The Washington times., 1911-01-20
CHAPTER XIV.

TIE stood mOtionless where she had
I left him, alone amid the great
hush. Her words had pierced to the
seat of life He quivered with the pain
deserved pain, he realized, for II was
not a noble part to leave a comrade at
such time But he had made mis-
take in coming, and the only way to
correct it was to go. He wished she
would 20 with him, but he knew the re
suit of asking her. She would stao
him again and walk away IN contempt.
He sighed. set his lantern on the
table and folded and pocket the plans OF
the house. AS he laid hold of his Ian
tern to start away, he saw on the table
in the lanterns ribbon of light three or
four letters that had evidently oeeh
written during the evening ana lelt 10
be mailed in the morning. He started,
sank to a chair, and gazed fiXedly at
one of the envelopes. The name on IL
was Miss Helen Chambers.
For a minute or more he sat staring
at the envelope, his inner self whlrl
of sensations. 1t was almost as II MISS
Chambers herself had surprised him IN
his guilty presence here. Then, across
the darkness of the room there came
the fainteSt of sounds.
He thought it was Kate. 1s that
you?" he whispered.
There was no answer: only dead
and directed the lanterns pointer Of
light in the direction whence the sound
had come. The white spot fell upon
the skirt of a dressing-gO He jcrked
the pointer upward. The luminous cir
Gle enframsd the square-jawed clean
shayen face of a man-of the man he
had seen with Helen Chambers-of Mr..
Allen.
Instantly the room was filled with
binding glare, and David saw Mr..
Allen standing in the doorway, his lett
hand still on the electric-light key.
his right holding out revolver.
Yes, it's l." said Mr.. Allen In
quiet grim voice Suppose Sup yGH fbe remUsG a6Us
pleasure of seeing whom I'm meeting.
There was no disobeytng, with re-
volyer's nuzzle staring coldly at him.
David drew the handkerchief down and
let it fall about his neck.
Mr.. Allen gazed moment at Davlds
face, thin. haggard, yet rare In Its fine
moss "H'm. A new variety" His gaze
shifted till it's edge took iE the telephone
on the table. and there IT rested refiec-
tileIv Then he remarked, as though
completing his thought aloud: 81 guess
II will be safer for you to do the tele-
nhoning. Will you please call up cen
trail and ask her to give you police head
quarters?"
Wild, contrary impulses tugged at Da-
vid. but mans primal INSTINCT, self.
observation, controlled him the first
moment. Il have been near starva-
ton" he said, forcing his words to
calmness. Il came here to steal-yes,
but when I tried to steal l could not.
Ill did not steal"
Mr.. Allen gave an ironic laugh. I've
been hearing that sort of story for fif-
| teen years. There never was a guilty
man. Call up Central"
The natural animal hatred of rival
fared up. David looked Mr.. Allen de-
| family in the face. IF you want Cen
trail call her yourself!' he said, slowly.
| MIR. Allen was surprised, but his sur
nrise passed Immediately under his con-
! troll. -'Of course, you are aware" he
said quietly, that you have the choice
| between calling up and being shot"
| And YOU are aware" David returned,
that YOU have the choice between call
| ing up and shooting.
Mr. Allen was silent moment. THE
killing of a man who enters your house
! is iustified by law" he warned grimly.
well, why don't you shoot?"
. so, then you are afraid to shoot"
Mr. Allen remained silent He gazed
at David over the pistol barrel, and
David gazed back. Their wills had
locked horns, stood braced.
I'm getting very tired" said David.
| throwing a leg over corner of the
table IF you don't shoot soon I'll have
At this instant David saw in the door
way behind Mr.. Allen the small figure