The Washington times., 1910-03-14
CHAPTER III.
SIX Hours Before

HE bank was robbed at q. M Six
hours before that, at q few minutes
after in the evening OF the previous
day, a tall young man in n long coat
and wearing an opera hat. strode
through the rain and mist. and ran
lightly up the steps OF q gray stone
dwelling in the west end or town
He pressed the button and the door
opened He entered with the air of a
man who was expected and who felt
somewhat az home. He drOppei a card
in the Salver The maid ascended with
Il TO the floor above.
on the floor above a girl sat reading
"a girl who was good to look at a tall
slender girl. with square eyebrows and
frank Womanly eyes. With an ahUn-
dance OF brown hair arranged in Just
the most effective manner in tho world.
The maid entered The girl read on.
Miss DUmOut.' said the maid.
The girl looked up. The maid handed
her the card. She took 70 and read 81
with q little cry Of delight.
Then she looked ar her watch
Dear me- she exclaimed L have
been dreaming here for an hour"
Then, as any other woman would
have done, she rose and surveyed her
"ef I'm the glass
And 7 look like a perfect fright" she
continued, albeit with a considerable
perversiOn Of the truth.
She turned 10 the maid
Dear me- she exclaimed run down
stairs and tell Mr.. Storne 10 remove
his coat"
The maid smiled.
He did So she replied.
We'll. then tell him 10 walk into
the library went on the girl.
The maid smiled again.
He is already there" she returned.
"Snd standing by the fire"
The maid spoke the truth. The man,
rithout hesitation and Vet with a
measure OF embarrassment, had. upon
his entrance, removed his coat and
hung il UP.
Then ne sauntered slowly into the
little room Just off the hail Late I'm
the spring though II was, there was
fire burning. and 81 felt good TO
him after all the damp and cold out
side.
love. what a night he said 20
himself as he shivered ana held hts
hands toward the fire. which blaZed
up at this 1unCtuTe, as though n an
effort 20 meet him half way, - bad
night TO be outdoors good night
20 be in"
He glanced careIessly about him.
on a table was an evening newspaper.
II had not been read apparently II
lay uufolded, face Uppermost. its
black headlines blinking AT him il
uncertain light And this was what
he read-what he could not help read
ing
RICHARDS & RIPPLE ROBBED.
Their Jewelrv Store Cleaned Out
Fourth Burglary OF the Series
The Gang still Unprecedented
And as ne read he smiled. Those
fellows seem to keep It up" he said
20 himself
lie took n step toward the paper
and stretched forth his hand And
then he shook his head.
4 had better not. after all" he
unused. 'T shall stick 20 the enforced
rule. And yet he continued, why
not? Why not7 That's the strangest
part Of all Why not
HIS hand touched the paper but
he withdrew II and turned his back
upon the sheet and his face towards
the fire.
IT'S better not" he said again. half
shiveriug as he spoke. why nOt2
Because warmth and food and raiment
are far ahead OF cold and rags and
hunger. I've made my bed. It's a soft
one-too comfortable, perhaps, from one
point OF view. and I prefer 10 lie upon
it-except." he added, and a cloud
rested upon his face, except when I
think of-Helen."
He rested one shoulder against the