Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-02-29
The light was out.

ball ana chain that controlled Inc
switch were swinging violently from
the chandelier.
Somebody had touched the chain bu,
an instant ago. His hand found b
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 g burglar in his home and
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 home
would have fed by way OF the fire es-
cape and taken something with them.
Besides, Rodney suspected the burglar
to be a woman, dnd be 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 be recoIlected
now with a sort Of horror that the iron
stairway was coated with ice.
Resolutely h. 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 wills
per, feeling his way across the room.
Leave everything behind and escape
now, while there is time. | will
BE silent!r' Kissed a woman's voice
in his ear, and something round and
cold pressed against his neck. Speak
one word and you are a dead mani"
But protested Rodney indignant
ly.
Don't move an inch. You will stay
where you are until my husband
comes!'' she Kissed in his ear.
For five minutes they stood thus. rig
idly silent. Presently Rodney felt the
pressure OF the steel relax a trife, and
at the same time something soft and
powdery sifted down his collar.
what is that sitting down my
neck?" he demanded s~uspiciously.
"Gunpowder, | suppose" she Kissed
in his ear. "Will you keep stillF"
eve a good mind to call the watch
man. he whispered recklessly.
She laughed scornfully, a sort of whis-
pering laugh that thrilled through him.
Perhaps / better call him. al
scream much louder than you can
shout"
"You don't dare. Hew would you
like to have handouts on your pretty
wrists?" he retorted.
She was silent.
eft you will give up the jewels | will
let you go without further trouble" he
said after awhile.
Aga n he laughed. $50 kind OF you!
But you are not OBTAINING me, remem-
her"
Rodney did remember all of a sudden
and felt foolish. He wondered IL he
should suddenly turn upon her what
she would do. Would she really fire
off 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 a wom-
an who did not understand the use Of
firearms than one who did.
Minutes passed, and he began to wor-
ry about his wife. Alarmed at his long
absence from the dance, she would un-
doubleday 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 againstIthe 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 bedy remained quite rig
Id. 1t took himF1ye minutes to raise his
fingers to that they touched the switch.
Gently he twisted It until all at once
the room "a 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
gloyed 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 shrieked Mrs. Flitman
hysterically.
"well you are a plucky one. Maud
he admitted a~dmiringly ~ 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. $50 I
ramo hack m And outD