Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-03-12

to Lord Mordon Il couldn't sleep. and
thought / would read Oh, Archie, it was
awful! He threatened to shoot me if |
made any noise, and l was so terrified
What could l dor"
Mr. Wytham," said Lord Mordon.
will you kindly 90 into the hall and
telephone down to the police station?
They'll send up couple of men in ten
minutes or 500
Mrs. Wytham got up.
"Oh, | don't know how to telephone,
Archie she said. 1--WE never done it
before But can't ! stay here while YOU
90? You can give me his pistol if YOU
like, but Pm sure he's not going to be
any trouble Il he is-well, you know
what good shot l am"
But as soon as Lord Nordon's broad
shoulders had disappeared through the
doorway into the dark hall beyond his
mobile face resumed its normal express
sion of blase audaeity. Mrs. Wytham,
who had OWNED his swiftly conceived
plan with true feminine intuition, thrust
the revolver into his hands.
Through the window, quick!" she
whispered. ''I'll know what to say to
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
blanched in the light of the full moon.
She waited moment or two, then, hav-
ing cleverly initiated the sounds of a
scutile-stamping and pushing the chairs
about in manner sufficiently grotesaue
to warrant verdict of lunacy from any
chance behOlder-she rushed to the door
almost falling into the arms of Lord
Mordon.
'Oh, he's gone!" she cried. Il wasn't
looking at him, and he sprang at me
and wrenched the revolver out of nv
hands. Oh, how awful it is! He looked
so broken and miserable, | thought he
was safei"
Dash it, yes!" said Lord Mordon vi
ciously, depressing stronger explosive.
Il thought so, too! I'm going after him:
he's probably got his pockets stuffed
with notes. Rouse the house, Mrs. wy
than, and send the other fellows after
me. Which way did he go?'
But the house was soon reused more
effectually than by any screams of hers.
The sharp crack of a revolver shot broke
upon momentary hull in the gale. fol-
lowed by another, then the din of the
driving wind swallowed up all sounds
for a while. Mr. Wytham crouched on
her chair, shivering and sobbinp. She
had misdirected Lord Mordon: but il ap-
peared that she had done so to no pur
pose,
Two days before Lord Mordon had
asked her to marry him. and she had
told him very gently and sweetly that
she could never be more than a friend
to him, but he had always supposed, as
the world supposed, that her husband
was dead, and this was the death blow
to a hundred pathetic hopes. Then,
kneeling there with that white, upturned
face upon her knee, and the dark trees
murmuing about them-an admirable
mise-en- scene of which she was com
pletely unconscious-she told him her
story-from chat miserable day six years
before, when i'll a frenzy of unreasoning
rage she had sent her husband innocent.
as she soon knew, of that which she had
laid to his charge, away from her for
ever, to the shameful record of her share
in that evenings happenings.
When the thief opened his ewes he
was lying in cool white bed in room
wherein the lights were softly shaded.
He could remember nothing, and when
he tried to sit up and look about him
a sharp pain stabbed his left ankle and
he sank back at once Then he heard a
movement by his side, and turning his
head, looked into the kindly eyes of Lord
Mordon who was sitting beside the bed.
An m 10 n nf off
greatly oblige," he said languidlv. glanc-
ing round the luxurious room; lis this
an improved Norwood Scrubs, run by
your lordship as society fad? In which
case. will you be so kind as TO summon
Pm hungry and"
The whimsical voice ceased abruptly.
Lord Mordon had leant forward and the
light shone on his haggard face.
Mrs. Wytham has told me every
thing" he said quietly; will you shake
hands ?"
The thief did not move, and his Gym.
ical smile crept back to his lips.
Then she cannot have told you every
thing" he said bitterly; men like you
do not want to shake hands with pro-
fessional thi---"
ROT" said the young fellow bluntly;
"as if cared, after tonight
SO they clasped hands, and the thief's
face flushed strangely Then Lord Nor
don rose.
Pm going to send her to you," he
said; "and look here, she wants you to
take her away with you, to one of the
colonies. l have a large farm in Mani
toba, and | want manager for it. If
you will take the place l will be--very
pleased"
His boyish face was crimson, and he
avoided the thief's eyes. The thief lay
very still for a few seconds; then he
spoke. Perhaps it was from weakness
that his voice was unsteady.
You make me think there must be a
few decent fellows in the world l did
not think there were any left! Of course
I'll take the place! But l don't know
what to say; how to thank you. Per-
haps Ida may know better!"
At that the other laughed harshly. and
comprehension dawned in the thief's
pityinu eyes,