The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-09-30

Il have friends she began.
then stopped. her face flaming and
paling By turns. @Oh. heard some
one coming Jim. Jim. what shall
dor"
They both stood listening: she with
tense face and parted lips, he IN a
bored. uninterested way that bespoke
nerves OF steel She ran 10 his side
and chung 10 him, tremulons and hys-
terical The touch Of her clinging
hands, the contact Of her soft draper
les and softer. family perfumed hair.
coh1ured up a host OF bitferSweet
memories that the thief had long ago
considered dead and buried: and for
an instant the candlelight sbone upon
sudden moisture IN his eyes. But II
was clearly no moment for sentiment,
and already his resourceful brain had
mapped out the course Of action he
meant 10 follow. He knew that escape
was impossible. but be knew that
there was only one thing for him 70
do. He took the bag gently from her
unresisfing fingers. thrust IL into an
inner pocket. and sprang away from
her toward the open door That which
he had known 70 be inevitable took
place. The room clicked suddenly
into a 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.
quentiy seen in the illustrated papers.
Hands up. said that young gentle
man quietly. for the fhiefs hand had
shot instantly and instinctiyely to the
bulging side pocket OF his overcoat.
that's fl" as be was smilingly
obeyed. ''Now-but- great Scott"
HIS eyes had fallen upon the WON
an. who had staggered down upon a
chair and was regarding the thief
With wide. bewildered eyes.
Mrs. wytham" be gasped; what
ever"
The thiefs eyes telegraphed their
urgent message 10 her. and the thief
himself addressed his captor.
The lady interrupted me-" he said
blandIy: Il was threatening her with
my shooter as you arrived. intending
70 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 al that"
The woman had reused herself with
an effort, and the color was coming
slowly back 70 her face.
Il came DOWN for my book" she
said 10 Lord Mordon. I couldn't sleep.
and thought ] would read Oh. Archie.
Il was awful He fhreatened TO shoot
me II made any noise and was 50
terrified What could dor
Mrs Wytham.- said Lord Mordon.
will you kindly 90 into the hall and
telephone down TO the police station7
They'll send up couple Of men in ten
minutes OF So
Mrs wytham got up.
-oh. don't know how to telephone.
Archie she said I've never done Il
before. But can't stay here while
you go7 You can give me his pistol II
you like. but I'm sure he's not going
10 be any trouble II he is-weIl. you
know what good shot I am"
But as soon as Lord Mordon'e broad
shoulders had disappeared through the
doorway into the dark hall beyond his
mobile face resumed It's normal az
preston OF blase audacfty. Mrs
wytham, who had OWNED his swiftly
conceived plan with true, feminine In.
tuition. thrust the revolver into his
hands.
Through the window. Quicki" she
whispered. "T'll know what to say "a
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 lay
smooth and hlanched in the light OF
the full moon. She waited a moment
or two. then. having cleverly initiated
the sounds OF a stamping and
pushing the chairs about In a manner
sufncientiy grotesoue to warrant YER
dict OF tuuaNf rum any tuhuCc ucuOto'
er-she rushed 20 the door. almost fall,
ing into the arms OF Lord Mordon.
~Oh. he's gonei' she cried. Il wasn't
looking at him. and he sprang at me
and wrenched the revolver out OF my
hands. Oh. how awful Il isl He looked
so broken and miserable. ] thought he
was safei"
Dash II. yes" said Lord Mordon
vlciousiy. REFRESHING a stronger expio-
sive. Il thought so. sool I'm goine
after him: he's probably got his peck
cts stuffed with notes. Rouse the
house. Mrs. wytham. and send the 9th
er fellows after me. Which way did
he goy'
But the house was soon reused more
| effectually than by any screams Of
hers. The sharp crack Of revolver
shot broke upon momentary lull In
the gale. followed by another. then
the din OF the driving wind swallowed
up all sounds for a while. Mrs
| wytham crouched on her chair, shiv
| ering and sobbing. she had misdirect
ed Lord Mordon; but 1t appeared that