The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
ARTHUR SIRINlER E2ZAxzG4@s

that wraps were being removed.
Almost four" came the answer from
above. Have a good time, Caddy?"
heard a stified yawn- Rather" an
swered the girls voice.
Il say, Orrie, bring up the cigarettes
for puff, will your" requested the youth
from above. still in a stage whisper.
And Caddy, be sure the latch is on
"On what?' demanded Orrie.
THE door. you idiOt!' was the sleepily
good -natured retort.
Then i suddenly ducke1 low behind my
chair back, for the yo4hg man called
Orrie had flung open the library door.
He came into the room gropingly. with
out switching on the electrics. I could
see his trim young shoulders and the
white blur of his shirt-front. Behind
him, framed in the door"ay. stood a young
girl OF about twenty, blond in pale blue,
with bare arms and bare shoulders Her
skin looked very soft and baby-like in
the strong side light. / could not repress
something that was almost a shudder at
the thought OF this careless gayety and
youth so close to the grim tragedy behind
me, SO unconscious of the awakening that
might come to them at any moment
DO hurry" said the tired girl, as the
young man fumbled about the table end
I realized. as l peered out at her, that
my first duty would be be to keep those
round young eyes from what might con-
front them in that inner room.
I've got 'em"' answered the man. He
stood a moment without moving. Then
he turned and walked out of the room,
quietly closing the door behind him.
emitted a gasp Of relief and stood up
once more. Nothing alive or dead, I
was determined. would now keep me in
that house. Yet for all that newborn
ecstasy Of impatience / was still COM
PEELED to wait, for 1 could hear thApcca-
sional sound of feet and a whiy9er or
two from behind the closed door. Then
all sound died away: the gloom and
silence again Ingulfed me.
/ took the Yang Lao porcelain from
my pocket. unwrapped il, and crept back
to the inner room. / groped along the
wall in the darkness. circling wide about
the green leather chair in the center. I
put the vase back on its cabinet without
so much as flashing my light Then
circled back along the wall. felt for the
library door, and grOped cautiously
across the perilous breadth Of the furni-
ture-crowded chamber. II took me sew
eral seconds to find the door that opened
into the hallway. Once through il and
across the hall, I knew, only a spring
latch stood between me and the street.
So l lost no time as l turned the knob
and swung back the door.
buL ulu not pass lHEOuBn H. or IN
stead of darkness, l found myself con-
fronted by blaze OF light. In that blaze
OF light stood three waiting and expect
ant figures. What most disturbed me
wss the fact that the man called Orrie
held in his hand a revolver that seemed
the size of a toy cannon. This was lev
eled directly at my blinking eyes. The
other youth, in Cerise pajamas with
orange-colored frogs and a dressing gown
sF,l .iszf -SVI, -slIy
just behind him. holding an extremely
wicked-looking revolver of the magazine
make. Behind this youth again. close
by the newell post. stood the girl in blue
with all the sleepiness gone out OF her
face.
The sight of that wide-eyed and eager
trio irritated me beyond words There
was no longer any thrill in the thing.
We've got him cried the youth in
the cerise pajamas.
Don't mOve"' commanded the older
of the two. wrinkling his brow into a
frown of youthful determination.
/ had no intention of moving.
Watch his hands" prompted tho
younger man. He ought to put 'em up"
Yes, Orrie. he ought to put them up"
echoed the girl by the newell post.
Back up through that door!' cried
Orrie. Come on-back upr'
l wearily obeyed this somewhat equine
order. Then he commanded me to hold
my hands above my head. did 50 with
out hesitation; I had no wish to argue
while that Colt was staring me in the
eyes.
They followed me, Indian file. into the
room. 1t was the girl who closed the door
as Orrie switched on the lights. She stood
with her back to it, studying my face.
Have you anything to say?' demand
cd Orrie SO1iariup his shOuldarS
Yes, have a great deal to say" l told
him. But ] prefer saying it to you
alone" l could see his movement of dis
dain And il you will be so good as to
stop poking that pistol into my face"
continued with some heat, and then
send these two children out Of the room,
i shall say what l have to, and do it
very briefly"
Children came in an indignant gasp
from the girl at the door.
Wen stick by you, old man." assured
the youthful hero in cerise, with his heels
well apart.
And just why should I closet myself
with a burglar" inquired the astute
OrTie, staring at me with the utmost in
science.
That's asinine," I retorted. I'm not
burglar. And you ought to know it,"
To my astonishment, a little tripartite
ripple of laughter greeted this statement.
Then what are you?" asked the in
credulous Orrie.
Yes, who are you?" demanded the
other youth. He still held the magazine
revolver balanced in his right hand. The
truth had to come out.
I'm Witter Kerfoot, OF Gramercy Park
West"
What number
1 gave him the number. The trio ex-
changed glances. They were plainly
glances Of amusement.
And with that face!"' calculated the
man called Orrie. The quiet contempt of
his glance caused me to shift about so
could catch a glimpse of myself in the
Venetian mirror between the bookshelves.
That glimpse was indeed a startling one.
had quite forgotten the transit through
the coal hole. 1 saw. as 1 peered into
the mirror. only a sickly hued and
grimy looking footpad with dirty hands
and a broken hat. 1t was no wonder they
laughed was about to remove my dis
gracefully disfiguring headgear when the
younger man swung about on me with
the magazine revolver thrust point blank
in my face.
Don't try any of that!'' he gasped.
You keep up those hands"
We've had about enough of this TOM
my-roti'' l protested.
Yes. well cut out the tommyrot and
get him tied" proclaimed the man with
the Colt.
Then search him first" prompted the
younger man. Hes sure to have
gun. you know"
He motioned to the girl at the door.
Take Orrie's colt while he goes through
him." he commanded in the chest tones Of
aanA N he