The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-13
toopyrieht, b 10 Bob6s. Nolrill Company


had the crime already been perpe.
trated2 shuddered. twas left for
me TO ind out. Servants night GU" "
Thought. This might or might not be
servants night out. In any event |
should have the happiness OF con.
founding q great rascal! From the ad'
dress l learned that the house was To-
Gated IN a particularly artstocrattc
part OF the West side. But why should
nc Kill the girl? Ha! I had II. There
was n will, No doubt she stood be-
tween! With the girl dead, the prop
erty would fall to him. 1t sounded
like a play at the Fourteenth Street
theater; but, in real life the melo-
drama is closest to our everyday at-
fairs.
at once determined not to notify
the police; they would only bungle
the matter with the red tape OF delay.
could call them in when the work
was over.
And to think that this ruftian's taste
In oyercoats was one and identical
with mine! had half notion to tear
off the coat, only 1t would have at
tracted attcntion-and, besides, it was
cold.
Some men would have shrugged
their shoulders aud permitted the
thing to go on. In great city the
good Samaritan is usually looked upon
MS Il meddler; and. besides, every one
has trouble enough OF his own. The
girl was nothing 10 me-; even her
name was unknown. l hoped, how
ever, that she was beautiful and
young. My'duty lay clear enough. 1t
was possible to save human being.
and that was all there was 10 the mat
Ter. Any rIght-mlnded man would
have done exactly as did, though
hardly with the same result. CThts Is
not to say that I'm not rIght.minded,
however!l II | should save the girl
from her prosecutor, | should always
have something 10 fall back on II by
any chance myself left the straight
and narrow way. TO save life Is to
do perance for many sins,
Putting aside all tlppant moraltzing,
1t was an adventure such as inVaria-
bly, appeals to me, and 1t Is a habit
OF mine to pursue things to the end.
It is fine and noble pursuit, that OF
research. But sometimes, as in cases
like this adventure OF mine, persons
lacking my sense OF the romantic! are
called busybodies.
/ do not. rccollect what street-it
WIS in the eighties that the guard
bawled out, but 1t was near enough
for my purpose. l bumled out of the
car and down the steps Of the ele-
waited. Everybody gets in the way OF
a man in hurry; SO, for block or
more, the time was spent in making
apologies to gruff.tcmpered persons.
They would get in my way, and they
would demand what meant by not
looking where was going Finally l
succeeded in Kidding myself OF the
crowds, and turned into quiet and
sober street. The sign on the lamp
post told me that had arrived on
the scene. It was twenty minutes past
eleven. Two things were possible:
either the girl had been killed the
night before or | had hall an hour or
so in which to render her the great
est possible service.
The house proved to be fine struc-
ture, one oil those few dwellings, in
the metropolis that boasts Of anything
like a court or yard. This yard was
at the right OF the building, and was
more q roadway to the stables in the
rear than anything else. Still. may
stretch 1t a relnt and call it a yard.
cast a hasty glance about. Not a
soul was in sight. l tried one OF the
gates. 1t was Enlatched! This GER
tainly must be the night. stole up
the roadway cautiously. The fact
that left some fine tracks in the
snow did not disturb me. was not
| guilty OF anything wrong. Yes, there
was the bow-window through which
the rascal was to enter. There would
be surprise In store for him. A sub
dued light shone through the half
closed blinds. Some one was awake;
doubtless the girl herself, reading.
Everything was working out nicely
| would even save her any real annoy
ance.
I tiptoed back to the gate, and was
about 10 make my exit, when paused,
Mortified, my heart in my mouth.
| Coming airily along the walk was a
policeman. He was whtstliRg popular
Irish melodies and swinging his night.
| stick. The deuce! Suppose he took 1t
into his head to examine the gate! I
hid behind the great stone gate-post,
breathing with difficulty. II there was
anything in the world did not want
to happen, 1t was to be arrested in
this other fellows coat! BESIDES the
policeman wouldn't believe word |
said. He would hale me to the near
est police station, and all my efforts
to save the girl would come to moth
ing.
The policeman did start for the
gate, but a cat fight across the street
distracted him and he crossed over to
II