Middletown transcript., 1914-10-24
CHAPTER xII-cOntInued.

OfNtAf AtN-S0ukAteSNh
She and Collins went over before
breakfast and viewed the scene OF
chaos left by the night intruder. The
burglars endeavor to get away had
been much less orderly than his
stealthy entrance. Overturned chairs
and other evidences of disorder told
the story Of the struggle he had had
with the little defender Of the home.
Jane wept as her neighbor lifted the
body of the little terrier whose warn
ing and subsequent courage had, per
haps, saved her from greater calam-
ity than being robbed. Collins carried
the dog to far corner of the garden.
They buried him and heaped a mound
above the spot, Jane promising herself
that he should have a more permanent
monument to his loyalty in the future.
After much persuasion and repeated
assurances that they would never be
left alone again, she prevailed upon
her maid of all work to return to the
house and she set about putting it in
order.
In the evening Bob came. His sepa-
ration from Jane, though but day,
had seemed a week, for 1t was the
first time. He took her in his arms
and kissed her fervently. Reynolds
love for his wife was, like himself,
big and strong. The slight constraint
Jane had felt since the advent of
Brand and her clGndestine meetings
with him, had not impaired itself to
Bob, for he was ignorant of the cause
He was by nature very tender with
those he loved. His address to Jane
after five years of married life still be-
took Of the endearing terms of honey
moon days. To the ears Of aliens this
turtle-dove patois often strikes a dis
cordant note. Either it bespeaks
hypocrisy and proVokes smile from
the knowing, or it stamps the speaker
as a sentimental idiot. But from Bob
tender phrases never had the sound
of platitudes. They rang true. They
took their strength from him and de-
manded like for like. ~
There are some women upon which
such sincere devotion and respect as
Reynolds gave his wife seem to pail;
but they are not women; they are
mere animated sparks, handmaidens
in a armament of souls who dance and
sparkle for a while, but who, lacking
dynamic warmth of their own, wither
and are effaced by real celestial rays.
Jane was not such a creature. She
was not weary of Bob. In her yearning
for what she deemed the better things
she was as eager for him to share
them as herself She returned her
husbands embraces now with as much
ardor as they were given.
"Was l lonesome?" she said in an
swer to his question. well, l guess ]
was, and more than that You simply
can't leave me that way again, dear
est"
'Tt won't happen often" he told her
we got caught mapping on a big job
and l was the only man they could
send. They asked me the last minute
and there was no other way. l thought
about you every minute, honey. You
know l did," he added quickly, "fol
this Black river dam is only about
twenty miles from your home and
passed through familiar scenes; scenes
that we remember we'll, don't we? How
many dear days they brought to mind.
She patted his cheek and led him
over to their corner at the window
seat.
1--WE got a lot to tell you, sweet
heart More than how lonesome
was. You missed some excitement las
night"
Then as they sat Turk fashion
among the pillows she related hel
thrilling experience of the night be
fore. His brows contracted as he lis
tened. He leaned over once, drawing
her to him and kissing her. Tit
thought that she had been in actua
peril alarmed him acutely. And !
was not alone the thought of what sh
had passed through, but the though
that she might be called upon at an,
time to go through 1t again. He knew
that he was at the beck and call Of hi
company and that while he had no
been chosen for such missions before
now that it had used him in such ca
pacity it would do so again. II tina
were so they would be better off bac
in New York. The stuffy little fla
that had become such an eyesore, sue
a prison; even that would be bette
than this secluded bungalow If hi
wife was to be subjected to danger
and terrors. He expressed his thought
and James response was ready.
'Bob," she said softly, there is
way out of all this. I have taken 20
at your word and kept silent, but 20
know what mean?"
A frown passed over his face; loo
not Of anger. but of pain.
"You mean Brandt" he asked.
"Yes."
He dropped her hand. Unconscioul
ly his whole form stiffened. He got u
from the window seat and stood lool
ing down at her.
"Yes, there is a way out" he al
swered. but that is not the way"