The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-10-31

ment at the foot of the steps and
gave quick glance at, the house.
Then he assembled to the porch and
tried to open the door Something
prevented him the key he carried
didn't fit, or the door was bolted.
He besitated moment as if un-
decided. Then he went around the
house and tried the side door, and
the rear door Neither yielded to his
efforts. Evidently determined to
enter he went to the rear of the
garage and brought forth a ladder
Placing this against the porch he as
cended to the roof and a moment
later had disappeared through a rear
window
And Marjorie Lane saw all this
from the house next door Marjorie
was alone in the house. Her mother
was away on visit, the maid was
taking her afternoon out, and her
father was at his Office. Marjorie had
been reading in the little reception
hall, when the mans footsteps on
the porch next door aroused her. She
boked out and saw him.
The house next door had been I'M
tenanted for several weeks. The
Stetsons had gone to New York on
visit. 1t was rumored they would
stay But their furnishings were
still in the house. They were fine
furnishings. too. as Marjorie knew
And here was stranger, in mid-af-
ternoon. feloniously endeavoring to
enter the deserted home
Marjorie ran back when the
stranger went round the house. and
from a kitchen window hidden be-
hind the shade. saw him bring up the
ladder and enter the window.
The girl turned pale. This was the
sort of felony that had become so
common. The stranger had found
that the house was untenanted and
had chosen the most quiet time of the
day for his nefarious work No doubt
he was in there now, picking over
Mrs. Stetson's choicest treasures and
selecting only the most valuable for
his bundle Of loot.
p What should she do? 7'rT~srN~
Y with a shock she remembered that
the telephone was out of order. 1t
had suddenly ceased to do duty at
luncheon time. Her father, who had
come home to please Marjorie, had
tried to call his Office and failed.
The phone is out of order" he
fso1d her. II will call them up from
Tthe Office and report it."
Marjorie gave another little start
when she remembered this. It was
entirely probable that the daring
Nhousebreaker next door had deliber-
'ately cut off the service to serve his
nefarious ends. A shipped wire
would do 1t, A bad man who took
such chances would know how to
surround himself with safeguards.
' The house on the other side of the
Lane home was empty, too. The
Emmets were all away on a vaca-
ton trip-Mr. Emmet's vacation
She could give no alarm there. Nor
was it probable any cutlery she
raised in the street would bear prac-
1icsi results. She was quite sure
Hhat the only man within hearing dis
lance would prove to be that very
bad individual who even now presum-
ably was sampling Mrs. Stetson's
choicest household treasures.
Marjorie hesitated and wrung her
hands. There wasn't a weapon in
the house. not even a stove poker
stove pokers being unknown in
homes heated by natural gas
Besides. what would an entire ar
senal avail her in the present di-
iemma? The man would presently
emerge with his bundle of plumber
and hurry away. He might go over
the back fence, or the side fence. or
across the roofs. To pursue him
with firearms seemed out of the ques-
tion--more especially as there were
no firearms available.
Having no other recourse Marjorie
determined ia wait.
She looked at the library clock. It
was AIS. At 5 o'clock her father had
promised to be home. They were GO
\ ing out to dinner. If the marauder
would be sufficiently deliberate next
door it was possible her father would
return in time.
She was sure he would know Just
what to do. He father was that sort
of man. If she could only call him
and she looked pathetically at the
useless phone.
Then a step sounded on the next
door porch. Marjorie ran back to the
hall. The man was letting himself
out of the Stetson door.
He closed the door carefully and
crossed the porch. He was carrying
something-a heavy suit case
AS he went down the steps Mar
3orie's heart fiuttered wildly. Sh,
mustn't let him get away like this.
she opened the screen door an,
ran out on the porch. The man hat
passed the house. going toward tn,
avenue. She hurried after him.
.tSir." she cried.
He turned around suddenly-an,
something in the suit case softl,
rhengied.
D looNAarjorie shEank back
40