The Washington herald., 1914-04-12

u time, sound so faint that nothing lived
between it and silence succeeded the departure
Of the Generals aide and the girl he loves. th'
g1rl he means to marry. As the buffers face
framed itself the threshold. the door was
opened that led to the ball room, a burst Of
music vibrated there, then all silence. The
butler closed the door swiftly behind him and
ghded across the floor. stoopirg before the safe
his dexterous fingers manipulating the knobs
with careless certainty that spoke of thu
master cracksman. his face against the cold
steel. his ears fairly peaked with the tensity OF
his listening for the click of falling tumblers
his expression betrayed anxiety. He knew his
worth knew the pregnability of the safe in
which his raster placed great confidence and
70 which he had consigned the papers and orders
he bad just received from Washington until the
ball was over and he had time to study the in
structions at his leisure.
The crackkman heayed a SIGH Of relief ax hiz
sensitive finger tips told him the last tumble
had fallen. The great, iron door swung open to
ms tug. For second he waited, listened to the
ecunle OF feet. the melody of the orchestra. Then
his hand disappeared. exploring the contents O!
the safe.
he was swift: he certain: he was sur.
Not paper was disarranged. His fingers fu.-
tered like little. white birds, drifting among the
Senerals papers with q certitude that beSpok>
great familiarity. With sigh OF relief he stared
at the sealed packet he had just seen the army
omcer receive and place here. The butler tbrns-
II in his pocket, drawing out packare Of b.nt,
notes and putting 1t in the tiny vault where the
papers had been. The door closed SOFTLY the
AHOpS Wnlrr1ng under the mans touch
Again be waited, listening listenin, Th
vibrations of the dancers feet continued for
second. the strains OF music died With thc
nolseless glide of panther the butler sIinnsL
seroSs the noor and closed the door behind him
Not one motion had been wasted For
months he had served in his menia! capacitv fo-
this one opportunity. For months to com. he
would continue to serve in order that no sus,;c
Ion might rest upon him. Quietl, as tborh
thing had happened. he stepped to the eTeat
Kitchen where the little brown servants Of tbs
household were scurrying heedlessly obo.
M1fhtened at even the momentary absence ~
guests still to be served " ING
word here hint there and the FSI;ni,o,
NGe on tneir way TO the Generals dining roor,
with their burdens. All capability. all def c.-.
fanny, without wasting a word. mov. ~.
oCtler brought his underlinqs back TO The 60.
OF perfection into which he had trained +bs,.
AS unconscious Of the stolen enreIoDe in hi.
breast pocket as though such THING ,r "
Elartzed safe had never been Tbomnso, I:
Tommy the Dude, alias %Chi" Tom and yr.n.as
1or Just such jobs in many police department.. =.
re world went about his work only heaving =
huge sigh Of relief when General Love nndSoa
errtly IN token that the room where -. b',s..
had been served might be cleared
Ten, minutes later the furtive e,,-ss,,,-
sane back to his face, the stealthv crouch to his
frame Noiselessly he glided out the rear - az
house, scurrying across the moon-spIasbad ra-s
ground and losing himself in devious yindia-
among the officers homes upon the rniIi.nEr
nOlSllE. he
hum OF the myriad insects rising and faIIins
with the ever-recurrinc waves of be.+ .h.
aoated in from the ocean Only the Gen.rors
mansion glowed with light. -ansling s+ructr-.
transformed bv the eerie witcherv of niobt i1.o
fairy palace ot gold. the windows bnra AZ;
nonds with each facet catching in its hes-+
eoore of moon-beams. Thomson nodded IN bi,,
self as though verT we'll satisfied. then sIpnel
down a narrow side street lined with d;srsn.
able houses that leaned ~ drunken anoIa, -
ward one another. the filthy windows wintin-
blearily 70 their neighbors. Before ire 1arrost
Of these places the butler paused n second M;
hand reached toward the heII-puIl From sorna
INSTANT part OF the house came hack an ecbo
Slowly. very slowly the door SWING open, sr,,
lowing up the figure of the thefbutler
CHAPTER II.
The Finger of Suspicion
GENERAL sUMPTER LOVE. U. s. 4, emil.
tolerantlv TO himself as be overheard a.
low voices of his aide and JucIIc coming r,o,.
the little COW corner in which the vouno liz
tenant had hidden his Sweetheart avav fror, -
md dancers who would have taken her -.
krorn him. The old man closed his eyes -
fnent the harsh lines which absolute d;ct.ta
shtp and war had sculped upon his face ,IonI
disappearing before the softened ern-as.N
placed there an expression ~
rnoned up by memories Of the DAYS at tbc po;n.
before ever thought of oak leaves unon 1t
shoulders dared intrrde itself within bIs 80
mind. before Luci1Ie born before Troim".
mother had made her choice.
The General shool; his bulky shorI1o-
rose. moving toward his nrivate oHfcc T. @ .lI.
Aeldom such memories c"rnr TO him ,,5
they left the pain Of realizin~ them 70 bo -
ing more than memories nrovided pit;fr1 "ou
pensation. He sighed heavily as he re.1;.,
rtood on the threshold nf another cbsr,a u
The courtship Of his aide had finally bsa. .na' @
reesful and another household would soor rs sue
rupied in Officers Row. leaving him aIon. :,
This great house. ia
He wondered II Ill fathers fer. +h;
wondered IL he could gladly give his d,r-s.N.
h another ma, and ho harpv ,vatcb;sStn.
r4her remould her world. And the tin,o -. ."H.
:hort. Thot bon+ in the harhor ro,- -,
bear the Senate's confirmation Of rounr Cibsan:s
,romotion 70 the rank and nav of Captain Tn.
vvo men had agreed that the MARRIAGE .hIa
rait on that and the General had TO .5r,;. -.
ne aide had Iirnd TO his word. Rrt tban cfh.
ION alravs Hid that.
Ar,i- +ho c~7e--I er,cIhl- I;s shor,5.-. ..,
NJ N-islilv n his -ri-1to orSc~ OnI, IN ,-.-,.
'or1d re ret -nlinf rrori thnsn fts Of 6enrs..;.,
lrE thrrn Hlv-are work IN he done o. a.
ittle hrorvr neor'a loved their fobt;no -.
,e-e- satisfied Nth ard o-irt For . e.,
nd he rtnoS "a 40 -irSo--- -+,rinr IF tba 80,
III nc---r To- 49, '1irteet r,over,en. -,
~ enf+ '-~-icn1 I-a"-- --n-sd c.-sss;nolv srross
:. ArS 49, hN7- --;~tt h-;r- word of his aides
'ron'ntion- n" turned and pressed the anuuncia-
or on his desk, curtly commanding the soldier