Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-04-22
HONOR OF ;
THIEVES |
BY CLARE THORNTON
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The thief had been a trifle surprised
to find the door OF the room unlocked;
but his surprise amounted to momen-
tary stupefaction when, having en-
tered stealthily, he found himself look
ing into the terrified eyes OF a woman.
She was on her knees by an open safe,
and the light Of the candle she had
placed on a chair beside her showed
him the ivory loneliness of her face,
framed in its streaming hair.
When she saw him she let fall lit
tie chamois leather bag which she
had just taken from the safe and
clasped both hands to her breast.
JIM" she gasped. "Jim!"
The thief recovered his self-control
at once, and coming forward. seated
himself in an armchair opposite to her
and surveyed her with some amuse-
ment
This is a surprise party, ma
cherie!" he said, lightly, with a gay
smile that went well with his dare
devil eyes and bold, sharply-cut fea-
lures. Il did not know you had taken
to felonious practices. But-by Jove,
how the deuce" and he arched his
eyebrows and gave a low whistle Of
establishment as he gazed at the COM
plicated machinery of the massive
safe door. She rose from her knees
and confronted him; a slim. girlish
figure in her soft dressing gown,
trembling from head to foot, white
Tipped and ashen-faced.
Il knew how to open it." she fall
tered! Il hid in here one day and
watched Lord Mordon do it. oh, Jim,
for heavens sake go, or we shall be
heard! Why did do It? oh, why did
DO it?"
A cynical smile played about the
thief's clean-shaven lip.
"Oh. I'm awfully in debit" she de-
clared vehemently. Indeed. it's ter
rible! I've sold my diamonds long
ago; the things wear are wretched
limitations. And I've been losing mon
ey at bridge. and-and horse racing.
oh, Jim, be generous and go. Lord
MordOn's bedroom is just above us
and he will hear us! oh, would kill
myself rather than be caught For the
sake of old times, Jim!"
The thief settled himself more COM
fortably in the chair and stretched his
muscular arms languidly.
"Old times, eh?" he said, sitting a
yawn. Dear me, how melodramatic
we are! Do you mean to tell me you
ever think Of those old times?"
Her white lips were trembling pite-
ously.
II would give the whole world to I'M
do the pastl" she said passionately;
'if it is any satisfaction to you to
know that. oh, how cruel you are to
torture me so! 1t isn't like you-as
you used to be, Jim!"
He laughed grimly.
Il am not as 1 used to be; thanks
TO you'll" he said bitterly; then rising
and speaking more briskly, but, of
course, Pm going. was only teasing
you. There is honor among members
of MY beg your pardon-our profes-
sion, and this is clearly your show.
But how in the name of all that's won
derful do you intend to dispose Of the
thing?"
A nervous smile twitched her color
less lips.
II have friends" she began, then
stopped, her face flaming and paling
by turns. "Oh, heard someone COM
ing! Jim, Jim, what shall / do?"
They both stood listening; she with
tense face and parted lips, he in a
bored, uninterested way that bespoke
nerves of steel She ran to his side
and chung to him. tremulous and hys-
terical. The touch of her clinging
hands. the contact of her soft draper
les and softer, family perfumed hair,
conjured up a host Of bittersweet
memories that the thief had long ago
considered dead and buried; and for
an instant the candlehght shone upon
a sudden moisture in his eyes. But
It was clearly no moment for senti-
ment, and already his resourceful
brain had mapped out the course of
action he meant to follow. He knew
that escape was impossible, but he
knew that there was only one thing
for him to do. He took the bag gen.
tly from her unresisting fingers, thrust
1t into an inner pocket, and sprang
away from her toward the open door.
That which he had known to be in
evitable took place. The room clicked
suddenly into dazzling briliiance and
he found himself blinking into the bar
rel of a revolver. He had little diff
Guilty in recognizing the tall, blonde,
pajama-clad ieveler of the revolver as
Lord Mcrdon. whose portrait he had