The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-05-05

Xxi BY Brncio Dunn.
~ <0>S <f1,S. - t11kSss1
s'Ah.s He.cfept softly, from shad-
oWsto shadow, over he yeiyety iaFll.
Servants might out master
AWAY and ais weIll
faint click ot metal against
metal. repea q At inteEyals On r z gs
II the ltstentng dark ana WITH
nclseless lifting 81 the huge window
he gained the interior. The ar Nass
soft ana sweet With the. subtle per-
tlme OF dainty dresses.
So busiiy engaged In ming MS
blg, selecting, rejecting not over,
looking a bottle Of ES4 champs gle
10 did not hear the gentle click Of
tie street door. Giving the bag q.
little shake he rose, thinking the
cold roast and dainty satablea spread
upon the buffers shelf would be ex-
tyenely app sitting Y
but with a quick movement ne
closed the lantern and sprang for the
c6ncealfng folds Of the hangings.
Low voices came to him., and he,
smiled grimly. watching the move
mehts Of the two people made visible
blythe light of a single taper.
las he listened his eyes glowed
With a fierce light and, dark cords
stood out upon his forehead,
Suddenly, with q low laugh. h e
pushed aside the draperies4 and
stood, gracefully nonchalant, o pis-
J tol held carelessly by his side,
sSSMy dear lady, the debt 7 owe
your husband is too great to allow
inc to suffer your departufefw with this
gentiema1. Kindly" a quick
spring, a woman IS; scream and ne
lid the man seeufely fastened to the
heavy wood asettee, eRectually unable
10 attempt another trial to ring IN.
l3ths burglars alarm. r
@There, there, adjusting silk
handkerchief as temporary gag,
"you, Of all people, can hardly Wish
|sthts to get out, you know. And now.
MY LADY, ;" turning to the frightened
/ woman staring with white face and
Ehlhted eyes, you surely wish to re-
tire? ii IS late, you see! glancing
With amused eyes at the tall clock,
aIwill accompany you: See that you
are safely within your ROOM
lie dashed on the lights and TAX
ing her firmly by the arm, forced her
to stumble her way up the long
stairs, At the door she turned upon
bin and spoke hoarsely:
al though you were dead!
IA look Of amused surprise lifted
bis eyebrows ever SO slightly,
eyes? Surprises are Surprising,
are they not! and. he waited POI.
|3litely for her to, enter. With q ges'
lture Of fear she swept past him.
Calmly, removing the door key, he
stood a his massive shoulders and:
Iwellsset head framed IN the doorway
iotthe lighted hall. dtf9s .tsis
jtyGoed night. piadamel May your
Thoughts be :untroublsd by Visions
iotsengeance.g Such would, be vain,
under disadvantages .Gse i|tasJ .tl9
With q knocking bow he closed the
door. giving the key q malicious
twist, and ran; lightly down the cary,
Ing, stairs, With a half ccntemptH-
ots, glance at the hall, prisoner. he,
Istfode carelessly to the dining room;
and brought out the heavy. bas ~ ,,.i
With a little laugh be tpng the,
contents out upon the rug and
turning down the Lights sat upon his
heels, lettering back and forth, OBJ
serving the helpless man with grave.
cynical eyes.
Now, these; my dear sir, are.
fruits Of my nights work. show
them to you because we, are brother
thieves. o, yes!" as the eyes glared
startled interrogation Only !
have, perhaps, poF yet reached such
q depfaved states as you. Really
you ought to think twice before plac-
Ing another In outer darkness
though, God knows, there = little
good left in the woman upstsigs!
"A look OF far away came into his
eyes, and he became silent. IN those
Of his prisoner hardly more than q
boy came a puzzled expression. He
made an uneasy movement, and his
captor drew his gaze back to the
present. ~ ts,.. IT. .ss,.s.i VA
"Listen!" He threw himself to the
rug. ... s..
n know you don't wish to be
found here when the servants return.
II YOU will give your word to be 81
lent yon may so. But q story comes
tirst, The husband Of the woman
upstairs was once my boyhood's and
college chum. Friend, until he met
my aancee. / never suspected glad
they liked each other. Two weeks
before our wedding was to take
place, ! had to leave for the West. ]
was gone one week. When ! re-
turned found them married. His
voice sank 7huskily.
'lTen years ago! You can guess Z
lltylS Of my life since. Yet tonight ]
thank heaYen for their treaehery-
. q - 81 .