Arizona republican., 1914-06-26

AS/ S ing to the servants quarters moved.
 cautious fraction of inch 1t time, sound faint that nothing lived between it and silence succeeded the departure of the Generals aide and the girl he loves, the girl he means to marry. As the buffers face framed itself on the threshold, the door was opened that led to the ball room a burst of music vibrated there, then all was silence. The butler closed the door swiftly behind him and 6llded across the floor stopping before the safe, his dextelous fingers manipulating the knobs with careless certainty that spoke of the master cracksman, his face against the cold steel, his ears fairly peaked with the tensty of his listening for the click of falling tumblers. His expression betrayed no anxiety. He knew his worth, knew the pregnability of the safe in which his master placed so great confidence and to which be had consigned the papers and orders he had just received from Washington until the ball was over and he had time to study the in- structions at his leisure.
 The cracksman heaved sigh of relief as his sensitive finger tips told him the last tumbler had fallen. The great, iron door swung open to his tug. For second he waited listened to the scuffle of feet, the melody of the orchestra Then his hand disappeared, exploring the contents of the safe
 He swift he certain; he was sure Not paper was disarranged. His fingers f1ut- tered like little, white birds drifting among the Generals papers with certitude that bespoke great familiarity With sigh of relief he stared at the sealed packet he had just the army officer receive and place here. The butler thrust it in his pocket, drawing out package of bank notes and putting it in the tiny vault where the papers had been. The door closed softly the knobs whirring under the mans touch.
 Again he waited. listening, listening. The vibrations of the dancers feet continued for a second, the strains of music died With the noiseless glide of panther the butler slipped the floor and closed the door behind him.
 Not motion had been wasted For months he had served in his menial capacity for this opportunity. For months to come he o-la +L,k, ion might rest upon him. Quietly, though nothing had happened, he steppcd to the great kitchen where the little brown servants of the household were scurrying heedlessly about, frightened at the momentary absence of their master when the elaborate collation. for the guests still to be served.
 word here, hint there and the Filipnos were on their way to the Generals dining room with their burdens. All capabity, all delft tainty, without wasting word, a move, the butler brought his underlings back to the state of perfection into which he had trained them As unconscious of the stolen envelope in his breast pocket though such thing as bur glarized safe had never been, Thompson alias Tommy the Dude alias Chi Tom and wanted for just such jobs in many police departments of the world went about his work only heaving huge sigh of relief when General Love nodded curtly in token that the room where the buffet had been served might be cleared
 Ten minutes later the furtive expression came back to his face, the stealthy crouch to his frame. Noseessly he glided out the of the house. scurryng across the moon-splashed parade ground and losing himself in devious windings among the officers homes upon the military reservation. Manila slept noisily the droninS hum of the myriad insects rising and falling with the ever-recurrng waves of heat that foated in iron. the ocean. Only the Generals mansion glowed with light. gangling structure transformed by the eerie witchery of night into Q fairy palace of gold, the windows huge dia- nonds with each facet catching in its heart a If -heam q self though very well satisfied, then slipped down a narrow side street, lined with disreput- able houses that leaned at drunken angles to- ward one another, the filthy windows winkng blearily to their reighbors. Before the largest of these places the butler paused a second His hand reached toward the bell-pull. From some distant part of the house came back an echo. Slowly, very slowly the door swung open, swal- lowing up the figure of the thief butler.
 CHAPTER II.
 The Finger ot Suspicion
 GENERAL SUMTER LOVE. U S. A., smiled
 tolerantly to himself he overheard the low voices of his aide and Lucille coming from the little cozy corner in which the young lieu tenant had hidden his sweetheart away from the avid dancers who would have taken her away from him. The old man closed his eyes ment, the harsh lines which absolute dictator ship and war had sculped upon his face slowly disappearing before the softened expression retrospection placed there, expression sum- moned up by memories Of the days at the POlnt before thought of oak leaves upon his shoulders dared intrude itself within his cadet mind, before Lucille was born, before Lucilles mother had made her choice
 The General shook his bulky shoulders and rose, moving toward his private office. It was seldom such memories came to him and when they left the pain of realizing them to be noth- ing more than memories provided pitiful con- pensation. He sighed heavily he realized he stood on the threshold of another change. that the courtship of his aide had finally been suc- cessful and another household would soon be oc- cupied in Officers Row. leaving him alone in this great house.
 He wondered if all fathers felt this way, wondered if he could gladly give his daughter to another and be happy watching that other remould her world. And the time so short. That very boat in the harbor might bear the Senate's confirmation of young Gibson's promotion to the rank and pay of Captain The two had agreed that the marriage should wait that and the General had to admit that the aide had lived up to his word. But then Gib- son always did that.
 Again the General shook his shoulders strid ing briskly to his private office. Only in work could he get relief from these fits of depression And there always work to be done, for the little brown people loved their fighting, were never satisfied with peace and quiet. For sec ond he stood at the window, staring at the great boat in the harbor, at the dappling waters, rest ful now for the faintest movement when the soft tropical breee moved caressingy across