The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-09-17
A nervous smile twitched her color.


paling by turns. "Oh. l heard some
one coming! Jim, Jim, what shall
l do?"
They both stood listening; she with
tense face and parted lips, he in 6
bored, uninterested way that bespoke
nerves OF steel. She ran to his side
and clung to him. tremulous and hys
terical. The touch of her clinglng
hands, the contact of her soft draper
les and softer, family perfumed hair
conJured up host Of bitter-sweet
memories that the thief had long age
considered dead and buried; and for
an instant the candlelight shone upon
a sudden moisture In his eyes. But it
was clearly no moment for sentiment
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 gently from her
unresisting fingers, thrust It into an
inner pocket, and sprang away from
her toward the open door. That which
| he had known to be inevitable took
place. The room clicked suddenly
into dazzling brilliance, and he found
himself blinking into the barrel Of a
revolver. He had little difficulty in
recognizing the tall, blonde, pajama-
clad leveler Of the revolver as Lord
Mordon, whose portrait he had fire.
quently seen in the illustrated papers.
Hands up" said that young gentle
man quietly, for the thiers hand had
shot instantly and instinctIvely to the
bulging side pocket Of his overcoat,
that's IT," as he was smilingly
obeyed. "Now-but-great Scott"
His eyes had fallen upon the wom-
an, who had staggered down upon a
chair and was regarding the thief
with wide, bewildered eyes.
Mrs Wytham" he gasped what
ever"
The thiefs eyes telegraphed their
urgent message to her, and the thief
himself addressed his captor.
The lady interrupted me-" he said
blandly; II was threatening her with
my shooter as you arrived, intending
to tie her up and make tracks. Oh,
I'm not going to give you any trouble,
assure you. I'm not such a poor
sportsman as all that"
The woman had reused herself with
an effort, and the color was coming
slowly back to her face.
L came down for my book" she
said to Lord Mordon. 'T couldn't sleep,
and thought | would read. Oh, Archie
1t was awful! He threatened to shoot
me If | made any noise and l was so
terrified! What could I do?"
Mrs. Wytham," said Lord Mordon,
will you kindly go into the hall and
telephone down to the police station?
They'll send up couple of men In ten
minutes or So"
Mrs, Wytham got up.
"Oh, | don't know how to telephone,
Archie" she said. 'T've never done it
before. But can't | 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 ex-
preston of blase audacity. Mrs.
Wytham, who had OWNED his swiftly
plan with true feminine in
thrust the revolver into his
hands
Through the window, quick!" she
"I'll know what to saw to
him when he comes back. Oh, quick,
quick, for heavens sake!"
He laughed softly, with shining
eyes, kissed his hand to her, and ran
swiftly across the lawn that Law
smooth and blanched in the light of
The full moon. She waited a moment
Or two then, having cleverly initiated
he sounds of a Notwithstanding and
pushing the chairs about in a manner
grotesQue to warrant a ver-
lict of lunacy from any chance behold
sr-she rushed to the door, almost fall
ng into the arms of Lord Mordon.
"Oh, he's gone!" she cried. 81 wasn't
ooking at him, and he sprang at me
md wrenched the revolver out of nv
lands Oh how awful it is! He looked
70 broken and miserable, thought he
vas safe!"
Dash 1t, yes" said Lord Mordon
'lciously, repressing stronger explo.
i've, Il thought so, 500! I'm going
fter him; he's probably got his pock.
ts stuffed with notes. Rouse the
Iouse, Mrs Wytham, and send the 9th.
II fellows after me. Which way did
lie go?"
But the house was soon reused more
ftectually than by any screams of
lers, The sharp crack OF a revolver
hot broke upon momentary lull In
he gale, followed by another, then
he din Of the driving wind swallowed
- all sounds for while. Mrs
Nytham crouched on her chair, shiv.
ring and sobbing She had misdirect.
d Lord Mordon; but 1t appeared that
he had done so to no purpose.
III.
Two days before Lord Mordon had