The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-29
Something
of q Poet
BY Jack Browniag
tcopyrIsht. By shortstory pub. Co.,

the stream Of moonlight through the
open window and skyward to Its
source. Yes, ] am something OF q
poet--but with a practical bent"
So saying, he turned and followed
the luminous stream in its path
through the darkness of the room. AT
the table, polished top aglow in the
light, he selected cigarette, stepped
then TO the buffet, and poured out a
sip Of brandy.
Still without light, he drew chair
20 the edge OF the streaming moon
beams, and seating himself, smiled
into the night, enjoying his moon-fan-
cies His smoke rings shimmered in
the glowing vapor, dissolved lazily,
and, like winding ribbons OF silver
reeled slnuously into the darkness
The silence was absolute-quieted
were even those meaningless, far
away sounds that become audible only
by contrast with the stiffness OF
night.
mot so much as the flutter OF a
leaf" he thought 81 can almost hear
the flowing stream of moonlight. 81.
lence seems to have drugged the"
He strained forward and listened
From some indeterminable part of the
house came low tapping, as Of
breezeswayed bough on window pane.
The sound continued only moment
however and Hadley's interest sank
TO a listless curiosity, and thence to
forgetfulness. The moonbeams crept
down from the buffet, crept past the
table, past Hadley, through the open
window, and up, slowly higher and
higher. till the upper easement hid
the last OF them.
A little longer the glow of the Gig.
arctic palpitated in the darkness, then
flashed, comet.like, through the win
dow; and Hadley, with a satisfied ex.
halation of the last pun OF smoke.
rose and stood a moment, reflling his
lungs from the sweet night air
What a night" he thought.
In nearby chamber door creaked,
and quickly, noiselessly, he darted into
the folds Of heavy portiere. Peer.
ing cautiously from his hiding place,
he smiled and exclaimed, silently:
"By Jove! A burglarl"
For thin shaft of light, crossing
the doorway leading into the hall,
darted left, right, up. down, like fur.
tive glance, then vanished. The pat
pat Of cat-like tread drew nearer and
paused. and Hadley with excited
amusement, could almost feel the flu
ger OF light exploring his hiding
place. A moment later he saw II on
the wall near him, and then II darted
through the doorway into the library,
followed by the cat.like tread.
Warily the watcher stepped from the
curtain, the thick carpet yielding 81.
]ently to the pressure of his feet TO
the library door he advanced, and,
scarcely breathing, peered into the
room, ready to draw back his head II
the fitting light should turn toward
his direction.
Curiously he followed the shaft of
light, which, like long, slender and
incredibly nimble proboscis, guided by
dimly and grotesquely outlined mon.
ster, was exploring every nook and
Granny of the large room.
On desk, which filled a corner with
its oaken bulk, the light had settled ;
from top to bottom. from side to side,
lingering drawer after drawer, Il
moved. Apparently interested, the
monster behind the light advanced to
the table and placed his keen-eyed as.
sistant on the top, and then followed
the low ring of metal on metal.
The burglar turned with a snarl,
his right hand flying toward side
pocket, but he stiffened suddenly into
a rigid, crouching statue at sight of a
revolver cleaning in the path of the
nght-a revolver, a hand, and part OF
an arm-back of which loomed a dim
shadow.
Sorry, old. mani" the taunting
voice repeated. The revolver, hand
and arm were unwavering-madden
ingly SO,
What the h"
Hands in front-up"
The burglars hands went up
Now lower them Just enough to
take off your coat-Be careful
There, toss IL to me. Now turn around
--all the way. Good-no projections
about the hips. Sit down on that
desk stool. And raised your mask a
tdfe--raise II, say!-Horrors Low,
er it--quiskl" The taunt In Had
Iey's voice brought the unfiattered bur,
glar TO his feet, but the revolver mo-
toned him back.
The captor laughed softly, then
placed the coat on the table and be
gan to tumble through the opckets
careful all the time, however, to keer
at least one eye on the captive. A
revolver came from one side pocket
followed by bunch of keys. Hadley
gave these articles hardly glance
and sought another pocket.
"Ah, here we are!"
First came necklace, and, in spite
OF himself, Hadley's eyes were drawn
TO the string of flashing gems, before
which the lantern light became pale
and lusterless. Again the scowline
spectator sprang to his feet, and again
the revolver motioned him back.