The Princeton union., 1908-06-11
CHAPTER XVIII.

IT PsrAIRs STAIRS the music Of Mr.:
Renwyck's sonorous slumbers
~ still oozed through the chinks
Of his bedroom door, while at
the farther end of the hall another
closed on the sleepless Mr.. Richard
Williams.
The young man had heard the clock
strike 3 and was still pursuing his
train of tangled thought when it oc-
CURED to him that perhaps if he read
for half an hour his mind might be-
come composed enough for sleep. He
remembered partly finished book
which he had left in the billiard room
and started downstairs to get it. With
a natural disinclination to disturb the
household, he tipped very cautiously
through the hall, down the fight Of
carpeted steps and approached the
billiard room, which, like the library,
was separated from the lower hall by
heavy curtains. These he was about
to draw aside when his outstretched
hand was suddenly arrested by the
sound Of a voice within. 1t was mas
culine and belonged to no inmate Of
the house that he could recognize;
also it was subdued, as one who fear
ed to be overheard. What he heard
assured him that some rascality was
afoot.
"Its money I'm in need off," the
voice was saying, "and that's why 1
took the risk Of coming here alone in
the middle Of the night"
Richards hand slid instinctively to
his hip before he remembered the alb
surdity of fashionable clothes. Clear
~ there was some one in the room
who had no business there. Yet to
whom was he talking? If member
of the household, why this secrecy? |?
He must investigate, of course. But
first he had better arm himself, as he
did not know who or how many he
might have to deal with.
K His mind once made up, the Texan
removed his slippers, crept softly up
the stairs to his room, then down
again, pausing once more outside the
billiard room, but this time listening
delibera tely. ~'- > III - ~. 49,. 80 -
"Mr. Fitzgeorge," al woman's voice
was saying, my patience is exhaust
ed. Why all this talk? Your scheme
is blackmail-nothing else. Give me
the letters, take your, pay and CO."
With a stab Of pain the Texan recog-
nized the voice as Miss Renwyck's s,
and it came with a double pang at
the thought that she was meeting
some unknown rascal in the dead Of
night-that she was buying letters
from him. ..
'What letters? ?" his heart questioned
jealousy. He longed to rush in and
kill the miscreant in his tracks,. yet
wisdom held his mad design in abey-
ance for the present. He peeped
through the heavy portieres and spied
two female figures on one side of the
billiard table. while that Of man was
on the other side, with his back to-
ward the library door, but with his
face half turned toward the spot where
the Texan waited.
,"Very WELL" whispered the man
again. II guess you are playing fair,
all right" He took a package from
his inner pocket. Here are your let
ters. Have you got the money!
Eyes, said Harriet softly; "I have
But wait I must see that the letters
are all here. Imogene. look over them
as quickly as you can. I am afraid to
turn on the light, but perhaps Mr..
Fitzgeorge will be kind enough to LEND
US his lantern.'
"Well, say" chuckled the visitor
quietly, you've got your nerve with
you, all right! I'm sorry I.didn't meet
you before" Again he laughed noise
lessly, produced his bullseye and threw
blaze Of light on the pile Of letters
which he laid upon the table. Look
'em over, Imogene, my DEAR" he con-
t1nued, with unblushing familiarity
'"That's every one you ever wrote me-"
With thrill Of pleasure the Texan
caught this last remark. The letters,
then, were not Harriet's, after all. and
she, brave girl, had dared to face this
scoundrel in order to shield friend.
He could wing the fellow as he stood.
But no. That would alarm the house
and undo everything which; this, splen.
did woman had istriven to hide. He
could wait, and If the fellow offered no
affront he would ttlet him go7 rather
than mortify Miss Renwyck by his
own appearance on the scene. When
the man was safely gone the Texan
cedld then slip quietly to his room,
and these two courageous girls would
never know that sentinel had stood
guard outside the door, r.
Miss Imogene opened each letter to
make certain that it was there, counted
the pile and looked up timid1y.s
'"They-they are not all herey;' she
faltered. IL wrote fourteen. and
here are only twelve" sn
That's all i got" said the burglar
shortly. "You never wrote but twelve"
But I did," protested the trembling
1megene. ''You know did, Rod -er-5
I mean Mr.. Fitzgeorge: oh, Harriet
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