The Princeton union., 1908-06-11
THE PRINC NCEToN ONION: THURSDAY UN 3 IL 1sos.
If be were up Is some era ~

wondered If he were up to some crafty
trick.
"Mr. Fitzgeorge," she said, Il pre-
fer to transact this matter where we
are. / see no reason"- ~
Again the man interrupted her,. !
"All right" he answered carelessly;
1T isn't my risk, you know. If your
father came down those stairs sud-
denly might have to shoot; that's all.
don't want to injure him, of course.
but. = T.. t15% ,.i -..
. "Oh, Harriet, pleasev moaned a
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 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 q 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
get down to business. But before l
take the money which Miss Chittendon
is kindly going to lend me for a
month or two I want to make an ex-
PLANTATION Of my act.''
"Sir," whispered Harriet, IT 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, butt -
whats that?" demanded Harriet,
sharply starting at slight noise which
at first she fancied was in the hail.
Nothing, 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 stray piece Of billiard
chalk. AS was saying just now, I've
got to leave for the west Immediately
to join my regiment could feel
his mocking smile even if they could
not see it-"and, to be absolutely truth
full, which I prefer, some Of my
friends, the police, are on my TRAIL
That's why I am obliged to come at
night. hope haven't frightened you
ladies, and beg to assure you that
wouldn't harm hair Of your pretty
heads for any price whateyer," con-
tinued this extraordinarily loquacious
rascal. ..s....-.. .,.;,>sr. !
Eyes, yes,''' said Harriet impatiently,
I'VE know all that. Give me the let
ters and co. =.
"Pardon me-" said the specious Mr.
Roderick Fitzgeorge, with a gallant
bow, "but haven't quite finished yet
I want you to understand my position
clearly, so that you may know I'm
dealing squarely, though harsh
world outside is dogging my innocent
heels" :,
The much abused gentleman plung-
ed into a rambling tale Of his misfor-
tunes, speaking so rapidly that nei-
ther Of his auditors at times could fol-
low him even if they had not been
in state bordering on collapse al
though Harriet, the cooler Of the two,
wondered why the villain did not take
the money and 60.
Had a watcher been concealed in
the library he might we'll have un-
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 mask over the upper
portion of his face. But his chin and
jaw appeared beneath the band of
black, showing pale putty-like COM
plexion "a,
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 Goor. then turned the dial slow
ly with feather touch till at last
he was rewarded by a faint metallic
| click as the delicate fnmhlor dronnod