The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1908-09-02

Copyright. by shortstory Pub. co..
BY Jack Browning

Copyright, by
I'm something of a poet myself,
Hadley murmured, his eyes fOllOwin
the stream of moonlight through tn
open window and skyward to 1t
source. Eyes, am something of
poet but with a practical bent.''
So saying, he turned and followe
the luminous stream in its pat
through the darkness of the room. A
the table, polished. top aglow in tn
light, he selected a cigarette, steppe'
then to the buffet, and poured out
sip of brandy.
Still without light, he drew a chat
to the edge Of the streaming moon
beams, and seating himself, smilet
into the night, enjoying his moon.fan
cies. His smoke rings shimmered IL
the glowing vapor, dissolved lazily
and, like winding ribbons of silver
reeled sinuously into the darkness
Not SO much as the flutter of {
leaf" he thought. Il can almost heal
the flowing stream of moonlight. 81
lence seems to have drugged the"
He strained forward and listened
From some Understandable part of the
house came a low tapping, as Of
breeze-swayed bough on window pane
The sound continued only a moment
however, and Hadley's interest sank
to a listless curiosity, and thence tc
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 palpftated in the darkness, then
flashed, comet-like, through the win.
dow; and Hadley, with satisfied ex.
halation of the last puff of smoke,
rose and stood moment, refilling 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 burelar!'
For a thin shaft of light, crossing
the doorway leading into the hall,
darted left, right, Up, down, like a 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 fin
ger Of light exploring his hiding
place. A moment later he saw it on
the wall near him, and then it darted
through the doorway into the library
followed by the cat-like tread.
Warily the watcher stepped from the
curtain, the thick carpet yielding ST.
lently 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 if
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
dlmly and grotesquely outlined mon.
ster, was exploring every nook and
Granny of the large room.
On desk, which filed corner with
Its oaken bulk, the light had settled;
from top to bottom, from side to side.
lingering drawer after drawer. II
moved. Apparently interested, the
monster behind the light advanced to
the table and placed his keen-eyed as.
slstant on the top, and then followed
the low ring of metal on metal.
The burglar turned with a. snarl
his right hand flying. toward A., side
pocket. but he stiffened suddenly into
a rigid, crouching statue at sight of a
revolver cleaning in the path of the
hght-a revolver, a hand, and part of
an arm-back of which doomed q dim
shadow.
Sorry. old man. the haunting
voice repeated. The revolver hand
and arm We're unwavering-madden.
ingly so.
What the h"
Hands in front-up!"
The burglars hands went I'M.
Nov lower them just enough to
take off your coat-Be careful,
mere, toss it 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
rif1e-raise it, say!-Horrors! Low.
ar it-quick!" The taunt in Had
ey's voice brought the unflattcred bur-
slar 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 keep
1t least one eye on the captive. A
'evolver came from one side pocket |
ollowed by a bunch of keys. Hadlev |
gave these articles hardly a glance,
md sought another pocket.
"Ah, here We are!"
First came necklace. and, in spite
Il himself, Hadley's eyes were drawn
O the string of flashing gems. before
which the lantern light became pale
md lusterless. Again the scowling
pectator sprang to his feet, and again
he revolver mOtiOned hin, hooL