The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-04-24
don't want 10 injure him. OF course,

| don't want 10 injure him, OF course,
but
"Oh. Harriet please" moaned a
shrinking voice at her elbow. ana Har-
riet. seeing the wisdom OF the move.
gave In.
THAT Is the billiard room" she an
swcred. hut IL also connects with the
hall. Stand where you are. and when
you hear me call you may follow me.
Come. Imogene."
This room was lighter than the IL
brary. having large transom window.
through which the sickly moonlight
forced its way. and possessed an addi-
tional advantage to the girls by rea-
son of the billiard table. which could
be kept between them and their WIS.,
itor.
At Miss Renwyck's low call the man
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. tax
ing a packet from his pocket, 1--WE can
i
take the money which Miss Chittendon
is kindly going to lend me for
month or two l want to make an eX-
PLANTATION of my act"
"Sir." whispered Harriet, 81 do not
consider that at all necessary. You
explained yourself in your letter. and
neither Miss Chittendon nor ! desire
to so further into your mytives. Please
be good enough to bring your extraor-
binary 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. / present
myself in a very bad light before both
Of you, and want to clear myself be-
fore l go. Appearances are against
me, know, but
whats thatT demanded Harriet.
sharply starting at slight noise which
at first she fancied was in the hall.
Nothing, l think" Mr.. 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.
II 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 hooking 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 l am obliged to come at
night. hope haven't frightened you
ladies. and l beg to assure you that l
wouldn't harm hair Of your pretty
heads for any price whatever" con-
tinued this extraordinarily loquacious
rascal.
Eyes, yes" said Harriet impatiently,
1--WE know all that. Give me the let
tiers and CO."
Pardon me-" said the specious Mr..
Roderick FitZgeorge, with gallant
bow, "but haven't quite finished yet.
l want you to understand my position
clearly, so that you may know I'm
dealing squarely, though harsh
world outside is logging my innocent
heels"
The much abused gentleman plung-
ed into q rambling tale Of his misfor-
tunes, speaking so rapidly that nei-
Their of his auditors at times could fol-
low him even if they had not been
in state bordering en- collapse, al
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 well have I'M
derstood the motives Of Mr.. Roderick
FitZgeorge, or Mr.. Jack Bibbs, for
both names, among. many others,
CHANGED 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 Mr.. 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 a pale, putty-like 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
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
ly with a feather touch till at last
he was rewarded by a faint metallic
click as the delicate tumbler dropped
into its SLOT By the aid Of his cleo
trio 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
as before. Again he heard the warn
ing click.
Left to sixty, right to thirty-five,"'
he murmured to himself and bent to
his work once more.
He tried four numbers, that being
the usual combination of smaller safes,
then confidently turned the dial to the
right. He scored blank. The work
must now be done again, though not
from the bepinninp for three Mt least