Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-09-16
Marjorie started

OF IT, Let me call again when you are
rested"
And he half arose.
mo, no." said Marjorie hastily.
"I'm very well, thank you, and not at
all nervous" She tried to laugh to
show her unconcern, but it was a
weak effort.
The bad man did not laugh.
"You said something about the sale
OF this house." he remarked as If to
steady her
"oh, yes" she cried How do you
like it?"
ut looks like an attractive resi-
dence," he replied. May I presume
to ask the owners reasons for SELL
ing-it is often customary in adver-
tising homes, you know"
YES" said Marjorie. "They usual
ly claim it is lack of health, don't
they? Or change of business, or
something like that?"
Something like that the bad man
replied
Marjorie cudgeled her brains.
"If my father sold this house
think it would be because he wanted
the money"
AN excellent reason" said the bad
man. 1T is frank, too, and unan-
swerable."
81 think It is" said Marjorie. "You
see, living is much higher"
so l understand"
"And clothes cost more-a great
deal more. And help is dearer-and
not nearly so satisfactory"
ut sounds discouraging.
at is"
"And your father wants to sell his
home on this account"
at is a good reason, isn't it?"
He looked at her in silence.
81 wonder If your telephone isn't
in working order now?" he said in a
curious way.
mo, no." she cried. I'm sure they
haven't fixed it yet
She was, determined not to give him
the chance to escape.
II wish you would investigate" he
said. 81 will give you an excuse for
going into the house. am quite
thirsty. May trouble you for glass
of water?"
She shook her head
81 dislike to be discourteous," she
said, "but the water is not at all what
1t should be. You may have noticed
that prominent physicians have sew.
eral times declared that typhoid fever
is directly traceable to impure drink
ing water"
He opened his eyes little wider.
You actually refuse me glass OF
water?" he said. THAT seems extra
ordinary"
Perhaps it does," replied Mar.
jorie, but / assure you l am actuated
only by the very best motives"
And she furtively glanced at the
suspicious suit case.
The bad man opened his eyes still
wider.
81 can't help thinking it seems
strange" he said.
And Just then Marjorie gave start
and wild light suddenly cleaned in
her soft brown eyes. :.
Her father was coming up the
street.
She watched the bad man narrow
ly and waited his first desperate move.
Her father came nearer and nearer
he was ascending the steps, he was,
on the porch!
Then most extraordinary thing
happened before Marjorie could cry
out.
why, hello, Compton" cried her
father, cordially. How are your"
And he held out his hand and the bad
man shook it
Marjorie gasped.
"This is very neighborly," said her
father. 81 suppose Compton told you
dear, that he had bought the Stetson
house next door, and is to live there
with his mother. And you are very
welcome, my boy" He turned toward
the door. Excuse me just mo-
ment. l have message to phone"
AS he disappeared Marjorie turned
quickly to the stranger.
IL took you for housebreaker,"
she hoarsely whispered. 81 saw you
climbing through TIE WluuOW. i SdW
you bring out that" And she pointed
at the suit case. "You can't blame
me. You certainly acted the part"
The stranger laughed. Now that
he was no longer bad man he seem.
ed very attractive youth.
"And took you for an irresponsi-
ble-mentally weak, you know. And
you certainly played the role in life
like manner"
Marjorie frowned.
whats in that suit case?"
Door trimmings, locks and hinges.
I'm having them changed"
And the contents tinkled merrily
as he pushed the case with his foot.
Say" whispered Marjorie.
"Well?"
Don't you dare betray me to- my
father"
About the house?"
about anything"
well, I'll think 1t over. In the
tn