The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-09-10


nulacluled f1ae be sarsietsbls
bst1ass
Toward TIE e0aelusl0n o. BE atfen-
lions tie sufferer beEan 60 show signs
~ reluFnine animation. He stirred
FeHliessly. WhimDered q little and sigh
"a. And KlrkWood IN CONSERVATION
got up
sSoF' be- 'e0mmenfed ruefully. Il
gees I am a. ass. an right. taking ell
that trouble Tor yon. ny friend. u
i've got q grain az sense left this Il
ny cue 20 leave s0u alone 30 your
glory"
re was lingering only 60 restore 70
the boys pockets such articles az be
bad removed o. the search for matches
1.-The matchbox. 3 few silver coins.
bulky sovereign purse a handsome
plain gold watch. and 20 forth. But ere
be concluded be was aware that tue
bog was conscious; that bis eyes. open
and blinking IN the candlelight were
upon him.
They were blue eyes-blue and shall
low as q dolls and edged with long.
ane lashes. intelligence Of certain
degree was rapidly informing them
KirkwoOd returned their questioning
glance. trananxed IN indecisiOn. his
primal Impulse TO cut and run for Il
was gone. He had nothing TO fear
from this child, who could not prevent
bis going whenever be chose to go,
while by remaining he might per-
chance worm from him something
about Dorothy.
You're feeling betterT lie was al
most surprised 70 hear his own voice
put the query.
ell think 90. Ow, my head! | say,
you chap, whoever you are, what's
happenedf { want to get up" The
boy added peevishly, "Help a fellow,
can't your
you've had a nasty fall" KlrkwoOd
observed evenly. passing an arm be-
meath the boys shoulder and helping
him to a sitting position. do you re-
MEMBER
The other snufIled childishly and
scrubbed across che door to rest bis
back against the wall.
"Why-y, remember fallin', and
then woke up, and It was all dark,
and my head schin' DC to split / pre-
sumo / went 70 sleep again. l say,
What'ro you dom herer
Instead Of replying Kirkwood lifted
q warning ADger.
"HushF' be said tenSely, alarmed BY
noises IN the street, "YOu don't sup
poss'-
He had been conscious Of a carriage
rolling ND from the corner as well as
that Il had drawn up presumably be-
fore q nearby dwelling. Now the rat
tie OF q key IN the ball door was star.
tlingly audible. Before be could move
the door itself opened with q slam.
RirkwoOd moved toward the stair
head and drew back. with q cry Of dis
gust TOO late" he told himself bit.
terIy. Ais escape was cut on. He
could run upstairs and hide, OF course,
but the boy would inform against him
and
He buttoned up his coat. settled his
hat on bis head aud moved near the
candle, where Il rested on the door.
One glimpse would suffice to show him
the force Of the intruders and one
move OF HIS foot put out the lights
then-perhaps-he might be able to
rush them.
Below a brief pause had followed
the noise Of the door, as u those enter
ing were standing. irresolute. unde-
cided which way 20 turn, but abruptly
enough the glimmer Of candlelight
must have been noticed. Klrkwood
heard a hushed exclamation, quick
clatter Of heels on the paTquetry,
pattering feet on the stairs. eli but
drowned by swish and ripple Of siiken
skirts, and a woman stood az the head
sf the alght-to the American an APP
partition profoundly amazing as she
paused, the light from the door cast
ing odd, theatric shadows beneath Der
eyes and over her browa, edRing her
eyes themselves with brilliant light be-
meath their dark lashes, showing her
lips straight and drawn and simmer
ing upon the spangles of an evening
gown, visible beneath the dark cloak
which had fallen back from her white,
beautiful shoulders.
Ito be ContInued.)