Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07

posed respiration. But he was stronger
than before. He could not lift them from
the coucn, but 1t moved easily on its roi-
iers. and with his shoulders he pushed IL
lnch by inch up close. to the opened win
dow. 1t was hard work At every move
he felt an almost irresistible desire to give
up and rest; and when he knew that the
woman and child were as near to air and
life as he could possibly get them it took
all his will to continue the fight. He was
cut off from that window now, but there
was another close by and he must get 1t
open also. Then he could really rest and
breathe A few feet more and everything
would be all right. The air from the open
window reached him in little puffs and
gave him courage. Cheer up-Ikey," he
muttered, you ain't-dead yetAan' you
amt goin' to be- Takes NORMA gas fac
tory-to knock-us out. Csc! Amt that
great He had reached the other window
and raised 1t. Once more he felt the ex-
hilaration of returning strength. now min
g'ed with the satisfaction of a deed accom-
plished.
But what had he done? He did not yet
know that the two on the bed were alive.
How long had the gas been escaping? How
long had they been under it's influence?
The street lamp threw a little Light into the
room and he could see that the chld's face
was covered. but that of the woman was
bared-Whtte as the sheet that formed its
background. She was a young woman
pretty Red Ike thought, he looked at
her from his position in the shadow Of
the window.
Just about as old as Mag" he said soft
ly to himself. He wanted to go over and
touch them TO see II they were dead but
he waws terribly weak and terribly afraid
wish we was out o this, key" he
muttered. Its q bad deal and wen cit
the worst of it if we loaf aroun' here. We
cant do anything more can we? We
amt no bloomin' doctor. The cops'H be
along this way pretty soon an have us up
for murder if they ketch us! Nobody'd be-
in
In court, as them cursed lawyers say
Wed better slide. But
He could not SATISFY himself with this rea-
sonfng. Perhaps he could do more At any
rate he must see. The open windows below
and above had created a current which was
rapidly clearing the room. although the
gas was no doubt still escaping some
where downstairs. His chest was torn with
racking pains and his heart was beating
like the hoofs of the leading horse coming
down the home stretch He leaned over the
bed and touched the face of the woman.
1t was cold. He could detect no movement
of the lungs or heart. She was apparently
dead. He uncovered the face OF the child
and reJoiced to find some signs of life. The
coverings had protected her. He raised and
lowered the woman's arms as he remem-
ed to have seen a doctor work with
man who had been dragged from the surf
After Il moment gentle sigh came from
her closed lips. He stopped and listened. An
aspiration so soft that only an ear accus-
toned to noticing the faintest sound could
have heard it, but it was enough Had
he not stood in the darkness many night
and strained his ear to hear the peculiar
note which he knew indicated deep slumber?
You're all right. my lady" he said, with
a grin of satisfaction. "Mebby Red Ike
amt no doctor, but he's got en- skinned on
this job. Hello The kids coming 'roun
too. Time for you to mosey, key. You don't
want to be here when they wake up. We
amt been, introduced, you know. and It
might be efnbarrassin'. We'll just close UP
that gas factory below, If we can find It;
then we'll sneak home
He gave a parting look at the woman
and child, assured himself again that they
were still breathing and then glided softly
from the room. Ten minutes later he crept
out through the same window by which he
had entered. and keeping well within the
shadow made his way down the alley to
the street and beyond.
1t was half an hour or more after the in
truders departure. tall man. carrying A
suit case in one hand, came rapidly down
the street and assembled the front steps of
the house with the open windows
Strange" he said to himself, that Mar
garet should take such risks. Something
must be wrong"
Hurriedly inserting his night key he threw