The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-08
" flARY ROBEFIc RINEEtART /

she always have an attack of some
sort when Eliza rings In an extra
evening on her?'
So made a superficial examination .
of the window locks that night, visit .
ing parts OF the house that | had not (
seen since ! bought il. Then | went
TO Tie roof Evidently 1t had not
been intended for any purpose save |
to cover the house, for unlike the
houses around, there was no staircase.
IL required some nice balancing on
my part to get up with my useless
arm made It. however and found
this unexplored part of my domain
rather attractive. II was cooler than
downstairs, and | sat on the brick
parapet and smoked my final cigarette.
The roof of the empty house adioned
mine along the back wing, but inyes-
tgaton showed that the trap door
across the low dividing way was
bolted underneath
There was nothing out Of the or
dinary anywhere. and SO | assured
Mrs. Klopton Needless to say, did
not tell her that | had left the trap
door open to sec II il would improve
the temperature of the house | went
to bed at midnight, merely because
there was nothing ese to do. | turned
on the night lamp at the head of my
bed, and picked up volume of Shaw
at random CT was Arms and the
Man" and remember thinking grim
ly that WAS good bit Of a chocolate
cream soldier MYSELF, and prepared
to go TO sleep Shaw always puts me
to sleep | have no apologies to make
for what occurred that night, and not
even an explanation that am sure OF.
| did foolish thing under impulse
and have not been sorry.
1t was something after two when
the door.bell rang 1t rang quickly,
twice. | got up drowslly. for the
maids and Mrs Klopton always lock
themselves beyond reach Of the bell
at night, and put ON dressing gown,
The bell rang again ON my way down
stairs. lit the hall light and opened
the door was wide awake now, and
| saw that It was Johnson. Ills bald
head shone IN the light his crooked
mouth was twisted In smile
Good heavens, man" | said ir-
rItably Don't you ever 80 hotne and
30 to bed?'
lie closed the yestlbule door behind
him and cavalicrly turned out the
light our dialogue was sharp. stacca
to-
Have you key to the empty house
next door," he demanded Some
body's in there, and the latch Is
. caught"
: "The houses are alike. The key Il
| this door may lt Did you see then
2 50 inY'
4, mo. There's light moving NJ
4 from room 10 room saw something
g like It last night. and have beel
watching The patrolman reprte,
I queer doings there week or so ago.
!. "A light" | exclaimed DO yo
9 moan that you"
1 Very likely" he said grimly "IIay
o YOU revolver"
"All kinds in the gun rack, ! n
Il piled and going into the den. | cam
a back with a Smith and Wesson FL
"a not much use" explained, with th
n arm, but I'll do what ! can Thor
Ie may be somebody there The ser
ants here have been uneasy"
&. Johnson planned the campaign II
st suggested on account of my familiar
re ty with the roof, that ! 30 there an
Il. cut off escape In that direction.
ty have Robson out there now--tl
II patrolman on the beat, he said lie
1T watch below and You above while
search the house BE as quiet as po
as sible
as ! was rather amused | put on son
ey clothes aud felt my way carefully 7
ut the stairs. the revolver swinging FRI
ok In my pocket, my hand on the ra
rn At the foot of the ladder | stopp'
and looked up Above me there was
gray rectangle cf sky dotted wi
stars II occurred TO me that wi
my one serviceable hand holding I
ladder ! was hardly in a position
er defend myself. that was about
ad hoist a body that | am rather carei
'nt Of into danger I couldn't see al
TX wasn't particularly Keen about al
se how. don't mind saying that I
seconds II took me To scramble up {
10 ladder were among the most unplei
ol ant that recall
got to the top however, withc
no incident. | could see fairly well aft
lad the darkness Of the house benea
md but there was nothing suspicious
sight, The roofs. separated by Z
CHI feet OF brick wall. stretched arou
10 me. unbroken save by an occasion
tn chimney ] went very softly over
ind the other trap. the one belonging
mt the suspected house. Il was clos
but | imagined | could hear Jo
Ied, sons footsteps ascending heay
its, Then even that was gone A near
iov- clock struck three az ! stood waitl
lsly examined my revolver then, for
first time, aud found ii was empty
she had been rather skeptical ul
92 now. | had had the usual tolerant
tItude Of the man who Ia summon
put from his bed TO search for. burgli