The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-03-24

with discretion. Even as she put her
hand on the knob her courage failed.
Tramp" she called softly Tin
afraid" after which humiliating con
fession she retired to the porch to
watch for teams,
promptness.
Il believe" she said, that he is a
regular professional housebreaker. He
does not look nor act like an ordinary
tramp. His face would be almost
handsome, except for the traces of
crime"
"And dirt" added Margaret,
Il wish some one would go by"
Il misthrust yer scairt yerself, Miss
Kate. Yer face is as white as any.
thing, and yer eyes is big as a dough-
nut"
Il am not in the least scared, Mar
is so fortunate that we thought to
lock the man up, He is quite harm.
garet," with vehement unveracity. "It
less where he is and some one is sure
10 be passing before dark Isn't it
nearly time for supper?"
Her pretense at courage shamed
Margaret
ITS all but ready" she said, eyeing
the firm young figure with some ad-
miration, "Will | make you coffee or
chocolate, Miss Kate?"
u should not presume to dictate
II was the voice of the tramp, and
Kate and Margaret seized hold of
each other-"but my personal prefer
ence would be for coffee"
Where is it?" said Margaret Wild
.ly. She was rapidly coming to the
conclusion that there was something
uncanny about their visitor
1T is on the roof of the porch" ex-
planned the voice, politely, "My win
dow opens on to it, and nothing was
said about not getting out of a win
dow. But II It is against the regle-
ment de pension I'll crawl back"
sadly.
The two below looked at each other
aghast
Il think I've sprained my ankle"
continued the man overhead who
seemed to appreciate an opportunity
for conversation you need have no
fear of my jumping" at which sug-
gestion the two women retreated to
the back OF the porch.
"Howly-" began Margaret, in
voice that was all but inaudible.
Ssh Don't do anything to make
him angry. Keep quiet and he won't
know we are here"
"Ladies!"
A breathless hush, while mistress
and maid looked at each other for
courage
Fascinated, they gazed.
do you think he'll Jump" whis-
pered Kate. Maybe he's hungry"
"He ct seven doughnuts," snorted
Margaret.
only four" corrected the voice.
"If the servant could hand up some
thing, I'd agree not to keep the
spoons"
we had better, Margaret Come"
Together they fed to the kitchen To
gether they returned with a tray hast
lily laden with what they deemed most |
likely to pTopitiate a hungry burglar |
Then Kate, her courage screwed TO a |
possible sticking-point and herself |
balanced on the back Of a garden |
chair, while Margaret held her hand |
and the chair steady, leaned out and |
lifted the tray bravely up. A hand |
took it from her, whereat her cour- |
age slipped down several notches and |
she slipped, too, and would have fall
en-, but that another hand seized her
wrist. The tramp bent over the edge
Of the roof and smiled at her
Leave her go, We villain!" roared
Margaret from below.
THANK YOU" said Kate, breathless
Iy. Il can get down now"
Praise the saints! There's team
cried Margaret
"Where?" demanded Kate and the
ramp together.
Now you'll get what's comm to ye,
ye ould marauder!" Margaret apostro-
1hized the piazza roof. Come, Miss
Kate, it's turning in" and together
hey flew through the house and out
If the back door to greet the welcome
'omer.
A young man it was; a young man
With a perturbed and anxious face.
"Halloo, Kate" he said, briefly. 81
want to water the beast. can't stay.
am looking for friend-Robert
iraham; you've heard me speak of
lin. He came out from town yester-
lay and we had a bet up that he
couldn't ride that bay Of Flint's. ]
,ught to have known better, but
yell anyway, he started off this
morning on a dead run and the brute
anne back this afternoon without
i'm" He was getting pail of water
or the horse as he talked,
Kate, with the skill Of one prac-
iced in strategy, grasped the situa-
ion.
"Wait until ] come back, Bob" she
aid, hurriedly, and then she flew up
he back stairs and confronted the
stonished but still affable prisoner,
Tho had just returned from the piazza
oof and was carefully selecting
lace on the floor for his tray.
Kate went close up to him with a
lixture of shamefacedness and con-
ding trust that struck him as sur
risingly agreeable. She even in her
put her small, white hand
n his dusty sleeve. She looked
traight into his attentive eyes.
"You won't tell Bob?" she said,
Certainly not" he assured her