The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-29


Then Jones shook his head with re-
Elective seriousness. There was some
thing doing, after all. He thought Of
the ticket for boxing lessons with only
four punctures and wished somehow
that there were holes In the other
eight squares.
There was breathless silence for q
minute. Come out!" he then husk-
lily commanded. No answer. "Come
out or I'll" the threat died ominous-
ly away. Still no answer.
"Why don't you 60 in and pull him
out?" the girl suggested in chicken ex-
element
'I'ye got to reconnoitre first" ex-
! planned the hesitating Jones, but he
edged an inch or two nearer the dan
gerous territory as though to report
progress in his Investigations. An
other pause.
Are you afraid?" There was a
hint Of scorn in her voice.
A food Of indignation swept over
the crouching Jones. The covert in
suit stung him to action. With a leap
he landed squarely inside the closet
| and plunged his hands into the dark
ness before him. They punched into
furry mass that emitted a frightened
meow"
"Ha! Hal" he laughed for shee
relief and with pompous assurance.
TITS only a cat and-kittens!"
His chuckle changed to a gasp of
| dismay. The girl had slammed the
door shut and locked it.
Help! Arthur. help!" she scream
ed.
Say" the bewildered man cried,
shaking the door expostulatingly, "it's
kittens!"
Arthur! Help!"
A dark suspicion flashed across the
prisoners mind. Another case of
blackmail," he muttered gloomily. "By
Heavens, they won't work it this
time!"
There were hurried footsteps over.
head and the cellar door few open.
Why. Bess, what's the matter?" a
woman's voice cried from above.
Whats the trouble, Bess?" chimed
in a deep bass.
"Oh, Arthur, I've got burglar lock-
ed up In the cold closet"
"You let me out of this!" demanded
the indignant prisoner furiously. 81
know your game"
Look out, Arthur He's got a re.
volver and he's such an ugly brute!"
At these words Jones got into ac-
ton again.
"You stay and watch him, Bess,
and I-I-I'll go for help" And heavy
feet beat an Irregular tattoo as they
stumbled up the stairs.
"Oh. Arthur, don't leave mel"
well, isn't he the coward Lily!"
"He of all people," said a wavering
voice with frightened sob as its
owner vanished after the fallen idol
Jones had about decided to break
down the door when it opened and
Bess stood before him.
TT worked lovely!" she breathed in
q perfect ecstasy of delight.
Hump, you're mistaken, young
lady, for I'm going to get out before
they come-And give my best regards
to your neither when she awakens."
| AO 6lIl bIOhO lutO uOesl
II beg yOur pardon for acting as did,
but I wanted to show Lily what a
coward Arthur is. She was deter
mined to accept him when he came
this afternoon for his answer and L"
she laughed agAin-"well. it's all on
You had better leave by the bulk
head" she added hastily and led the
way through q mase of pipes and bar
rels.
When Jones saw her in the light of
day with the easy consciousness Of q
good deed we'll done, he felt that his
time had come.
IT was afraid" he suggested mean
ingly.
A glance Of admiration for his cour-
age ana blush at the Significance Of
the remark stirred = feeling of hope
in his breast. He threw back his shoul-
ders with "t0-do-or-die" confidence
and stared about impressively for hid
den malefaetorS.
Suddenly they heard the rush Of
feet In the trent OF the house.
Quick! oo!" she said with an
anxious yet mfaGhievously tender
glance. and disappeared once more
into the cellar.
by Jovei" muttered the smitten
Jones smphatcally, as he lodged un-