The Colorado statesman., 1911-06-17

throps' cosy guest chamber. turned
the pages OF her book mechanically.
Her mind was too intent upon GER
tain intensely important episode In
her own life story to care whether the
fctitious woes OF Elizabeth or Regin-
aid eliminated happily or not. and she
finally let the novel fall unheeded to
her lap.
A fire blazed cheerily on the hearth.
and the rose-shaded lamp on the tn
BILE at her side diffused a soft radi-
ance over all. but so far as Olive was
concerned the room might have been
STEPPED In Egyptian darkness or
draped with the habiliments Of woe.
1t would have been more nearly in
keeping with her present mood.
"Oh, why was l SO foolish as to re-
fuse Kenton Dudleyf" Olive groaned.
as she gazed unseeingly into the IRE.
-'Of course never supposed he cared
so little as to take the first mo- Be-
sides, had no idea I cared until 1t
was too late. And now my life is
spoiled. People say one gets over
such things but I know never shall"
Olive was very young. besides an In
veterate novel reader.
A creekinC noise brought the
dreamer out of her gloomy reverie
with a start. She sat up wide-eyed.
and listened intently for a repetition
of the ominous sound.
ITS only the wind rising" she
laughed shakily. "It always seems as
If a frame house was going all to
pieces If there is the least gust Of
wind. II every little noise is going
to scare me so. shall wish I hadn't
urged Dick and Lucia to fulfill their
evenings engagement at the Owens,
even II my cold did keep me at home"
Olive had a little excuse for her un-
easiness for there had been several
burglaries in the neighborhood.
Except for Nora, the maid. she was
alone in the house. and Nora's pres
ence would be of little use in an
emergency. for her room was in the
third story, she was probably asleep
long ago. and when once asleep lit
tie short of an earthquake could
arouse her.
Olive wondered II Dick wentworth
owned a pistol. but she could not have
brought herself to touch any fire-arm
had she known where to find one.
She would have considered a burglar
less dangerous.
"Of course there isn't any danger"
she thought. "Still should feel SAT-
er II had some sort of a weapon"
Suddenly a brilliant idea came to
Olive. At least 1t seemed brilliant to
h. ,l,1r rol
having read of red pepper as having
been used as a weapon of defense.
Naturally she had no red pepper,
hut she decided that no we'll regulat-
ed family would be apt to be without
the pungent spice.
Gathering together firmly the little
courage she possessed. Olive started
on pilgrimage through the dark and
silent house in the direction of the
kitchen. The occasional pressing of
an electric button not only lighted her
way but added to her stock of cour-
age.
After much search, she succeeded
in locating the spices in an elaborate
kitchen cabinet. 1t seemed somewhat
audacious for a guest to be rummaging
in the lower regions without the
knowledge of her hostess but the cir
cumstances seemed to furnish an ex-
cuse.
With sigh of relief Olive grasped
small but well filed paper bag and
sped back to her chamber much fast
er than she had come.
81 shall have to spread it out so l
i
arises" she decided with light laugh.
After emptying the reddish powder
into an empty bon-bon dish. she
placed the dish conveniently on the
table and sank into the chair.
BY this time both gloomy thoughts
and fears had been completely BAN
fshed and Olive was soon lost in her
book
Sometime later she was aroused by
the unmistakable sound of stealthy
footsteps up the front walk.
With unusual presence of mind
Olive turned down the light. Then
she sat listening with bated breath.
The footsteps did not ascend the
front steps but skirted around the
side of the house
With a great heart throb Olive real
lied that some one was beneath her
window fumbling at the stout ladder
like trellis leaning against the side
of the house. Then she heard some
one cautiously climbing up.
For an instant Olive struggled with
a deathly faintness that threatened to
overpower her. Then she pulled her
self together. rose, clutched handful
of the spice, and tottered towards the
window.
There came a fumbling at the win
dow.
Olive held her breath, hoping
against hope that the window was