The Washington herald., 1913-09-21

room, to be quite certain what became
of the rings.
Flash!
The den was suddenly flooded with
light.
The burglar made an instructive grab
| for his gun, reeled, caught himself,
] cleared his throat. and threw his hands
| far above his head.
The smile had suddenly been trans
ferred to the man in the nightgown.
He stood near the electric light switch,
covering the burglar with a small, pearl
handled revolver.
Thought I was sleep-waIking. did
your" he sneered.
Huh? Hu-huh," answered Brady
| vaguely, glancing around covertly for
a way out OF this hole. He had prom
! ised Joe Avery that no matter what
came he would not tell what was back
of his visit to the house. He had done
other work for Avery and knew that he
would lose the fifty dollars if he did not
play his part and keep the secret, no
matter what happened.
Heard you coming up the stairs, -
went on the other. My gun was down
Eere in the desk. 1 started after il just
as you came. / knew you were looking.
Flashed over my mind all at once to
pretend l was a somnambulist. Rather
nice stunt that riding on the piano
stool, don't you Think"
Seeing no escape, Brady hung his
head and growled a reply.
oh, cheer up" remarked the other.
I'm an actor. This very sleep-walk-
ing act / did tonight is the feature
of my new play. You see, I've got it
down pat. It's my specially in the
second act, and. OF course, it occurred
to me in an emergency"
Brady remembered that Avery had
told him of his stars speciality in the
second act, and he wondered at the
way things had worked around.
Ought to learn acting yourself. It
would come handy in your business.
We don't act sore; and when we're
scared to death we laugh 1t of. Try
Iit!-Its great"
"S'pose you're tryin' it now." mum
bled the other.
NO." came the quick reply. I'll ad
nit I was a little OF my nerve when
l walked straight past you up there
but I'm used to the limelight, and the
fact that you were watching me didn't
bother much. But what have 1 got to
be afraid of now. Even a coward can
be brave with a gun in his hand"
IF you didn't have that bit of steel
there'd be"
''Oh, shut up cried Loring Madison
I'm tired of your talk. I'll call the
police now"
With that interruption he turned to
the telephone and ordered patrol to be
sent uD.
Brady sat silent until the wagon came
and took him away.
You won't get nothin' on me-" he
cried to the actor as he left. I've got
friends thatll get me out of this. Be
sides, | didn't steal nothin' anyways"
The actor smiles indulgently. yawned
as the door was closed and then, taking
the rings with him for safe-keeping, he
went back to bed.
Some ten miuuts after the patrol had
ratified away. the actor heard a long
ring at the door bell.
Now what can that be-" he cried.
jumping to his feet and going to the
front window.
Throwing up the sash, he leaned out
and called:
Hello. Who's there?"
Its me. Joe Avery" was the re-
sponse.
well. what on earth are you doing
arounud here at this time OF night?'
Come down and let me in. I'll tell
you," came the reply.
The actor hurried down and opened
the door.
well. what is it?'' he asked as they
sat together in the den.
Tell me what happened? l heard the
patrol and came right Over, hoping there