The Washington herald., 1911-02-11
A SPLENDID HAZARD
By HAROLD MacGRATH
Copyright The merrill
By HAROLD MacGRATH
itCopynsht, 1910. The Bo6bs-MerriH Company.)

toned laughter, good for any man to
hear. AS she went to prepare the toddy
the music echoed again through the hall
Sometimes 1 wake up in the morning
with new gray hair sighed the ad-
miral. What would you do with a girl
like thatT'
I'D hang on to her as long as could
earnestly.
II SHALL" grinly. Your father and I
We're old friends. There wasn't a yacht
on these waters that could show him
her heels, not even my own. You don't
mean to tell me you're no yarhtsman,
Why, 1t ought to be in the blood"
oh, | can handle small craft, but I
Cont know much about the engine
room. What time does the next train
return to New York;"
For you there'll he no train under a
week. You're going to stay here. since
you've been the victim OF hoax
''DiSabuse your mind there, sir
don't know when I've enjoyed anything
SO thoroughly"
But you'll stay? Oh. yes!'' as Fitz-
gerald shook his head THE secretary
can do the work here while you and I
can take care Of the rats in the hold.
l4aura's just imagining things, but well
humor her. II there's any trouble with
the chimney. why. wc'll get a bricklayer
and pull it down
Miss kiIliErew may have some real
cause for alarm. | saw man. or rather.
heard him. running. as / came up the
road from the gates. | called to him,
hut he did not answer
rs that 50? Wasn't the porter at the
gates when YOU came in?'
no. The foOtpath was free"
This begins to look serious. RI the
porter isn't there the gate bell rings: |
can open il myself by wire. | never
bother about il at night, unless I am eX-
p0Cting some one. But in the daytime I
can see from here whether or not wish
to open the gate. A man running in tn"
park, ch? Little good il will do him.
Tho house is a network of burglar
alarms"
Wires can be- cut and quickly re-
paired"
But this is no house to rob. All my
valuables. excepting these books. arc in
New York. The average burglar isn't Of
literary turn of mind. Still il Laura
mas really heard something. all the more
reason why you should make us a visit.
Wait a moment. rye an idea" The ad-
mIral set the burglar alarm and tried it
The expression on his face was blank
Am getting deafer?"
No bell rang" said Fitzgerald quickly.
by cracky, if Laura is right! But not
4 word to her. mind. When she goes up
stairs we'll take a trip into the cellar
and have look at the main wire You've
got to stay: that's all there is about it
This is serious. ] hadn't tested the wires
in a week"
'Perhaps it's only fuse"
We can soon find out about that Sh,
Not d word to her"
She entered with n tray and two steam
NJ tOdIipg q graceful hpinC
before she spilled the precious drop. The
two men could not keep their eyes off
her. the one with loving possession. the
other with admiration not wholly free
from unrest. The daring manner in which
she had lured him here would never be
forgettahlc. And she had known him at
the start? And that merry Mrs. Cold
field in the plot,
II hope this will cheer you. father"
Tt always does" replied the admiral.
as he took the second glass. "I have
asked Mr.. Fitzgerald to spend a week
with us
THANK you. father. 1t was thoughtful
Of you. II you had not asked him. the
pleasure of doing so would have been
mine Mrs COIdheld pointed you out to
me as A most ungratefuI fellow, because
you never called on your fathers or
mothers friends any more, but preferred
stay? We are very unconventional here "
1T is all very good of you. | am rath-
er a lonesome chap. The newspapers and
magazines have spoiled me. There's s
never a moment so happy to me as when
] am ordered to some strange country,
thousands Of miles away. II is in the
blood. Thanks, very much: I shall be
very happy to stay. My handbag. how
ever. is at Swans Hotel, and there's
very little in it
A trifiinE matter to send to New York
for what you need. said the admiral
nightly pleased to have a man to talk
10 who was not paid to reply. TIL have
William bring the cart round and take
you down.
No. no: l had much rather walk I'll
turn up some time in the morning. say
luncheon. if that will be agreeable to
YOU
''As you please. Only. l should like to