Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-11


ut a time, a sound so faint that nothing lived
between It and silence succeeded the uepartur'
Of the Generals aide and the girl he loves tne
girl he means to marry. As the buffers laee
framed itself the threshold, the door was
opened that led to the ball room, a burst OF
music vibrated there. then all was silence. Inc
butler closed the door swiftly behind him ana
glided across the floor, stoopiEg before the safe'
his dexterous fingers manipulating the KNOBS
with careless certainty that spoke OF the
master cracksman his face against the colo
steel. his fairly peaked with the tensity OF
his listening for the click OF falling tumblers
His expression betrayed no anxiety he knew ms
worth. knew the pregnability OF the safe IN
which his raster placed great confidence and
10 which he 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
stxuctions at his leisure.
Tho cracksman heaved q sigh Of relief his
sensitive finger tips told him the last tumber
had fallen. The great, iron door swung open to
his tug. For a second he waited, listened to the
scuf{le of feet. the melody of the orchestra Then
his hand disappeared. exploring the contents of
the safe
He was swift; he was certain; he was sure
Not paper disarranged. His fingers hut-
tered like little white birds drifting among the
Generals papers with a certitude that bespoke
great familiarity. With sigh Of relief he stared
at the sealed packet he had just seen the army
ofhcer receive and place here. The butler thrust
IL IN his pocket, drawing out package of bank
notes and putting it in the tiny vault where the
knobs whirring under the mans touch.
Again he waited. listening, listening. The
vibrations of the dancers feet continued for q
second, the strains Of music died. With the
noiscless glide of panther the butler slipned
across the floor and closed the door behind him
Not one motion had been wasted For
months he had served in his menial capacity for
this one opportunity. For months to come ne
would continue to serve in order that no suspic.
son might rest upon him. Quietly, as though
nothing had happened he stepped to the great
kitchen where the little brown servants Of the
household were scurrying heedlessly about
frightened at even the momentary absence ~
theiT master when the elaborate collation. for IN.
guests was still to be served.
A word here, hint there and the FYlininos
ere on their way to the Generals dinipr -.
With their burdens All capability, all def c.r.
t1tnty without wasting word, a move th
butler brought his underlings back to the s+.ta
Of perfection into which he had trained them
AS unconscious Of the stolen envelope in Ia:
breast pocket though such thing as a h.
glarzed safe had been, THOMPSON a,;a,
Tommy the Dude, alias "Chi" Tom and wontss
Tor Just such Jobs in many police departments OF
tie world went about his work, only heavin, =
huge sigh CT relief when General Love nodd.S
errtly in token that the room where tie buffet
had been served might be cleared.
Ten minutes later the furtive exnr.s.,.
came back to his face, the stealthy crouch 10 hi.
frame. Noiselessly he glded out the rear of a..
house, scurrying across the moon-splashed parads
ground and losing himself in devious windina,
mil Iitor
reservation. Manila slept noisily the dron;.
hum of the myriad insects rising and faiI;n,
with the ever-recurring waves of heat that
hoated in from the ocean Only the Generals
mansion gowed with light, a gangling strnctnrs
transformed by the eerie witchery of night into
a fairy palace Of gold, the windows huge d;a.
monds with each facet catching in its heart
score OF moon beams Thompson nodded to him
self as though very well satisfied, then slnnad
down narrow side street, lined with disranpn,
able houses that leaned at drunken angles IN.
ward one another, the filthy windows winkin,
blearily to their neighbors. Before the Iarr.sss
Of these places the butler paused a second nj.
hand reached toward the be-pull. From soms
distant part Of the house came back an echo
Slowly, very slowly the door swung open. syyaI
tcwfng up the figure Of the thief-butler.
CHAPTER II.
The Finger of Suspicion
GENERAL SUMTER LOVE, U. s. A.. .u,,..
" tolerantly TO himself as he overheard a.
Tow voices Of his aide and Lucille coming fron,
the little cozv corner In which the young liz
tenant had hidden his sweetheart away from th.
avid dancers who would have taken her ava
from him. The old man closed his eyes a NJ
ment, the harsh lines which absolute dictatos-
ship and war had sculped upon his face sov.i,
disappearing before the softened express;
retrospection placed there, expression smna.
n,cned up by memories Of the days at the Pei.
before ever thought of oak leaves upon his
shoulders dared intrude itself within his COT.
mind. before Lucille was born before Luc,u.ss
mother had made her choice.
The General shook his bulky shoulder.
rose. moving toward his private Office. n -
seldom such memories came to him and r,Ss.
they left the pain of realizing them to be rdtI
lnp more than memories provided pitifpi ~
pensation. He sighed heavily al he resli,sS !.
stood on the threshold of another chance 49,
the courtship OF his aide had finally besn .as l'a
eessful and another household would soon h. w
cupied in Officers Row, leaving him alons =.
this great house.
He wondered II all fathers felt th,.
wondered II he could gladly give his 5arhts,
to another man and be happy watcbino +ha,
other remould her world. And the time syos 80
short That very boat in the harbor now micht
bear the Senates confirmation of young C;bsons =
promotion to the rank and pay of Cantain Ths
two men had agreed that the marriage should
wait ON that and the General had to admit tho
the aide had lived up to his word. But then t;il,
Don ALWAYS did that.
Again the General shook his shoulders strid-
ing briskly to his private office. Only in work
sould ne get relief from these fits of depression.
And there was always work to be done, for Tn.
httle brown people loved their fighting, were
never satisfied with peace and quiet. For a sec
snd he stood at the window. staring at the great
boat in the harbor. at the dappling waters, rest
ful now save for the faintest movement when
The soft tropical breeze moved caressngly across
II. And that boat might bring word of his aides
promotion. He turned and pressed the annuncia-
49, ~- his a~sk cv-tl~ commanding the soldier