Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-21

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 fer to transact this matter where V
 are. see no reason"-
 Again tife man interrupted her.
 "All right" be answered carelessly
 Tit isn't my rssk, you know. If you
 father came down those stairs sud
 denly might have to shoot; that's al
 l don't want to injure him, of course
 but
 "Oh, Harriet, please" moaned
 shrinking voice at her elbow, and Har
 riet, seeing the wisdom of the move
 gave in. '.'
 That is the billiard room," she an
 swered, "but it also connects with thu
 hall. Stand where you are, and whel you hear me call you may follow me Come, Imogene."
 This room was lighter than the II brary, having large transom window through which the sickly moonligh forced its way, and possessed an addi tionaI advantage to the girls by req son of the billiard table, which could be kept between them and their wis itor.
 At Miss Renwyck's low call the mar flashed his lantern twice across the IL brary window and stepped into the billiard room, carefully closing the door behind him.
 Now" he began immediately, talk ing a packet from his pocket, i've can get down to business. But before take the money which Miss Chittendon is kindly going to lend me for a month or two I want to make an ex' planation of my act"
 "Sir." whispered Harriet, 'I do not consider that at all necessary. You explained yourself in your letter, and neither Miss Chittendon nor I desire to go further into your motives. Please be good enough to bring your extraor- dinary business to an end"
 But, my dear Miss Renwyck," the visitor persisted. lowering his voice to match her own, you must admit that something is due me. I present myself in very bad light before both of you, and want to clear myself be- fore I go Appearances are against me. know, but
 What's that" demanded Harriet sharply starting at slight noise which at first she fancied was in the hall.
 Nothing. think" Mir. Fitzgeorge answered hurriedly after listening for an instant. "Ah, this is it." he went on, swiftly stopping and apparently picking up something from the floor. q stepped on a stray piece of billiard chalk. AS was saying just now, I've got to leave for the west immediately to join my regiment"-they could feel his mocking smile even if they could not see it-"and, to be absolutely truth full, which prefer. some of my friends, the police, are on my trail That's why am obliged to come at night. hope haven't frightened you ladies, and beg to assure you that I wouldn't harm hair of your pretty heads for any price whatever" con- tinued this extraordinarily loquacious rascal.
 "Yes, yes," said Harriet impatiently, i've know all that Give me the let ters and go.'
 Pardon me-" said the spacious Mir. Roderick Fitzgeorge, with gallant bow, but haven't quite finished yet. want you to understand my position clearly, so that you may know I'm dealing squarely, though harsh world outside is jogging my innocent heels."
 The much abused gentleman plung- ed into a rambling tale of his misfor tunes, speaking so rapidly that nei- low him even if they had not been in a state bordering on collapse, all though Harriet, the cooler of the two, wondered why the villain did not take the money and go.
 Had watcher been concealed in the library he might we'll have un- derstood the motives of Mir. Roderick Fitzgeorge, or Mfr. Jack Bibbs, for both names, among many others, chanced to appertain to the same at tractive gentleman. No sooner had the door of the billiard room been closed when another form rose stealthily above the library window sill. stepped noiselessly inside. crossed the room and dropped on his knees before Mir. Renwyck's safe. The man was of medium height and slender build. wearing a mask over the upper portion of his face. But his chin and jaw appeared beneath the band of black, showing pale, putty-iike com plexion.
 In his work upon the safe this sec ond nocturnal visitor did not resort to force or violence. He was far too old a hand to use such primitive means, nor did he wish to arouse the house. hold by any sudden noise. He press ed a practiced ear against the iron safe door, then turned the dial slow " with feather touch till at last he was rewarded by faint metallic click as the delicate tumbler dropped into its slot. By the aid of his cleo tric flash lamp he made a mental note of the number. indicating his starting point. Then he replaced his ear and reversed the dial as carefully IS before. Again he heard the warn- ng click.
 Left to sixty. right to thirty-fve." he murmured to himself and bent to his work once more.
 He tried four numbers. that being ihe usual combination of smaller safes, then confidently turned the dial to the right He scored a blank. The work Al