The Democratic advocate., 1909-03-05

bed where, WukeIul ahQ restless, Shp
had been tossing for an hour, she pro,
ceeded cautiously to the stairs and
down to the library aoor.
Her acquaintance with the house
dated back only as fur as the day be-
fore, when she received the telegram
announcing the death of her uncle,
Grover Pelham.
Dreadng II stumble over an unchart-
ed piece of furniture. she exercised the
utmost care AS she parted the por-
there's of the library door she became
conscious of another presence.
Waiting until her eyes accustomed
themselves to the darkness. she made
out the faintest suggestion of n figure
kneeling at the other side of the room,
and a key turning in an inner lock OF
the safe explained the situation well
enough.
Miss Morley remembered that the
electric light button was close to where
she stood. AS one hand Strengthened
out horizontally toward the intruder
she flashed on the light with the other
The burglar turned with whirl aud
wilted before the eloquence OF the
outstretched revolver and Miss Nor.
ley's dominating pose.
"Who are your the burglar demand
ed sulleniy. peerIng intently in his eff
fort to recognize the figure almost
wholly enveloped by the curtains.
"A guest here" Miss Morley return
ed, with a curious interest in 30 muct
--or so ltttie-of the burglars face n.
the mask permitted her to see. "whc
are you, and what are you doing 4,
Mr.. Pelham's safer
"Just taking the dimensions 10 fill II
up with stocks and bonds as a sur
prise party for his heirs" was the sar
castle response.
"Ah! You know the old gentleman
Is dead, thenT' Miss Morley asked.
''Yes, praise bel And II you haC
minded your own business woulC
have managed nice little squaring ol
accounts with him"
''What did he ever do TO your" Mis-
Morley demanded, little resentment
In her voice as she LET the curtains fal
away and stood forward in all her gra
cious charm before the disguised IN
truder.
Instead of answering, the burgln
as the light fell full upon her, droppe,
back a pace In manifest surprise. sh,
waited and in his turn he startled her
~Helen MoTleyF was all he said. II
the quiet tones Of one who Ia too great
~ astonished to give way TO emotion
Seeming then to understand the foil.
OF a mask. he removed II and crum
Piled IL into his pocket The two face,
each other in silence. -
The man and the girl had hooked for
ward once to life together He wa
cashier of bank until some fund
went wrong and the law sent him &
prison for five years. After that b
never came back to her, though sh
heard Of him drifting about the coun
try.
John Gorhaml And this II the wa.
you come backr the girl just whisper
ed. "What-what did he ever do &
your" she demanded again mechaI
ically and as though she were gainiI
time.
IL never took that money" Coz
ham declared. Grover Pelham hate
me because my mother did not car
for him as he had wished. II was b
who managed my undoing-to punis
my dead father, he said. You didn
know thatf''
The girl shook her head. The ir,
volyer hand dropped down upon eth
table, and abe half averted her fac
and feverish eyes.
81 was not imbittered at flrst, !" sGOi
ham went on, "even though spent s
long a time In prison. began III
over again until Pelham found Il ou
Then 1t seemed as II every Tom. Die
and Harry had learned my story an
was being paid to tell II over and Owe
again.
Il simply had to give up trying /
earn living that way Besides 1 la
been circumstantially taught 20 b,
lieve that you had lost all faith in m'
That was easy to believe" be added
"a hard tone, ''since never receaSed
letter from you"
"The letters were written" she tol
him quickly, many a one"
"More of Pelham's work, them Go
ham yentured. but ] had given NJ
When | heard Of the old gentleman
death / decided to come around an
clean out his safe. | thought / woul
kaep on at that business until had
competence; then | could retire an
live the independent life possible OF
man of means.
That's all there is to the story" III
burglar concluded. except that It WA
q pity for you to stumble on to the las
chapter. That's the way girl reads
story. though"
The girl .comprehended from his mar
ner that he would make no advance.
that he would not even presume upo
their one time friendship.
at is strange to find you here" sh
said; 1T is strange to be here myself
/ learned yesterday that my uncle ha
made little or 40 provision for myseI
and my mother In his VIII. It distress
ed me 80 that could not sleep.
Il came down here to see for myself
and If 1t were true that we had bee
aft to the same old miserable struggl
with poverty Lob, don't know whn
I might have done. ana sure mean
to steal IL found anything to steal
wouldn't much care for myself. b';
mother
The girf had almost reached the poin
OF tears when, with sudden effort
she reused herself and turned towart