Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-10-23

digit slipped 1t softly into the door.
The lock yielded. Cautiously he
opened the door and entered the apart
ment of the Judge" A high-low In
candescent was burning with the dim
light on, and in the glow Bedight's
eyes surveyed the apartment carefully.
AS his eyes swept the room, he sought
to locate two objects Of intense inter-
est-the dresser, on top of which was
supposed to lie the letter containing
the bill. and Jackie Vining They
were both in evidence, the one in the
farther corner of the room, the other
III ner bed asleep, her round arms
thrown upward about her face, her
beautiful hair In braid that fell
across the white linen like rope Of
gold. Beside the bed on chair lay
pile of filmy lingerie, and on top OF
the heap pair OF black silk hose.
Bedight, fascinated, turned his face
away. Even political career would
scarce excuse a man for such an In
trusion.
"But she will never know" flashed
through Bedight's mind as he slipped
quietly across the room to the dresser.
Yes. the package was there-and un-
sealed. Hastily slipping the envelope
off, he tucked the bill away In his
pocket. From a second pocket he
brought out another manuscript and
substituted this for the one he had
lost on the morning Of the run through
the swamp. He did not read the let
ter, returning 1t with the manuscript
to the envelope. Wetting the muci-
p lage, he closed and sealed the letter
and laid it back on the dresser. Turn
ing to go, his eyes fell upon the face
of the sleeper. How beautiful she was
Aand how unreasonable. For the
merest second he hesitated opposite
the lacy couch Of my lady's dreams
but the moment was fatal.
BY some strange freak of fate the
high-low light, feeling an impulse OF
fresh current, automatically shifted
from low to high. The brilliant glare
fell directly in the girls face. She
stirred, opened her eyes and would
have screamed but for Bedight's pres
ence Of mind. Springing forward, he
spoke her name, muff1ng her startled
ejaculation with his hand, gently laid
across her lips.
And then as her eyes blazed like
torches with their outraged fires, he
dropped to his knees beside the bed
and said hotly:
'You will never forgive me for this
and I do not blame you. But some
day you will understand. I have done
nothing at Squirrel Inn to make a
gentleman blush for shame-except
this-and-I had to do 1t. thought
could-could say good-by without
awakening you. am going now.
When first We met, you gave me a
kiss-or II you please, I stole it. In
going am giving in return my heart
and taking as the sweetest memory
OF my life this last good-by!"
49, Bowing his head over the face Of
the half stupefied girl, he touched his
lips to hers reverently-and slipped
from the room.
AS he did so piercing shrek arose.
The Judge" was coming to her own.
1T was answered from below.
Bedight, scudding along the hall.
heard the answering cry and knew:
the sheriff had arrived. Exit from
the hotel by way Of the staircase was
out of the question. He darted to
Bess Winters room. tried the door and
breathed a sigh Of relief as 1t yielded.
From the room veranda opened and
F. - ho do fo tho
kround was not too much of drop for
hn agile man. Bedight hung for a mo-
ment on the rail- Then he let go,
landing almost in the arms OF an Of
hcer, evidently more surprised than
the mayor, who, quicker OF action,
pushed the deputy headlong and fed
from the scene with speed that would
do credit to Jackie Vining.
Down the gravel walk sped Bedight,
toward the main road Already the
officer had regained his feet and given
the alarm. The mayor heard call
Tor help, hurried explanation. and
tben footballs in pursuit. Down the
road he ran toward the shadows or
the trees along the highway
If Briggs was there and ready, ne
would get away in time. Something
doomed black in the shadows ahead,
1t was the car! Bedight called as
he ran-but Briggs was too surprised
to heed.
Crank the carl" cried the mayor
excitedly, dashing up to the machine.
But the pursuers were upon them
As the bewildered Briggs sprang to
the wheel. The mayor turned and
struck blindIy at the sheriff In the
lead, whirled and sprang into the ma
chine. The motor aroused instantly
and shot ahead, leaving the enraged
pursuers powerless in the road
CHAPTER XII,