The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-03-01


less window curtains and clean blinds.
He stared at her, bewildered, and
then his startled eyes made a tour of
inspection of the little room. The
supper things upon the table, the
walls, the carpet, the manteEpiece,
came in for a share of his attention;
and then he turned his gaze to her
and took off his cap, displaying a
clean, brown forehead and fair, curly
hair, SO suddenly that Sally certainly
would have fred-if she'd known
how.
Her dark hair was loose, and lay
in tangled heap over her shoulders.
A white frill at her neck overlooked
the deep reds and Vellows of the
dressing gown In her haste she had
neglected to fasten the girdle, and
her left hand punched the folds shape
lessly together at her waist, whilst
from beneath the skirts one row OF
pink toes peeped at the intruder.
I'm very sorry" the burglar said.
There's some mistake
She cut him short There is she
said. There is. Because you've
managed to ascertain that father IS
away you imagined that we-Tom and
I-were defenseless, and you thought
you could rob us safely"
The hand that held the pistol shook
and twitched with her vehemence, and
the burglar looked anxiously at the
moving weapon Then he smiled
again.
Excuse me-" he said ''I-I don't
think you-you understand firearms
very well, do you? You can't fire that
one like that. you know
So he had found her out! Oh, why
hadn't she walked UP Tom?
Il understand it quite wen enough
to shoot you with it, she answered.
He put his own revolver noiseless-
ly on the table among the supper
things.
"Th-there you are he said again
''N-now, if you point that at me and
pull this trigger'-he indicated 1t
with dirty, shapely forefinger-"you
will kill ME d-dead. B-but lid rather
you d-didn't."
And he lightly swung a chair into
the middle of the room and sat astride
it.
"And-and now" he asked, what
do you propose to do with me?'
Sally gasped. We'll" she said at
length. IL don't know. suppose
/ ought to call policeman. But that
seems rather unldnd after you've put
yourself in my power-your revolver,
you know, You aren't a-exactiy-a
real burglar, are you?
'EI wanted my-some supper, he
said.
''Oh how could you?" she cried, hor-
rified. Just that. Wouldn't you
rather go hungry than steal?'
Mono he said, with emphasis, Il
wouldn't"
And he smiled in her eyes, cheer
full and shameless.
She got up, her knees still lnre-
liable, cut a generous slice OF bread
and cheese and held it out to him.
"C-can't I have it at the t-table?'
he asked 'M-my hands are filthy.
L-look at them."
He grinned amiably and commenced
eating bread and cheese with knife
and fork, while Sally watched him.
He ate very leisarely for starving
man, she thought And his hair was
nice, too-nfee and short and curly.
And he wasn't really ugly, if only he
hadn't been so dirty. When he had
done he drank some water and stood
up.
I'm very much Obliged he
said Now shall c-call policeman
for you?"
Sally, sitting ON the sofa huddled
in the dressing gown, deliberated g..
length. Il don't think I shall give
you in charge" she decided aloud.
I'm going to give you another chance.
if you promise me you'll reform Will
you?"
III try he promised gravely.
I'm glad. Now take some more
bread and cheese in your pocket, and
I'll let you out of the front door"
She cut some and handed it to him.
and he solemnly pocketed it. Here's
your revolver" And she led the way
to the hall.
On the step he turned.
"M-Miss Trehane," he said, in a
hoarse whisper.
"Yes?' murmured Sally, from be-
hind the haif-closed door.
II said I'd reform, didn't II"
Her little white face nodded in the
gloom.
"Then-then I think Tits only fair
to tell you l mean to steal one thing
from-from your house yet, and viii,
too, d-dashed if DON'T" And he fled
silently.
ooh, dear!" sighed Sally. as she
shut the door and went upstairs. And
not till she was in bed did she say,
with start: Goodness. he knew
my name!"