for the West. l
was gone one week. When I re-
turned l found them married. His
voice sank huskily.
Ten years ago! You can guess a
little of my life since. Yet tonight l
thank heaven for their treachery-
and pity him.
Something in the boyish eyes COM
PEELED him to remove the gag.
Il couldn't let you do this thing.
I heard her words-knew you were
another dupe-and then, he still be-
lieves!"
His eyes followed the others to the
plumber.
90, yes, that's a grudge 1 owed
him; but It's all gone now"
With a quick movement he re-
leased his prisoner, standing back
with challenging eyes.
You will thank me some day. my