Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-09
III.

444.
The cab stopped. The girl rose and de-
scended to the walk. The driver touched
his hat and refined the horse away.
GOOD night, ma am" he bade her cheer
fully. And she told him Good night in
her turn.
For a moment she seemed a bit hesitant
and fearful, left thus alone. The house
1n front of which she stood like its neigh
bors. reared high facade TO the tender.
Starlit sky, its windows, with drawn
shades and no lights wearing singular
look of blind patience. 1t had a high
stoop and sunken area. There was a
dull glow in one of the basement Win
6ows.
1t was very late-or extremely early.
The moon was down. though its place
was in some way filled by the golden disk
of the clock in the Grand Central station 5
tower. The air was impregnated with
the sweet and fragrant breath of the
newborn day. In the tunnel beneath the
street trolley car rumbled and whined
and clanked lonesomely. \ stray cat
wandered out of n cross street with the
air of seasoned debauchee; stopped,
scratched itself with inimitable abandon
and suddenly, mysteriously alarmed at
nothing. turned itself into streak OF
SfMfloW lndt Te0 across the street and
vanished. And. as If affected by its ter
ror, the gray girl slipped silently into the
area and tapped at the lighted window.
Almost Immediately the gate was eau
fiously opened. A woman's head looked
out with suspicion. "Oh. thank heav-
angs.' it said. with abrupt fervor 81
was afraid il might be you. Miss Sylvia.
I'm so glad you're back. There amt
hasn't been minute these past two
nights that haven't been in fidget''
cy{rl bod fatlx !
through the gateway (which was closed
behind herr into the basement hall, where
she fingered brief moment.
NY father ANNIE she inquired.
He ain't-hasnt stirred since YOU Went
out Miss Sylvia. He's sleep.n' peaceful
as "a lamb
Everything is all right them"
Now. that you're home ii is. praises
be- The servant secured the inner door
and turned up the gas. Not if | was to
be given notice tomorrow mornin" she
announced firmly. will l ever consent to
be party to such COINS on another
night
There will be no occasion. Annie
said the girl. Thank you and-good
night"
resigned sigh-"Good night. Miss
Sylvia followed her up the stairs
She went very cautiously. careful &c
brush against article of movable fur
niture in the halls. at pains to make nc
noise on the stairs. AT the door of her
fathers room on the second floor she
stopped and listened for full moment
but he was sleeping as quietly. as sound
1y. as the servant had declared. Their
on. more hurriedly. up another fight. tC
her own room. where she turned on the
electric bulb in panic haste. For it haC
just occurred to her that the telephon,
bell might ring before she could change
her clothing and get downstairs and shu
herself into the library, whose CLOSED
door would prevent the bell from being
audible through the house.
In less than ten minutes she was steal
Ing silently down 20 the drawing room
floor asHin. quiet a spirit OF the night
The library door shut without a sound
for the first time she breathed freely
Then. pressing the button on the wall
she switched on the light i'm the droI
lamp on the center table. The telephone
stood beside il.
She drew up chair and sat down neal
the instrument, ready 10 lift the receiver