St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-07-10

Betty was SO angry Inat Sne marcneu
forthwith into the next room, where
her employer was busy at his desk.
'Mr. Sterling" she cried, Its an i'm
pertinence for you to make me pres
ents! The fact that work for you is
no excuse"
He looked disconnected.
81 hoped-you wouldn't know-the
trifes came from me-"
"Why did you do it," she demanded
holly.
you're not used to making your own
way--of course you miss things. And
then, knew your father, and wanted
to help you for his sake"
She stared half increduously.
"You knew papa? When? WhereT
'In San Francisco-last winter. We
met in a business way and got to be
friendly. He liked to talk about you,
and once he showed me your picture.
So you seemed like an old friend from
the first"
Betty's eyes had been opened, but
the look of annoyance did not leave
her face.
II can supply my own wants Please
do not send anything more" she said,
and, with her head held high, went
back to her post.
Henderson glanced up inquiringly,
his face revealing half dozen i'm
pulses in as many seconds. Suddenly
he rose, took a step nearer and began
speaking rapidly in husky whisper
Miss Vandevere, listenl I'm going
to tell you secret. l have fallen
heir to 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, too-away from this hateful life?
You know | love you. Decide at once!
There's no time for dallying. Say
you'll come"
The startled girl trembled in the hot
breath of his passion. Every vestige
of color left her face.
lS--SO-Suultl, SuC loltClCu.
must think it over. Give me time"
"Ill call at your boarding house at
10 o'clock. Be on the watch. And re-
member how much there is at stake.
But know I 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 it down, he crossed to her
side.
"Stil at work, Miss yandevere" he
said, new note in his big voice.
'I'll soon finish now" she answered
without lifting her eyes. Don't wait
please. I'll lock up"
Betty heard him sigh as he went out,
Hastily locking the door on the inside
she withdrew the key ard 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 If the walls
were contracting and might shut to-
gether and crush her.
Suddenly a key clicked in the lock.
She had barely time to drop behind a
chair before a man tiptoed into the
office. As he passed by her hiding
place the light from the street struck
across his face For a minute she
ceased to breathe. He went hurriedly
on to the inner room, and after little
while a gentle clicking told her that he
was working the combination Of the
safe.
Now was her chance! Quaking 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
lumned 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
shrieking 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
picious before. If 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 l d.
noww
Protective Hog Trough.
An illustration of a convenient hos
&v.r,x 90 Al.