Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-24
The Argus Daily Story
The Fitman Burglary-By Clarissa Mackieh
Copyrighted. 1911 by Associated Literary Bureau.

that a thin door was all that separat-
ed him from him.
The Waterman was eight stories be-
low. A violent rapping on the floor
or a vigorous shout would bring him
upstairs within FIVE minutes. but In
the meantime the invaders of his homo
would have fed by way of the fire es-,
cape and taken something with them.
Besides, Rodney suspected the burglar
to be a 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.
II 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 he went forward and
opened the dining room door. He
heard a quickly indrawn breath like a
deep sigh and the rustic Of a silken
skirt and then dead silence In the dark
ness.
Madam he 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 silentY' Kissed a woman's voice
in his ear, and something round and
cold pressed against bis neck. Speak
one word and you are dead manw
But protested Rodney indignant
ly.
Don't move an inch. You will stay
where you are until my husband
comesr' she Kissed in his ear. Z
For five minutes they stood thus, rig,
idly silent Presently Rodney felt the
pressure Of the steel relax q trifie, and
at the same time something soft and
powdery sifted down his collar. /
what is that sitting down my
neck" he demanded suspiciously. d
"Gunpowder, 1 suppose" she Kissed
in his ear. "Will you keep stillr
I've a good mind to call the watch
man." he whispered recklessly.
"You don't dare. How would you
like to have handouts on your pretty
wrists?" he retorted
She was silent
eff you win give up the jewels win
let you go without further trouble" heI
said after awhile.
Agan he laughed. $50 kind Of you'll
But you are not OBTAINING me, remem-
ber"
Rodney did remember all Of q sudden
and felt foolish. He wondered II he
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-
~ about his wife. Alarmed at his long
absence from the dance, she would IN
doubtedly inquire for him ano 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 tall, 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
i'd. 1t 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.
It was such a surprise that both he
and the woman beside him remained
rigid for an instant. Then she recoy-
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 your skrieked Mrs. Flitman
Historically.
well, you are plucky one, Maud"
he admitted admiringly as he prepared
a restorative for her shattered nerves.
What are you doing here?" she ask
ed.
Wasn't sure whether I locked that
safe door after ALL he said. 80 I
came back to find out
81 missed my key to the safe. had
it tied around my neck. So I 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
downfall dark couple. you know"
''Oh, what do you think. Rod-they
were at the dance. They happen to
be Mrs. Wetmore's cousins. and they
have taken an apartment here"
"Stung" mourned Mr. 'Flitman, de-
prived Of bis last suspicion.