The Washington times., 1910-03-18

I dare-she could not stir. For there. al
the northern window, was a human
hand, carefully, stealthiy. noiselessIy
raising the screen that retarded en-
Miss Dumont would have spoken if
she could, but her voice failed her She
would have sprung 20 the door, but her
lirnbs seemed paralyzed
For at the window, that which had
been hand became an arm, and the
arm heightened rapidly into the figure
OF man IN long black cloak, with a
black nask-a man who seemed nart
and parcel of the night itself.
Suddenly across the blackness of the
room there shot CLEAN Of light. 1t
issued rom lantern In the hand OF
this silent figure.
stupidity she watched It play across
the bed. Then there was darkness once
again.
The dark figure moved silently away
from her. and towards the chiffOnier.
This ROOM" u muttered 10 itself,
scene to be unoccupied. That Is
strange. I thought"
The man had not flashed his light in
the corner where the girl WAS sitting.
lie had thought TO f1nd sleeper on
the bed.
He must now have concluded that
the room was empty. Cor he became
less stealthy In his movements.
The man moved here aid there with
certainty and rapidity, and never
slipped or stumbled.
Assured apparently that ne was alone.
ne raised his hands 10 his head, and
with a little click unfastened the mask
which concealed his features.
The girl still sat speechless and mo-
tionless. She did not stir.
The man once more flashed his light
but this time directly upon the chtffo-
tye was looking for vaIuabIes-thst
vas clear He first stripped the top OF
everything that Law in plain sight
among them the Jewels that Miss Du-
mont had removed that very night,
Vlen he opened each drawer. and with
deft fingers examined the contents.
And as he worked, each jewel that ne
aDpropriated in turn spaTkled in the
strong light from his lantern Every
Jewel that Miss Dumont possessed was
in that chiHonier, and the burglar made
Rut still she did not move
Suddenly he turned 10 the dressing
table. He opened A drawer. His light
fer upon three letters lying loose with
IT. TFev were the three letters written
in the handwriting OF u StanlelSh
Tie glanced over the first two care
IeesIv. and laughed as ne read them.
They were wise precautions he re-
marked 70 himself
Great Scott he exclaimed, what a
fooI-what an idiot-to leave that here.
He Dlacad II with a quick movement
in an inside pocket Of his clothes. And
tho, 10 turned once more TO his work
But as he did so, tie light from ms
lantern shone fun into the mirror that
stood above the dressing table and the
reflection shoue Pull into his face.
And the face was the face or II. Stan
leigh StOme.
Henry" Croaned faint voice. lssu-
ING from the g OOm.
The man turned in the direction ot
the voice. He flashed his hght upon the
girl and for the first time saw her.
Tie started I'm surprise But he re-
covered himself
You called some one" he said IN a
well modulated voice rs there any
body else in tho room
The girl did not answer his question.
Henry she exclaimed again, IN an
a aConized voice.
The man took a step toward her.
Whom do YOU c&i2' he demanded I
stcruIv but IN a lo'v voice
The CIrl. nv a heroic effort, regained
fur rossession Of her faculties She
step7ed quickly 20 the wall and turned /
q button. The room was Hooded with
electric light.
II called YOU" she replied. facing him l
81 called Henry StanleiCh Storme-"
The man looked al her StUpidiy- He
stared The pupils ir his eyes were di- /
lated widely.
he looked as a man does who steps
from darkness into light He stood !
there gazing AZ the girl uncertainty.
The Confirmation of This story VIII
BE Found In Tomorrow
Issue of The Times.