The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-03-02
CHAPTER XXI.
Stop, Thief!

Hers was the type Of beauty that re-
tains Its freshness through Indulgence
in creature comforts. Not all her
fondness for amusement could lead
her to rob herself for many nights of
the repose she instinctively knew was
essential to the preservation of her
charms. She was the sort of woman,
past thirty, who retains false youth
sometimes more effective than the i'm
maturity which Is measured by the
calendar. Her complexion was as
delicate as a debutante's. Her eyes
were brighter than those of the aver
age athletic young woman, and no
silver thread shot the dusk of her
luxuriant hair. All this was due large
ly, she was convinced, to her life
long habit of sleeping early and
often, and Of resolutely refusing to
let her slumber be disturbed by any
such useless things as dreams, which,
after all, are mere ghosts of thought
and too much thinking was not one
of her foibles.
Though Mrs. Delaroche slept pro-
foundry, her external senses were not
wholly unvigilant. Long study of her.
self had made her sensitive to dssa-
greeable impressions that were purely
corporeal;. and so, though no intrusive
vision of mind could interrupt the
fluid calm of her beauty sleep, slight
" uncomfortable feeling at the pre-
else spot whence her tresses swept
upward in an elaborate couture or
parted in the braids of negligee had
the effect of arousing her as no mere
dream possibly could have done, 1t
required not many seconds, allowing
for the habits Of her mind, and the
fact that she suddenly was recalled
from deep repose, for Mrs. Delaroche
to realize there was hand beneath
her pillow, and that hand was not one
of her own. Rigid with fright, she
waited an instant to assure herself
she had not committed the innovation
of dreaming, then she made swift
reach for the alien hand-too late. Il
had been withdrawn swiftly III the
few moments requisite to complete
comprehension of the situation, and 1
Mrs. Delaroche had not been so Ger
tain that she never dreamed, sht
might have thought she still wa'
sleeping. Hasty exploration OF tn,
space beneath her pillow, however
told her the midnight hand had no
gone away empty. Realizing that, sh'
was broad awake in an instant. Sh'
sat erect so swiftly that she bruised
her forehead slightly against some
thing cold and hard and round ant
smooth that was Immediately pressed
menacingly to her head.
Don't move, or you'll get fhis!
said rough voice.
Mrs. Delaroche gasped, and despit
the hand, sank back again to her pi
low. She could still feel, however, o
fancied she could, the icy rin OF tn
metal that had touched her brow
This was a great feat Of imaginatio
for Mrs. Delaroche.
That's right; lie still" continue
the voice. III you know what's goo
for you"
Rough though the voice was, 1t wa
carefully subdued. 1t could not nav
been heard In the corridor. Mrs. Del'
roche drew a deep. fluttering breath
and was evidently on the point
making another attempt to spea
when the metallic ring touched he
forehead again. chilling her to silence
and the voice went on:
See here, lady, I've got no time
waste with you. Just you stay wher
you are, and don't make a sound, III
less you want to get this!" and tn
metal was pressed little harder
her forehead. 81 am going to get o,
Of this room quietly. and I'm goin
right now. II you make any noise II
The next five minutes, I'll blow 20,
aead Oft"
The cold pressure was remove
from her forehead, and the burgls
moved about the room. The thie
carpet and doubtless the felt soles 6
the mans feet as auxiliaries, made h
steps sound.ess. He went from n
dressing table to writing desk. ligh
ing each IN turn with q vivid Giro
G rays frcn an electric pocket tore