Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-05-14
Sir Jasper's Secretary.

nlgHt.
She sat up in bed, and, striking a
match looked at her watch; she could
hardly believe her eyes when it told her
that it was only half past 12 This was
unbearable; she would go down to the
library and see if, among the many
books on the shelves she could find one
interesting enough to make her oblivious
of the tsrdy hours.
Ethel was not, as q rule. a nervous
girl, but as she traversed the long cor
ridors, and the broad staircase on the
thick carpet of which her little slippered
feet made no sound, she was conscious
of an eerie sort of feeling, as if she were
not herself, but ghost stepped, perhaps,
out of the frame of one of those old pic
lures, whose eyes seemed to follow her
curiously from the walls as she went
down.
She FASTENED her steps a little; she
should be glad to get back again to the
shelter of her bedroom, she thought. In
another moment her hand was on the
lock of the library door. 1t was I'M
fastened, and she pushed it open noise
lessly. As she did so her heart gave one
great bound that seemed as if it would
suffocate her, and then stood STILL For
the room was lighted up, and before her
eyes had had time to search it, some
sure intuition told her that there was
somebody there!
She advanced little. Ali There he
was, man, muffled up to the chin, his
cap pulled down low over his eyes, hur-
the bureau.
-
choking sound.
The man at the desk turned quickly
as he heard it, and he too gave vent to
smothered ejaculation, and, drawing
his cap still lower over his face, stepped
back into the shadow Following some
strange impulse which she neither I'M
derstood nor tried to analyze, Ethel, in
stead of beating hasty retreat and
calling for help, as would have seemed
natural, advanced slowly into the room,
her eyes fixed on the covering figure.
Don't come a step farther if you
value your life," said a low, hoarse voice.
She was close to him now, so close
that if he had wanted to raise hand to
injure her he could have done it without
stirring from where he stood; but he did
not raise a hand, he only dropped his
head lower and shrank before her
Suddenly Ethel put out her hand and
touched button in the wall close to her,
and Immediately the room, which had
been only partially lighted by the can
dies, was flooded with electric light.
The man started back. but it was too
late-she had seen his face, and with a
bitter cry she dropped into the nearest
chair and covered her own with her
hands-it was Arthur Ringwood!
There was long silence, but the man
broke it at last.
away and give the alarm? ?" he said al
most roughly. cat least it would have
spared you this"
She raised her head then and looked at
him.
SPARED mel" she said. For what 7
To give my love to a common thief-to
man who ransacks another mans
house in the dead of night2 1t would be
no mercy to spare me for that"
"Ethel--"
She sprang from her seat, her face
flushing, her eyes sparkling.
How dare you call me by my name ~
she cried passionately. isn't it enough
that you have deluded and deceived me
that you have played at being an honest
man and a respectable member of So
ciety-but must you insult me besides
by daring to assume intimacy now ]
know who you are?"
''Will you let me explain? There is
some excuse for my conduct"
THAT is what everybody says or
thinks. Listen! Can you explain away
this? Are you in Sir Jasper's house in
| the dead of night, unknown to him? Are
you taking private papers and things of
value from his bureau? Are you making
use of the key which l dropped when |
was with you this morning?"
He bowed his head silently.
What is the use Of explanations after
that? You are one of that set against
whom Sir Jasper has repeatedly warned
me, of whom his mind has been fun this
very day. Arthur Ringwood- there"
with a sudden passionate movement of
her head-"that is probably not your
name at all. l am wasting time and
breath in talking to youl"
She spoke angrily. almost violently,
but she was still looking at him with a
kind of yearning protest in her eyes
II - HpC my hdihSs HE Sdlu III II
| level, expressionless voice.
you deceived me even there. then?"
she cried. ooh, go; go quickly, before I
call for help and bring down the serv-
ants!"
"Ethel-Miss Granger-there is no dis
grace attached to you-there cannot be-"
broke out the man impetuously.
IF could only think So" she said, be-
ginning to pace miserably to and fro;
"but have l not met you in the grounds
Have l not talked about Sir Jasper and
his ways2 Have / not furnished you
with the key2" She suddenly darted to-
wards the French window, and began
trying to unbolt it with a trembling
hand. Go out this way" she said;
''you will find that it leads ON to the
lawn-you can escape through the shrub
berry"
at is the way came in" he said;
''the window was left open for a little
while this evening Believe me, l had
not intended to enter like this; it was
the sudden temptation of seeing it open
such an easy way