The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-04-04

She stared half increduIoasly.
You kncw papaf wheat whcrrr'
.in san Francisco last winter. We
met 10 n business way aud got 10 be
friendly. lie liked TO talk about you,
ana once be showed me your picture.
50 you seemed like an cid friend from
the first"
Betiys eyes had been opened. but
the hook OF annoyance did not leave
her face.
II eau supply my own wants. Please
d. not scni anything more" she said.
aud. With her bead held high. went
back to her post.
Henderson glanced up inquiringiy.
his face revealing half dozen Inn
pulses Ia as many seconds. Suddenly
be rose, took a step nearer and began
speaking rapidly in husky whisper.
miss vandeyere, listen, I'm going
10 tell you secret have fallen
heir 10 a fortune. take the midnight
train for Canada TO claim the legacy.
No one is TO know OF this until after
I'm gone-not even Sterling Will you
come. ,oo--away from this hateful iifef
You know | love you. Decide at once.
There's no time for dallying. Say
youll cornel"
The startled girl trcmblcd In the hot
breath OF his passion. Every vestige
OF color left her face.
ut is So sudden" she faltered. II
must think II over Give me time"
'T'll call at your boarding house at
10 O'Clock BE on the watch. And re-
member how much there is at stake.
But know can trust you"
Betty's voice seemed to have drop.
ped down into her throat. There was
no response. A silence fell In which
she could hear the muffled beating OF
her own heart.
That night Henderson was the first
to leave. Sterling was In the room. \
and he could only give Betty a glance
OF mute appeal as he went out
She crouched over her desk with
blurred eyes. For time there was no
sound save the rustic OF the paper
Sterling pretended to read. At length,
throwing 1t down, he crossed to her
side.
"Stlll at work, Miss VandevereT he
said new note in his big voice.
"I'll soon finish now" she answered
without lifting her eyes. Don't walt,
please. I'll lock up"
Betty heard him sigh as be went out
Hastily locking the door on the inside,
she withdrew the key and returned to
her seat
An hour dragged by Now there
were shadows everywhere. The cor
ners were black with them. She felt
a suffocating terror, as II the walls
were contracting and might shut to-
gether and crush her.
Suddenly key clicked In the lock
She had barely time to drop behind q
chair before man tiptoed into the
Office. As he passed by her hiding
place the light from the street struck
across his face. For minute she
ceased to breathe. He went hurrledly
on to the inner room, and after little
while gentle clicking told her that he
was working the combination Of the
safe. ,,,.
Now was her chance! Quaklng with
fright. she crept to the door opening on
the landing. One quick step and she
was outside. Then the unexpected
happened. A flood Of light suddenly IL
lumined the darkness; she saw that |
the passage was full Of policemen.
And she had rushed straight into Tom
Sterling's arms!
"You! Oh, I'm so glad" she gasped
Historically. "Quick. The safe! You
are being robbed. Henderson,
But the men in blue had already |
dashed past into the Office. There was
the sound Of struggle, then voice |
dreadful curses - the same
voice she had once thought so cultured
and refined.
II overheard-this afternoon" Ster-
ling said quietly. II had grown sus-
plclous before. II you really love him
he shall go free"
Love him? oh, no, no." Betty cried
with her face hidden on the big mans
shoulder. II didn't know until this
afternoon whom | loved. but ! do
nowr