Putnam patriot., 1915-09-17

There was left to her only the ability
 to spare her husband in some measure.
 That she must do. though her heart
 break.
 It was just five minutes before the
 hour of 2 when Andrew, ig his cupola
 room. eNtin-Nishei his light. which
 had shone from the tower windows
 like a beacon. Craegau. lurking within
 the shadows or clustered shrubheries
 hundred yards from the mansion.
 heayed d slgE of reHef Then. as the
 calm of the nlaee ema6Hea unhuakea
 he began steafHly O make his way
 toward the massive hulk of the house
 Marsball had e sbfished himself in
 window seat If he library, from
 which he had an extensive view of his surroundings.
 Farther down the room toward the
 rear. the above. F which WIS the safe
 showed its drareries ef peraeres along
 the line of the opposite wall. Facing
 him, a little further toward the front
 was the wide doorway into the han,
 through which WIS to be seen part of the stairway The softly burning
 hall light cast itz illumination over the
 stuirs and hal itself. and shone through the doorway Hto the library
 though the radianae here was dimmed
 so that objects were only barely visi- ble in shadoWy wise From time to
 time the detective had undertaken a cautious round of the house fo make
 sure that nothing oI nefarious sort h,
 appointed hour of Andrews promised
 burglary approached he held his pc sition immovatiy iH the window seat,
 where the drawn hangings hid him
 well while permitting his espionage.
 Then a faint sound from the stairway
 caught his ear, and he neered forth in anxious expectancy.
 Presently a soft noise near at hand
 caught the attentive ear of the detee- tive gentle ereabfng sound followed and Marshall WAS speedily aware, out
 of his professional experience, that the window further down the room was be
 ing skilfully opened
 Then. after an interval of silence. pencil of light the heam of an electric torch. shone from between the hang ines of the rear window. The light
 moved slowly to and fro. taking its l survey of the room with leisurely thoroughness that again provoked Mar 1 shall to appreciation of the marauder's
 adept methods. Then. at last. the l radiance rested for q second time on | the alcove. and there continued for an | appreciable period The light vanished. | There was no sound but Marshall ! knew that the thief was stealing on | silent feet through the shadows of the
 room, that he had come to the safe,
 that he was ready to-yes a glow of 1 light became faintly visible within the recess.
 The detective prepared for action by i pulling blackjack from his pocket He | parted the curtains. and would have issued from his retreat. when again | his attention was held by q wisp of sound He waited, in tense silence, his eyes rowing. for he was uncertain as to the direction whence the noise l had issued Then his glance eaugkt
 sight of form moving slowly oil the | tairway In the first instant he per
 ceived with q start of astonishment,
 that the new intruder on the scene was
 a woman in the next, as the face was
 lifted so that the feeble light of the ] ball lamp fcg full on 1t. he recognized Mrs Wainwright, and his earlier feel
 ing of surprise was lost ill total dis l may.
 For the wmmanis manner was plain proof of of what guilt the spying man could hazard no guess, but guilt
 none the less. Her gait was not merely | slow, 1t was stealthy. with the awk- ward stealthmesS of one wholly un-
 accustomed, and the gaze that darted | here and there so hurriedly was fur | tive. laden with fear of discovery. 1 These evidences were re-enforced by | the shudder that now and again shook | her visibly. Marshall was appalled, | by this latest development i'll the mys tery that beset the man he sought to | serve
 The soft gleam in the alcove became | discernibe to her At first glimpse of | 1t she halted, and a smothered gasp of | terror broke from her lips. She stood rigid. looking straight before her with l dilated eyes Then. at last, she swayed a little, tensed swiftly and went for ward again. When she was come to
 the alcove she pushed tbe draperies apart and resdlutely stepped within.
 The portieres c.osed behind her. Mar shall crushed back an oath of amaze
 ment.
 Yet for brief season the detective
 was held inactive by stark bewilder-
 ment Then. to his astonished ears came q hushed sound of whispering from beyond the curtains of the alcove.
 It was incredible monsirous. that this should be- Nevertheless, the truth was palpable There was no outcry. no shriek for help from the woman, no flight by safety seeking housebreaker.
 Instead there was only whispering, this
 secret conference in the dead of night between the thief and the mistress of the mansion. Suddenly another idea flashed in his brain. impelIed him to immediate endearor; Was 1t neces- sary, after all, that Wainwright him. self should ever know the whole hate ful truth7 Perhaps even, there might
 be some explanation of the wife's guilt that fell short of infamy.
 Firm of purpose at last. Marshall crept slowly across the room to the al-
 cove. Now be could hear the two with
 in more plainly, and he listened eager ly but the words were unintelligible. Convinced that longer effort at caves