Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-04-22

man. quietly, for the thiefs hands had
shot instantly and instinctively to the
bullying side pocket OF his overcoat.
that's it," as he was smilingly
obeyed. "Now-but-great Scott"
His eyes had fallen upon the WON.
an. who had staggered down upon a
chair and was regarding the thief with
wide, bewildered eyes.
Mrs. Wytham." he gasped; what
ever
The thief's eyes telegraphed their
urgent message to her, and the thief
himself addressed his captor.
The lady interrupted me-" he said
blandly; Il was threatening her witt
my shooter as you arrived, intending
to tie her up and make tracks"
The woman had reused herself with
an effort, and the color was coming
slowly back to her face.
Il came down for my book" she
said to Lord Mordon. u couldn't sleep.
and thought would read. Oh. Archie.
II was awful! He threatened to shoot
me II 1 made any noise, and was 50
certified! What could l do?"
Mrs. Wytham." said Lord Mordof,
will you kindly go into the hall and
telephone down to the police station:
They'll send up a couple of men in
ten minutes or SOL
Mrs. Wytham got up.
oh, / don't know how to telephone.
Archie" she said. I've never done it
before. But can't 1 stay here while
you go? You can give me his pistol
if you like, but I'm sure he's not going
to be any trouble. If he is-well, you
know what good shot am"
But as soon as Lord Mordon's broad
shoulders had disappeared through the
doorway into the dark hall beyond his
mobile face resumed its normal express
sion of blase audacity. Mrs. Wytham,
who had OWNED his swiftly conceived
plan with true feminine intuition,
thrust the revolver into his hands.
Through the window, Quickl" she
whispered. 'I'll know what to say to
him when he comes back. Oh, quick,
quick for heavens sakei"
He laughed softly, with shining
eyes. kissed his hand to her, and ran
swiftly across the lawn that lay
smooth and blanched in the light of
the full moon. She waited a moment
or two, then, having cleverly initiated
the sounds of a scuffie-stamping and
pushing the chairs about In a manner
sufficiently grotesque to warrant a YER
dict OF lunacy from any chance behold
er-she rushed to the door, almost
falling into the arms Of Lord Mordon
"Oh, he's gonei" she cried. 'T was
not looking at him, and he sprang at
me and wrenched the revolver out of
my hands. Oh, how awful it Isl He
looked so broken and miserable,
thought he was safe!"
Dash it. yes!" said Lord Mordon
viciously, depressing a stronger ex-
plosive. 81 thought so, too! I'm going
after him; he's probably got his
pockets stuffed with notes. Rouse the
house, Mrs. Wytham, and send the 9th
er fellows after me. Which way did
he go?"
But the house was soon reused more
efectually than by any screams of
hers. The sharp crack of a revolver
shot broke upon a momentary lull in
the gale. followed by another, then
the din of the driving wind swallowed
up all sounds for while. Mrs. Myth
am crouched on her chair, shivering
and sobbing. She had misdirected
Lord Mordon; but it appeared that she
had done so to no purpose
Two days before Lord Mordon had
asked her to marry him, and she had
told him very gently and sweetly that
she could never be more than a friend
to him, she had always supposed,
as the world supposed, that her hus-
band was dead, and this was the death
blow to a hundred pathetic hopes
Then, kneeling there with that white
upturned face upon her knee, and the
dark trees murmuring about them-an
admirable mis-en-scene of which she
was completely unconscious-she told
him her story-from that miserable
day six years before, when in a fren
zy of unreasoning rage she had sent
her husband innocent as she soon
knew, of that which she had laid to
his charge) away from her forever, ia
S--~ ACCOA0 VI ACl III
that evenings happenings.
When the thief opened his eyes he
was lying in a cool white bed in a
room wherein the lights were softly
shaded. He could remember nothing,
and when he tried to sit up and look
about him a sharp pain stabbed his
left ankle and he sank back at once
Then he heard a movement by his
side, and turning his head, looked into
the kindly eyes of Lord Mordon, who
was sitting beside the bed.
"An explanation of affairs would
greatly oblige," he said languidly
glancing round the luxurious room; lis
this an improved Worm wood Scrubs
run by your lordship as society fad ?
In which case. will you be so kind as
to summon my valet to bring me some
breakfast? I'm hungry and"
The whimsical voice ceased abrupt
ly. Lord Mordon had leaned forward
and the light shone on his haggard
face.
Mrs. Wytham has told me every
thing" he said quietly; will you shake
hands?"