Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-05-28

Of tears when. with sudden effort,
she reused herself and turned toward
the burglar, who stood lmpassively
waiting for developments.
Like yourself" the girl boldly adj
mitted, 81 meant to fall back on this
safe for help. You got there first
Now | can send you hack to jail, but
l don't know" she mused, as II In
doubt. my conscience would never
be clear If sent you to prison for get
ting up earlier than did myself"
The burglar looked up with light OF
grim sympathy In his eyes as the girl
fingered the revolver. He did not seem
to be dismayed by the heartlessness
she evinced
"Yet 1t seems to me-" Miss Morley
suddenly announced, facing the bur-
glar squarely and with little color
that you and | are pair OF weak
kneed cry-babies. We have experience
ed few of the worlds bitterly dlsap
pointed experiences, and we both
whine. Don't you suppose that-that
we could help each other to stand and
stick 1t out-pool our courage, so to
speak?"
Wonderingly the burglar looked at
her for moment as though he were
fearful of some unfathomed and cruel
humor He had let himself drop down
In huddled heap beside the safe.
Now he lifted himself upright and
was about to advance step when she
stayed him with uplfted hand
Helen" he implored, twill you,
after all l have been through-wIll you
literally east your fortunes with me ?
promise that you shall never have
occasion again to be ashamed of me"
mo, nor the girl besought with n
haste almost hysterlcal. "We'll draw
up n compact to go into partnership of
friends. We have saved each other
from n crime. and we will stand by
each other, and We'll strike this off the
minutes before we adjourn. How say
your
"And If the fight be good oneT
Gorham asked softly. "Wlll you have
confidence then In me2 Oh, heavenw
With a resoute movement he step
ped forward to touch her. Hitherto
her manner had been half playful. half
ironical. but 1t was altogether to hide
her deeper feelings. With an effort
that brought her figure splendldly
erect she warded him off.
NO no, nor she commanded. Not
here and now. No; but promise me,
John, promise me here and now, That
you and ! part tonight members of n
compact to fight the fight of righteous
ness, no matter how hard 1t may be.
If-if-if you care to see me-" she fall
tered, you will know how to find me
But now-nothlng but your promise
and then-go!'
He looked at her steadily while he
breathed once or twice. It seemed MS
If he would defy her and take her to
himself I'm ~pite OF what she might do
but finally he turned to the open libra
ry door. At the moment of passing
out he turned and looked Mt her once
again. Neither spoke, and she hardly
seemed to know the exact instant Of
his leaving. She thought he was sure
ly gone, however, when he stepped
back Into the room,
Helen" he began and she knew
that he would have his question an
swered, "when can come back to you
able honestly to take care OF you. may
I-comei"
He heard her softly speak her an
swer, and with gesture Of gladness
he was gone certainly this time.
The safe was still open, and some Of
the papers lay as the burglar Ind drop
ped them. Helen turned to these and
began restoring them to their former
order.
II pray he will come back again to
me-" she breathed. at may be Il long
while to wait until he can, but poy-
erty and disgrace nothing matters II
only we may have some happiness at
last, even the happiness that IL nearly
all hardship
She had the will In her hands, and,
in spite OF herself, she opened and read
It. Before she finished she stood erect
in her excitement. Folding the paper,
she placed II in the safe and closed
the iron door Then she turned back
toward her room.
HE Is coming back when he can
honestly take care Of me-" she told
herself joysully "and all Of Uncle
Growers money Is wllled to him In
compensation for all he has suffered.
He will soon be back for me-"
She could not sleep any better even
now. but the restlessness had given
place to peace Of mind and perfect
happiness that were very good.