The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-16


 It was half an hour or more after the intruder's departure. A tall man, carrying suit case in one hand, came rapidly down the street and ascended the front steps of the house with the open windows.
 strange" he said to himself, "that Margaret should take such risks. soine- thing must be wrong.
 Hurriedly inserting his night key he threw open the door. The odor of gas was still present, but 1t was no longer overpowering.
 Good God" he exclaimed. they may be dead"
 Up the stairs he sprang and into the bedroom, crying, Margaret! Marga- retp'
 "Ahl think God they live. they iiver' he exclaimed, as he leaned over and felt the returning warmth in their cheeks, the faint but unmistakable beating of their hearts and their fut- tering breath upon his face. They were still unconscious, but as he worked with them hysterically. calling Mar garet, dear one, wake upl' his wife opened her eyes with long inspiration, half sigh. half groan. looked up into his face and smiled. then passed again into inconsistencies. He rushed to the telephone and called up his family physician.
 Come quick. doctor My wife and baby asphyxiated. Just got in. Found them unconscious, but alive. Whats that? Open the windows7 Yes, of course. Hurry, doctor, for Gods saks?'
 Tho doctor was only a square away and be came with all speed.
 Its all right, Jones'" he assured the frantic man. They're coming around nicely and will be as well as ever in a day or two. See, the baby has opened her eyes, and your wife-ahl Mrs. Jones. good morning. What has hap pened? Oh, I'm just making an early call. You've been having a little dis pute with the gas company and for once, thank God! the company has lost. Now, don't try to talk. Just take this medicine and rest quietly
 Jones'" continued the physician you have shown unusual coolness and judgment in this matter. Moving the bed to the windows was fine idea It required considerable courage, too. to come up here through a gas-flled house, even if 1t was your own wife and child in peril. I wonder you don't feel the effects of 1t more than you seem to do."
 But, doctor" exclaimed Jones. q didn't open the windowsl didn't move the bed! And the house was practical ly free from gas when I entered. l can't understand 1t at all"
 That's certainly strange. Is there no one else in the house? Where is the girl?''
 T looked into her room. She isn't there. She always spends Wednesday nights at her own home"
 Perhaps she didn't. Perhaps she's somewhere below, unconscious or fnWnRfiOafQN
 There are windows open below" the doctor continued, as they descended the stairs together. There's a strong cur rent of air passing through the house A fine thing. but all the more myste- rious"
 They found the windows raised in the dining room, but no girl anywhere
 Look here. Doctor Roberts" cried Jones, the sideboard is open and the silver is gone!"
 That looks bad. Possibly your wife put it in some other place. But nol There has been a burglar here. This window has been forced. The latch is broken and there are the marks Of a tool here. Could the burglar have turned on the was to murder the occu- pants of the house?"
 But why open the windows? And how came the bed to be moved?"
 True, Jones. that theory Is untena' b1e. But it's evident a burglar has been in the house. Either he turned on the gas or he found 1t escaping. Int circumstances make the first proposi' tion mprobable-impossibl Then there Is but one explanation doctor. He risked his life to save my wife and baby. It was he, not l. whC l displayed ooolness, judgment and cour age, not for his own but for his socia enemies!'
 That must be the solution, Jones strange as 1t may appear"