The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1910-11-18

I
tered and had slipped into the shadow
OF a tall screen at the sound Of his
approaching steps down the hall
Jack picked up the paper and car.
ried II nearer the light. the girl still
covering him with the little revolver.
The young man uttered n slight excla-
nation and studied the picture and
the surrounding text with amazed
eyes and parted lips.
There before him was whnt might
have been u portrait OF himself. fair,
keen face. handsome nose and fine
eyes, with the careless toss of hair
above. The black type underneath
proclaimed this the picture Of Pussy
Harry" the slickest gentleman bur.
glar out OF jail, and II was the pur.
pose OF the article to warn tho pub.
lie against his early arrival In Chicago
and 10 cndenvor to place the gen.
'leman burglar behind the bars nv
speedily rs might lie accomplished.
You've been reading thlsf" asked
Jack. rather hrenihlessly
The girl nodded
81 don't wonder yuu thought
might be- let ~" see Pussy Harry!
IN confess that we look enough alike
to De brothers twins. In fact but I'm
not vain. you know. only have | got
that rnlty hook In my eyes
I'D rather not say" returned the
girl shortly You must understand
AT sFs.ln Ia. LAT nat
away. The pnrcr says you have com
hittcd murder you are wanted for
numerous burelarieS and
II suppose you intend to call up the
police station and turn me over TO
the authorities Well. do 50, | cas-
prove my identity. hut not before |
have been held NJ 10 suspicion, NV
name banded FROM, one end IT the
rccr ruined Well, let 'cr go!' snid N.
lard To the other aud my future ca.
Merton rccklcssly.
lie leaned against the wall, with
gloOmlly.
II you wouldn't mind sitting dowa
SD can rest my elbow ON the desk.
II llres my arm holding this thing out
SO Thank YOU" she said as JACK ODE
dlrntly sank Into chair.
N you're going 10 call the ,,olice I
hope you won't mind doing so at once.
because II | can clrnr myself In time
Nant 10 catch the $50 western ex-
press"
81 have called them" hesItated the
girl
How"
AS soon as you came In found
the buzzer on the burglar alarm that
connects with tho police station and
signalcd. They should he here very
soon She was quite white now. and
the hand that held the revolver uem-
bled ylslbly.
is there n telephone In this roomr
asked Jnck presently.
Yes" replied the girl.
"YOu wouldn't let me call up GEN.
trail aud discover where my cousins,
the Mcrtons. nrep n I'm In the wrong
house, Why
"Is there any doubt about thatf' Her
face was slightly cOntemptuous.
"a good deal Of doubt" asserted
Jack boldly This room II ms famil.
lar TO me ms my own home. I've spent
weeks here know every chair and
table, for the Mertons are not given
to changing their furniture II you
would take the trouble 10 look you
might find picture Of me somewhere
about the premises"
II think not. except here" She laid
her hand on the paper. with provok.
ing smil"
"Do you mean TO tell me that this IL
not Mr. Fred Ncrton's houser' de.
mandcd Ja,k
Really II l'a any advantage for
YOU ~ know. wish ! could tell you
the numc ~ the owner. only. you see,
my friends have rented 1t furnished
for IL" summer season. mud I only mr..
rlvcd this morning. aud did not hear
The nam" ~ the owncr II II has been
mentioned Mad ~ It Is possible that
this Is Mr. Mcrious house | daresay
YOU ARE quite familiar with good
many houses
Let NJ on that growled Jack. quite
out of temper 40 use hitting Eel.
low when he's down. you know"
II beg your pardon" said the girl,
her face colprlug ndOrably. but you
must think me very mean I've really
been talking at random, | thought l
beard q sound Her head was bent
IN listening attitude.
"Hurglnrs'" suggested Jack, with q
grim smile "Or. what might DO worse
for me. police ugh
4 strained look came into the girls
face as footsteps advanced swiftly
down the hail toward the door Sue
arose aud leaned toward her captive.
I'm sorry. hope yOu'll come out
all right wish 1t had not been
who had to-
Thanks said Jack dryly. 'I'll
probably come out after I've served
time, As In tho case Of the girl In the
musical comedy song. you know. I
must be captured by somebody, and II
may MS well be you We'll, here goes"
There was the sound Of voices out
side the door feminine voices and
then the door opened and skirts rustled
sllkIly forward
Jean. you poor child. were you
frightened to death staying all alone
here. Mercy. what's thisi Oh, put
down that pistol"
Three young women. pretty ns pic.
lures, handsomely gOwneh. Huttered
toward the lOveliest girl Of all as she
dropped the revolver TO tho desk She
arose and pointed slim foreGnger
toward Jack Merton.
THAT Is Pussy Hurry. wanted by
the police have captured him
She tainted away then. and II was
Jacks privilege 10 gather her up and
lay her on the leather couch before
confronting the bevy Of hysterical girls,
who had fed 10 n distant corner.
Tin Jack Merton" began that gen.
lcrnan with whit dignity be could as.
sumo. and I've been trying to per.
sunde this young lady that
"Of course IT'S Jack" cried the tall.
est girl. tossing bnck her veil. ITS
Peters cousin. Tell me what has hap
| peDed"
JACK found his hands grasped By
the welcoming hands nf his cousin,
Peters bride. and he found no diff
Guilty In convincing bis listeners Of his
identity. The girl on the couch was
recovering and sat up listening TO the
conversation with flaming cheeks and
| sparkling eyes
we went TO the matinee and left
Jean alone Al the servants were out.
Shes been reading that lurld newspa.