The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-08-20

~~o~S S~S S 800 ~
tive. A gentle creaking 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, q
pencil Of light, the beam Of an electric
torch. shone from between the hang.
ings Of the a window. The light
moved slowly to and fro. taking its
survey Of the room with a leisurely
t~horoughness that again provoked Mar.
shall to appreciation Of the marauder's
adept methods. Then. at last. the
radiance rested for a 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
light became family visible within the
recess.
The detective prepared for action by
pulling a blackjack from his pocket. He
parted the curtains. and would have
issued from his retreat. when again
his attention was held by a wisp Of
sound. He waited. in tense silence.
his eyes rowing. for he was uncertain
as to the direction whence the noise
had issued. Then his glance caught
| sight Of a form moving slowly on the
stairway. In the first instant he per-
ceived with a start Of establishment,
that the new intruder on the scene was
a m in the next. as the face was
lifted so that the feeble light Of the
hall lamp fell full on it. he recognized
Mrs. Wainwright. and his earlier feel
ing of surprise was lost in total dis
may.
For the woman's n was plain
proof of guilt-of what guilt the spying
man could hazard no guess. but guilt
none the less. Her gait was not merely
slow. it was stealthy. with the awk-
ward stealthiness of one wholly un.
accustomed. and the gaze that darted
here and there SO hurriedly was fur
tive. laden with fear of discovery.
These evidences were REINFORCED by
the shudder that now and again shook
her visibly. Marshall was appalled,
by this latest development in the mys-
terry that beset the man he sought to
serve.
The soft CLEAN in the alcove became
discernible to her. At first glimpse of
it she halted. and a smothered gasp of
terror broke from her lips. Size stood
rigid, looking straight before her with
dilated eyes. Then. ut last. she swayed
a little, tensed swiftly and went for
ward again. When she was come to
the alcove she pushed the draperies
apart and resolutely stepped within.
The portieres closed behind her. Mar.
shall crushed back an oath of amaze.
ment.
Yet for a brief season the detective
was held inactive by stark bewilder-
ment. Then. to his %astonished ears
came a hushed sound of whispering
from beyond the curtains of the alcove.
1t was incredible. monstrous. that this
should be. Nevertheless. the truth was
palpable. There was no cutlery. no
shrek for help from the woman. no
flight by a 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. impelled him to
immediate endeavor: Was it neces.
sary, after all, that Wainwright him
self should ever know the whole hate.
full truth? 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 he could hear the two with.
in more plainly, and he listened eager-
~. but the words were unintelligible.
Convinced that longer effort at eaves-
dropping would avail naught, the de-
t~ective. with his weapon ready, put
forth a cautious hand and parted the
draperies.
Notwithstanding all his painstaking,
something betrayed this new presence
to the keen senses of the burglar. As
the portieres moved slowly apart under
Marshall's careful fingers there came q
sudden fash of light full in his face.
Blindly he sprang forward and found
himself In grapple with the thief. A
scream came from the woman. The
torch fell to the floor. to be crushed a
moment later under the feet Of the
men. The woman shrank in q corner.
half swooning. The men writhed and
tottered to and fro. scuf1ing over the
thick pile of velvet. The weapon of the
detective gave him an advantage. One
fierce blow struck the back Of Cree.
CAMS head. and the man lurched heav.
lily to the floor.
Marshall, after an instant's painting
pause, got out his own torch and turn
ed its light on the scene. He saw
the woman crouching miserably against
the wall. On, the floor the thief was
moaning family. Then the detectives
eyes caught sight Of another object on
the floor. He bent and picked it up
a sheaf Of bills Of large denomination