The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-24

While Anne was choking down her
wrath Leila got up and darted out of the
tent. When she came back she was tri-
umphant.
Look" she said, holding out her hand.
And on her palm lay a lightish brown
button. II found it just where the paper
said the board was thrown out, and 1t is
from Mr.. Harbison's oVercoat. without
doubt
or course, I should not have been sur
prised. A man who would kiss a woman
OH a dark staircase-a woman he had
known only two days-was capable Of
anything
Kit has only been little keener than
the rest of US" Lollie said. 'She found
him out yesterday"
Upon my word" said Anne indignant
iy, preparing to 90, 'lf l didn't know you
girls so well / would think you were
crazy. And now, Just to Offset this
can tell you something. Flanagan told
me this morning not to worry; that he
has my pearl collar spotted, and that
young ladies viii have their jokes''
Yes. as ] said before, it was a cheerful,
reproducing situation.
/ sat and thought it over after Annes
parting shot. when Leila had aounced
downstairs. Things were closing In; I
gave the situation twenty-four hours to
develop. At the end Of that time Flan-
nigan would accuse me openly OF know
ing where the pearls were: ! would ex-
plain my silly remark 10 him, and the
mine would explode-under Aunt Selma
l was sunk In detected reverie when
some one came on the roof. When he
was opposite the opening in the tent
saw Mr.. HARRISON. and at that moment
he saw me. He paused uncertainty, then
he made an evident effort and came over
to me.
You are-better to-day?''
quite well. thank you
Il am glad you md the tent useful.
Does 1t keep off the wind?'
at is quite a shelter" frigidly-
He still stood. struggling for something
TO say. Evidently nothing came TO his
mind. for he lifted the cap he was wear
ing. and, turning away, began 10 work
with the wiring Of the roof He was
clever with tools; one could see that II
he was a professional gentleman burglar
no doubt he needed to be. After a bit,
finding it necessary TO climb TO the para
pet. he took of his coat, without even
glance In my direction, and fell to work
vigorously.
One does not need TO Ike a man TO adj
mire him physically. any more than one
needs TO like a race horse or any other
splendid animal No one could deny that
the man on the paTapet was a splendid
animal; he looked quite big enough and
strong enough 10 have tossed his slen-
der bridge across the gulf TO the next
roof without any difficulty and co-Ordi-
nate enough to have crossed on 1t with a
flourish 10 safety.
Just then there was a rending. tearing
A.
ejaculation. l looked up FL time 10 see
Mr.. HARRISON throw UP his arms, make
futile attempt TO regain his balance. and
disappear over the edge OF the roof One
instant he was standing there. splendid.
superb; the next, the corner Of the para
pet was empty. all that stood there was
a broken, splintered post and a tangle Of
wires
I could not have moved at first: at
least. Is 6eemed hours before the full sig
niicance Of the thing penetrated my
dazed brain. When I got up I seemed 10
walk. 10 crawl. with leaden weights hold
ing back my feet.
When I got 70 the corner 7 had to catch
the post for support. knew somebody
was saying. "Oh. how terribler over and
over. II was only afterwsrd that I knew
IL had been myself And then some other
voice was saying. Don't be alarmed
Please don't be frightened. I'm all right -
I dared 20 look over the parapet final
/ y, and instead Of a crushed and IN
speakable body. there was Mr.. HARRISON.
sitting about eight feet below me. with
his feet swinging into space and a long
red scratch from the corner OF his eve
across his cheek. There was a sort OF
mansard there. with windows, and Just
enough coping 10 keep him from rolling
on
Y thought you had fallen - all the
way" gasped. trying TO keep my lips
l from trembling. II - oh, don't dangle
/ your feet like tnatr'
/ He did not seem at ell glad OF his es-
/ cape, He sat there gloomily, peeTinE
/ into the gulf beneath.
IF IL wasn't so-er-messy and gener-
/ ally unpleasant" he replied, without
/ looking up, Il would slide of and go the
/ rest of the way"
you are childish" I said severely
''See II you can get through the window
| behind you II you cannot. I'll come
down and unfasten It" But the window
I was open, and I had q chance 10 sit
down and gather up the scattered ends
+ Of my nerves. To my surprise. however
/ when he came back he made no effort e
renew our conversation. He ignored me
( completely. and went 10 work at once tc
repair the damage to his wires with his
/ back to me.
Il think you are very rude said al
/ last You fell over there and I thought
you were killed. The nervous shock I ex.
/ perienced is just as bad as X you had
/ gone-al the way"
/ He put down the hammer and came
| over TO me without speaking Then
when he was quite close. ne said:
IT am sorry II startled you. did not
| fatter myself that you would be pro.
foundly affected in any event.
"Oh. as TO that" I said lightly, 'i-
makes me III for days IL my car runs
over a dog" He looked at me IN silence
You are not going to get up on that
parapet AGAIN."
Mrs wilson, he said. without pay,
| ing the slightest attention 70 my aues-
ton. will you tell me what I have
done?"
'Done?"
"Or have not done? I have racked my
brains-stayed awake all Of last night
At first I hoped it was impersonal, that
| woman-like, you were merely ventine
general disfavor on one particular indi
vidual. But-your hostility is to me, per,
sonally."
raised my eyebrows. coldiy interrog
alive.
Perhaps" he went on calmly-''per,
haps was a fool here on the roof-th.
night before last. II I said anything
that I should not, I ask your pardon. Il
it is not that, I think you ought to ask
| Miner
was angry enough then.
There can be only one opinion about
your conduct" I retorted warmly. ''It
was worse than brutal lit was un-
speakable. I have no words for tex.
cept that I loathe it-and YOU"
He was very grim by this time. 81
have heard you say something like that
before-only was not the unfortunate
in that case"
| "Oh" I was choking
Under different circumstances ] should
be the last person TO recall anything so
personal. But the circumstances are un-
\ --.--a- tool -. =.