The Washington times., 1910-03-14
The Standing Alibi Of H. Stanleigh Storme
William Hamilton OSborne--

fireplace and nervously stroked a short
Van Dyke b1srd
When link of-HeIen." ne re-
peated- Then ne laughed gently. but
with A trace Of bitterness-It was a
laugh mat did not ring altogether true
When do I not think of herr"
He frowned and tuSged at his nous
tache.
''Thls-this cannot 20 on as II Is. I
must tell her-something I've got 20
Ten her- Not everything, but part OF
I-enough 10 make her understand
She must be made TO understand some
now, before I-befOre IL goes too lar.
must tell her-Somethiug.
He stood refleCtively before the fire.
with his head bent and his hands trust
deep into his pockets
lie was trying To ind some way out Of
ms dInculty. whatever 10 might have
been- lie was disappointed. "
by JoVe.' he exclaimed. ''it looks like
no InOruughfare after AL
lie did not near the girl descend the
stars and step lightly into the room
She stood AT the threshold for a mo-
ment and glanced al him With smile
upon her face.
StanieiSh, she finally exclaimed.
The man turned like a shot.
Helen he returned. 1T IS you"
She was looking a his face
StanleiSh" she exclaimed once more.
lie slightly shook h-a head.
NFbAlA NbA llllIAs he NtEhE h0A4A
you mind calling me By my-my-first
manner"
She laughed
Your first name" she returned. your
He handed her a card
Read it, he requested
She did so, aloud
Fl. Stanleish Storme' was what II
s6id
She looked up at him, ircuIringIy.
M lTSt name. ne went ON els
Henry. I-I-like IL better
She glanced at him i'm a puzzled way.
"But-bJt StaHleigh rs so much pret-
tier, she insisted, with "a protesting
blush, Il like DO so much better
lie smiled indulgentIy.
Il know" he returned. "but there is a
reason IA ny suggestion Does il sig
She made a slight grimace. No
Henry. II does not she said. with
laugh
he bowed graveIy.
Thanks, he replied. some time 1
She stepped across the room. and IN
passing seized the evening paper.
Dear me-" she exclaimed, these
rcbberies-tney stIl go ON. 7 read am
this stuff through this morning. But
isn't b. awful7 And they say that there
Is a lot that never get into the papers
AZ all-Lhe police are afraid Of popular
opinion and are trying 10 suppress the
news"
The man looked al her He seemed
either deaf 10 her remarks or bored
by them.
Vie had uncousciously returned to the
lire OF thought that she had interrupt
e-i- She glanced at his faee and started
back.
-Nhat-whats the natter she IN
quired, gently laying her hand upon
his arm.
lie started in his turn.
Helen" he replied. looking ueg FUN
I'm the face. 'there-there is something
that I've got to tell you. II must tell
yoU."
she looked I'D into his eyes. What
she read there ." her was well worth
reading.
'You-you love me- she murmured.
lowering her glance.
lie stretched forth his arms and theE
a tense, strained voice. 'T love you.
You knew it. then2"
She nodded. stHI with dowucast ewes
u havc known # all a'"ng. " she said,
and -
"Helen,' exclaimed ~, man in
voice full Of aSor lied entreary, wait
until YOU have hcard-the rest
She glanced at hn.t IN a startled sort
OF way 'The-thc rest she inquired
Can Jhere-can there l,e more 90 say
Everything, he responded in a low
She searched his fece again.
~ Att-- f.'f 'shIl Itaa NIiE asked
Now that
Again he stretched forth hls arms
and again withdrew them ''To me " be
replied nothing. unless-it can 20 Won
She shook her head and laughed gayly.
1T cannot 20 me-Of hat 7 am sure.
She seated herself Tie took a chair
at her side.
What is this-sonetf 'ng that yog
have To tell me then p" she asked. els
there-another Eirl2 Somebodv else.
perhaps2"
Even as she said Il she smiled again.
NO returned ne, nothing Of the
kind"
She picked up the parer. ''You-you
haven't been doing wrong. have you2-
she asked again. "ROhb,d jewelry stores
or anything Of that kind ."
She waved the sheet .areIessly before
him. He took 10. rose 20 HIS feet and
without a word OF explanation. dropped
Ii gently In the fire
Il blazed up and made the room sud
denly light he watched the fame burn
u2 and die away, and then he turned to
her.