Catoctin clarion., 1911-06-22
Perhaps because Abershaw was q


much upon her mind she supposed
this to be the earl He was bending
over busy about some task. She aD-
preached him. where he stood In the
dark shadow. and laid a hand upon his
arm. he turned. with 4 gasp. hor-
riblp sound. rs II his lungs had burst
within him He leaned halt against
the wall and half upon the table. his
knees too weak to support him and
without voice to speak. Adelaide saw
that be was stranger. She knew In.
Stantly that he was a thief
The spectacle Of his abject terror
Gained her. She stepped around the
table. putting 1t between them. and
she drew across to her side OF It the
ebony casket which the man had been
trying to wrench open. not having
found the secret spring which control
led the lid
"You took this from the SAFE" said
Adelaide. Let me tell you that you
have wasted your time. These gems
are paste"
"Give me that" cried the man In
u hoarse whisper. and the next instant
his hand was In his pocket. but he
was trembling 80 that for some sec-
onds he could not druw his revolver.
Adelaide knew what the wretch was
after. and she realized her peril, or, at
least the obvious part of It, She did
not know that danger immeasurably
greater lay in the ebony box which she
held In her hand
Yet the box was the source of the
danger in one case just rs In the other.
1t the man should shoot her It would
be for that The trained mind of the
girl worked with beautiful precision
and pointed to the WAY OF safety
Il tell you." she said. that this
thing Is OF no value"
"You lie!' he answered Il know
what's In II. Give 1t to me-"
"Nonsensew she returned I'll show
you how much think about It."
The window was open beside her.
where the burglar had entered She
turued toward II Ike dash. and at
that instant she becu me aware of the
ticking of the clock work. her senses
being sharpened to the utmost acute
ness by the stress OF concentration.
Surprise at this sound made her pause.
She held the box toward her face.
There's watch In It," said he.
"YOu drop that! I'll shoot! Here.
what are you doingY"
He hurled himself across the table
toward her. trying to grasp her arms.
but she was too quick for him. She
flung the box through the window.
CRYING: There! Go after It II you
want IT,
The casket struck in the basin OF
the fountain at the feet OF the statue.
Then. indeed. the winged Mercury
for the first time really few. He
scared above the level of the window.
accompanied by hundred gallons OF
dirty water and a dea afening. gurgling
roar
A shower Of glass from the windows
fell round Adelaide and the burglar.
Amazement bereft them of their wits.
They staggered about. uttering inar-
ticulate cries. until the girl recovered
some part of her control and fed.
with her strange companion at her
heels. He escaped from the house
eventually by rear door.
There is no need to describe the tu-
mutt In the house nor to dwell upon
the feelings Of Abershaw when he dis
covered what his bomb had done and
what II had come so horribly near do
ing 1t Is obvious however, that when
caimness' descended upon the family
counsels In the course Il the next day:
the affair could have only one expla.
nation in the light Of what Adelaide
knew Somebody had tried to blow
up the safe by bomb In the ebony
casket. and nobody but Abershaw could
have motive for doing such thing.
He. denied II to the last. but without
producing any effect upon Linwood
Farrington's judgment
Mr.. Harrington cherished a warm
affection for his daughter Adelaide.
and the thought of her dreadful peril
maddened him to the degree that he
was very near exposing the whole at.