The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-04-11
The light was out.


ball and chain that controlled the
switch were swinging violently from
the chandelier.
Somebody had touched the chain but
an instant ago. His hand found the
incandescent bulb still warm from the
recent light.
A faint. very faint. creepy feeling
stirred the roots Of Rodney Flitman's
hair. 1t was unpleasant to feel that
there was a burglar i'm his home and
that thin door was all that separat-
Ell him from him.
The Waterman was eight stories be-
low. a violent rapping on the floor
or vigorous shout would bring him
upstairs within five minutes, but in
the meantime the invaders of his home
would have fed by way of the fire es-
cape and taken something with them.
Besides. Rodney suspected the burglar
to be woman. and he was gallant
enough to desire to give her a chance
to escape. only he wanted her to give
up whatever she had taken.
Perhaps she had already been fright
ened away by his opening of the door.
IL she went to the fire escape she would
surely lose her life. for he recollected
now with a sort of horror that the iron
stairway was coated with ice.
Resolutely be went forward and
opened the dining room door. He
heard quickly indra wn breath like a
deep sigh and the rustic of q silken
skirt and then dead silence in the dark
ness.
Madam be whispered hoarsely.
Silence.
Madam, wish to be your friend"
he continued in the same hoarse whis-
per, feeling his way across the room.
leave everything behind and escape
now, while there is time. will
BE silentv Kissed woman's voice
In his ear. and something round and
cold pressed against his neck. Speak
one word and you are dead man"
But protested Rodney indignant
ly.
Don't move an inch. You will stay
where you are until my husband
For ave minutes they stood thus, rig
idly silentA Presently Rodney felt the
pressure of the steel relax tri6e, and
at the same time something soft and
powdery sifted down his collar.
"What is that sitting down my
neckf" he demanded suspiciously.
"Gunpowder, suppose" she Missed
In his ear "Will you keep stillY
"I've good mind to call the watch
man." he whispered recklessly.
She laughed scornfully, sort Of whis-
pering laugh that thrilled through him.
perhaps / better call him. | can
scream much louder than you can
| shout"
"You don't dare. How would you
like to have handouts on your pretty
wrists?" he retorted.
She was silent.
eff you will give up the jewels will
let you go without further trouble" he
said after awhile.
| Aga he laughed. $50 kind OF you!
But you are not OBTAINING me. remem-
ber." ~
Rodney did remember all OF sudden
and felt foolish. He wondered II be
should suddenly turn upon her what
she would do. Would she really fire
| of her weapon? He knew these wom-
en- burglars were very clever and dar-
ing, but her remark about gunpowder
escaping from the weapon she held at
his neck betrayed her ignorance Of fire.
arms.
Rodney decided to remain perfectly
| quiet. He was more afraid Of wom-
an who did not understand the use OF
| firearms than one who did.
Minutes passed, and he began to wor.
/ nv about his wife Alarmed at his long
absence from the dance, she would un-
doubtedly inquire for him and mention
her fears to her hostess; then Mrs.
Wetmore would explain, and Maud
might call him by telephone to find out
| what was the matter.
He was leaning against the wall now,
! and, as he was quite tail, he could just
| feel his hair brushing against the wall
bracket that held an electric light. So
stealthily did he move his left arm up
ward that his body remained quite rig
ID. It took him FIVE minutes to raise his
fingers to that they touched the switch.
Gently he twisted it until all at once
the room was flooded with light.
1t was such a surprise that both he
and the woman beside him remained
rigid for an instant. Then she recov-
cred her wits first and broke into hys-
terical laughter. He turned to her
and stared first at the silver salt shak-
er which she had been holding against
his throat. He looked stupidity at her
gloved hands and arms, upward to
the long red evening cloak and lastly
at his wife's mirthful face, half laugh
Ing, half crying, wholly excited.
your he almost shouted.
"And you" shrieked Mrs. Flitman
Historically.
"Weil, you are plucky one, Maud"
he admitted admiringly as he prepared
restorative for her shattered nerves.
What are you doing here?" she ask
ed.
Wasn't sure whether locked that
safe door after all" he said. $50 !
came back to find out"
II missed my key to the safe. / had
it tied around my neck. So l came
home. was afraid might have drop
ped it here and burglar would find
it."
There were some suspicious looking
people in the elevator when we went
i d0wn-that dori connie Won know"