The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-12
HER PRESENCE OF MIND

1HeT6 WhS NnohtSp - 0SNfSs~-~
chance. Should she?
The man moved from the dressing
table. Her opportunity was lost
She closed her eyes, ceased to breathe,
waited The clccls on the manta
licked off the seconds into the throb-
bling silence.
A door creaked. She looked mp 70
ace his square shoulders disappesss
Ing into the closet.
Her blood leapcd and cour1ed
through her veins Her fears droppsd
from her. She was no longer . fright
ened. helpless little woman. She
slipped from the bed: her noiseless
fest skimmed the floor. Just before
she reached the closet they caught n
a rug. She stumbled: her ont.
stretched hands hit the door. y
swung to with . bang. instantly -
was ur, her fingers grasping the kay.
She turned It and leaned bra&ehleo
but triumphant against the paAel.
There was y moment OF quiet
Neither she nor tho burglar moved.
Then the knob Of the door was turned
gently. The man breathed heavily -
he braced himself to break the lock.
Again her fears were upon heS. Her
shaking knees failed her: she was
sinking to the carpet whAn . louder
rattle OF the knob behind sfineusa
She started to run. The floor rose
to meet her, but she kept on tju sho
reached the hall.
"Murdsr! Murder!" Only . wAio-
Der came from her lips
Murder. MURDER A thin @uas
vering falsctto.
The door in front few open.
what ID. madam: What = NT
exclaimed = small. rcd faced man
with startled eyes. sandy hair. suu!.
ring with collar button At the back
"A man" sasped Miss bartlett. =
"A man, madam. q naan?"
"Yes. YES: q burglar. He went aaf0
the closet. ! locked him In
"wait a moment. Sammy: wait
moment" A deep bass soice dr4Wsed
nj her elbow. 4 man biz Of gtrth.
stood In a doorway clipping = hsawny
arm into q vest Don't b - 2
hurry. my boy. II he's locked ~
he'll stay there while: ~ -
sorn ethins that will calm him IN case
Ne. mr,v." He vanished into the
room behind him. .a
wow there. right wheel. forwaro
march" he said. appearing With 9
.hininr revolver In his hand 1oo
lead ths way, madam. 70 wasfo
you've got your burglar cornefsd
Miss bartlett east An apprshAnalyS
glance at the revolver. nopa III
i hope thers'll be NO violence 0nae
"Not at all. not 1T all, manAm.
Simply a method OF areumenS ts0s
gentry understand"
Hes In there" said Miss bArueII
suppose We throw little mvfe
,,ph, on our proceedings" The ci9
fsllow touched an electric button.
Walking up TO the door. he hit II
see here. my friend. you're In the
wrong box. I'm going to unlock TINS
door. and you are going to Walk ouA
hands up"
"Wo. You rotn. to do wild ne7~
came back In sruff voice.
"Do with you. you scoundreif I'm
going to blow you sky high u You
don't walk out like = parson wnsh
open this door"
His hand was on the key. MISS
Bartlett rushed forward and seiSsd y
Don't kill him: don't Kill nam
she begged Surely he will yieid -
mouth TO the keyhoie. MT. Burelast
will you come out peaceaoiy II III
give my word for your good oenavaos
to these gentlemen:
MADAM" replied . stifed VOICE
IN come out like lamb
The big man turned the key ana
threw back the door suddenly. Al
athletic figure. clad In evening drssS
stood before them.
NO, Johnson. deny the tender
appellation."
what In thunder. Atterbury. are
you doing locked up In your owA
closets''
"Weli. Sammy. that's something Z
wish you would explain. =
Ben! . Bent" Miss Baruets
naashc,i To- tbs. center " the assaap
why. Aunt Lucy. Aunt Lucvs
what are you doing here?"
Where's tina burglar
But Aunt Lucy. how did you come
here?"
II came to see Lucille. where's thS
burglar?" Ehe demanded pssring
around him into the closet
There isn't any burglar that
know Of. Who locked me Ia thefe I"
..Why. did. ! shcashs-a tAsushA
but don't understand. How d36
you come here In my room Z"
'Your roome Lucille said u was ny
room"
Seems to me things are . little
mixed. Lucille lives two blocks FROM
here 81
Miss Bartietts bewildersd Ayes
wandered from one to the othar see
the three gentlemen. II So how e
IT," she said at last. I've got Into
the wrong housa. I'm Just. ssnpil
old woman"
"Oh. madam. don't say that" dep
recated Sammy. ITS those old artas
tocrats that used to live here % the
heights. Proud ~ tho devil-be9
pardon, madam. Wouldn't be OUT.
done. Ono built house with door IL
the middle. Another big bug built
one Just like It two blocks away. -
We poor laterday dwellers must ~ ,
cropping around after dark 70 ma OUT
particular burrow." n
Supported on Hen's strong arm, ~
sti Get lamps blinked merrily at heP
through the whirling nakee. and the
wind that caught her skirtg AMI
whipped In her face was but gloee
ful winter gAie. - "a
do como In. Ben: do come M
she urged at the door. Don't leave
me till md out whe<her Luctrs II
hunting for mo among the lost A.
ticlep At the police station os u dSa0.
gjug the river" 4 6
Aunt Lucy'" 4 votes crisd tsesss
the hall shove. rlytm0 eeet 4Qo&in9
drapsrise, vtsson q Aashsxe1e0 pp6Gs