Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-08-16
AN INTERRUPTION

very, very hot morning in August,
Mr.. Howard Danforth-alias John
Detch, alias Mortimer Ritter-pre.
ferred to saunter up the sunny side
of Regent street, London. His pref.
erence for the sunny side was due to
the fact that his enemy, the policeman,
was. also on that side, little way
ahead, and walking in the same di-
rection. Mr.. Danforth's eye was
fixed on the back of the bluecoat.
When the policeman turned down a
side street, Mr.. Danforth threw away
his cigarette and quickened his pace
to Edgware road, where he stopped
and had lemon phosphate. He
came out and walked on until he
came to narrow, clean-swept turn.
ing, on either side of which were
high fences and walls from back yards
that had each a little door or a gate,
Mr.. Danforth walked down, glancing
hawk like to this side and that, until
he saw on his right gate with white
chalk mark near the knob. He in.
spected the mark with some care,
looking up and down the lane eau.
tiously, then put his foot on the knob
and vaulted over the gate into a
graveled garden.
Before him loomed the rear of a
redbrick mansion, whose shuttered
lower windows said very plainly that
the family had fitted for the summer.
Because some one had prepared the
way-a task that had taken the great
er part of the night before and so
made necessary Mr.. Danforth's day
visit-he found one Of the shutters
loose and his passage to the interior
unimpeded.
MIR. Danforth removed his coat,
cuffs and collar. He had work to do;
and baing person of system, he be.
gan at the top and worked down.
Three hours later pile Of bric-a
brac and pictures at the head of the
basement stairs was the fruit of his
industry. The last piece he added
was an antique vase. He went to
the unshuttered front windows to let
the light strike the surface and warm
the thing till it seemed to burn. He
smiled at the color famed back to
him. lie appreciated things of that
sort. Under other circumstances he
might have been an artist.
He was half way between the first
landing and the ground floor, when
he suddenly became conscious of a
presence in the hall below him. In
the dim light he saw the outline of a
woman's figure. he stopped short,
and put his hand to his coat pocket.
1t was too late to go back. He had
been heard, for somewhat puzzled,
uncertain voice bounced out an "Ohl"
and the figure moved little.
1t was young lady. Mr.. Dan.
forth breathed again, bowed easily,
and continued his descent.
"This is unexpected, said the lady,
breatblessly, but with an effort to ap-
pear calm. "I-I didn't think you
were in the house now"
mo, fancy you didn't" replied
Mr.. Danforth.
"You are, of course, Mr.. Ford.
"Ah |" said Danforth, non. commit.
tally.
"You mustn't think l haven't any
right here-I can explain really-l'm
I'm not burglar. "
aren't you2" he asked. quizzical-
ly.
"Oh course, it's absurd to find me
coming into the house this way
II was a little astonished at first, "
he confessed.
-"I'm Miss Chester-you must have
heard your sister Alice speak of me. :"
"Of course" said Mr.. Danforth, a
little ray Of understanding coming to
him.
ats so funny that we've never
met" she bubbled. "Our cottage is
next yours at Maidenhead,you know
"Ahr
sand today l was coming to town on
an errand, 30 your sister asked me to
come here and get her copy of Schop-
enbauer.
"Schopenhauer." he smiled.
"She said she'd asked you twice
for it, but you always forgot; and it
was not much out of my way. She
gave me her latchkey and told me
positively that you were only here al
night"
"She doesn't know my habits. ol
she wouldn't have told you such ar