The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-11-25
CHAPTER XXI.
Stop, Thief!


Hers was the type of beauty that re
ains It's freshness through indulgence
ii creature comforts. Not all he,
tondness for amusement could lead
her to rob herself for many nights OF
The repose she instinctively knew was
essential to the preservation of her
charms She was the sort of woman
past thirty. who retains a false youth
sometimes more effective than the i'm.
maturity which is measured by the
calendar. Her complexion was as
delicate as a debutante's. Her eyes
we're brighter than those Of the aver
age athletic young woman, and no
silver thread shot the dusk of her
luIuriant hair. All this was due large
W she was convinced. to her life
long habit of sleeping early and
often, and of resolutely refusing to
let her slunlber be disturbed by any
such useless things as dreams, which,
after all, are mere ghosts of thought
land too much thinking was not one
Of her foibles.
Though Mrs. Delaroche slept pro-
ioundly, her external senses were not
wholly unyigilant. Long studyvof her
faf had made her sensitive to dfsa.S
Ceeable impressions that were purely
corporeal; and SO, though no intrusive
vision Of mind could interrupt the
auld calm of her beauty sleep, slight
y uncomfortable feeling at the pre-
else spot whence her tresses swept
Upward in an elaborate couture or
parted In the braids of negligee had
NE effect Of arousing her as no mere
dream possibly could have done. 1t
required not many seconds, allowing
Tor the habits of her mind, and the
act that she suddenly was recalled
Hom deep repose, for Mrs. Delaroche
4 realize there was a hand beneath
aeF pillow, and that hand was not one
o. her own. Rigid with fright, she
waited an instant to assure herself
she had not committed the innovation
dreaming, then she made swift
leaeh Tor the alien hand-too late. 1t
aad been Withdrawn swiftly in the
Jew moments requisite to complete
apprehension of the situation, and IL
an Delaroche had not been so GER
aln that she never dreamed, she
might have thought she still was
seeplng. Hasty exploration OF the
paee beneath her pillow, however,
old her the midnight hand ha not
seae away empty. Realizing that, she
q MAS broad awake in an instant. She
Wy erect SO swiftly that she bruised
sef forehead slightly against some
Jung cold and hard and round and
Y smooth that was Immediately pressed
a aenaclngly to her head.
Dont move. or you'll get tbis!"
N wy rough voice.
nIs Delaroche gasped, and despite
y Y aand. sank back again to her pill
w. She could still feel, however, or
,sue'ed she could, the icy rim Of the
n ,ss'al that had touched her brow.
~ was a great feat Of imagination
Il y Mrs. Delaroche. 1
mats right: lie still" continued
voice. IF you know what's good
4 lor you"
aough though the voice was, It was
aetally subdued 1t could not have
NJ ~ heard In the corridor. Mrs. Della
Is as drew deep. futtering breath,
m, vas evidently on the point OF
~ ins another attempt to speak
~ the metallic ring touched her
III su ~ again. chilling her to silence,
y y. lne voice went on:
y ~ sse mere, lady, I've got no time to
u ~ with you. Just you stay where
ID Il. and don't make a sound, I'M
~. sou want to get this!" and the
L, vas pressed q little harder to
81 ~, .ienead. Il am going to get out
Nh. room quietly. and I'm going
N il i'll, loW. II you make any noise for
Il aead otr.p 'n'nD'eS' Il w" souA
ii ii. g cold pressure was removed
M. aer forehead, and the burglar
~. ABOUT the room. The thick
il e. ana doubtless the felt soles on
t,pos ah feet as auxiliaries. made his
l,sss, sonndless. He went frohi hey
8r ~ table to writing desk, light
- IN turn with vivid circle
" " 1on an electric pocket tagch, ]