Bridgeton pioneer., 1909-03-18

of tears when. with sudden effort
she reused herself and turned toward
the burglar, who stood impassively
waiting for developments.
"Like yourself" the girl boldly ad-
mitted, 81 meant to fall back on this
safe for help. You got there first.
Now l can send you back to jail, but
don't KNOW" she mused, as if 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 it seems to me-" Miss Morley
suddenly announced, facing the bur-
glar squarely and with little color,
that you and I are a pair Of weak
kneed cry-babies. We have experience
ed few of the worlds bitterly disap-
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 a moment as though he were
fearful of some unfathomed and cruel
humor. He had let himself drop down
In a huddled heap beside the safe.
Now he lifted himself upright and
was about to advance step when she
stayed him with uplifted hand.
"Helen," he implored, twill you,
after all have been through-will you
literally cast your fortunes with me2
I promise that you shall never have
occasion again to be ashamed Of me-"
mo, mol" the girl besought with
haste almost hysterical. "We'll draw
up a compact to go into partnership Of
friends. We have saved each other
| from 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 one?'
| Gorham asked softly. "Will you have
confidence then in me? Oh, heavenr'
| With a resolute movement he STEP
| ped forward to touch her. Hitherto
her manner had been half playful, half
ironical, but it was altogether to hide
| her deeper feelings. With an effort
that brought her figure splendidly
erect she warded him off.
''No, no, mop she commanded mot
| here and now. No; but promise me,
I John, promise me here and now, that
: you and l part tonight members of a
| compact to fight the fight of righteous
| If-if-if you care to see me-" she fall
| tered, "you will know how to find me-
| But now-nothing but your promise,
| and then-go!'
| He looked at her steadily while he
| breathed once or twice. 1t seemed as
! If he would defy her and take her to
himself in spite of what she might do,
/ but finally he turned to the open libra
1 ry door. At the moment of passing
, out he turned and looked at her once
i 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-comeT'
He heard her softly speak her an
swer, and with a gesture Of gladness
he was gone certainly this time.
| The safe was still open, and some Of
the papers lay as the burglar had drop
ped them. Helen turned to these and
began restoring them to their former
order
''I pray he will come back again to
/ me-" she breathed. SIT may be long
while to wait until he can, but pow
erty and disgrace-nothing matters If
last. even the happiness that is nearly
all hardship"
She had the will in her hands, and,
in spite of herself, she opened and read
1t. Before she finished she stood erect
in her excitement Folding, the paper,
she placed it 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 joyfully, "and all Of Uncle
Growers money is wil!ed 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.