Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-23

THE GRIP IN THE DARK


Rutherford found the taxi still waiting
in front of the house, and departed there
in In high dudgeon to his club and to din
ner After that function, partaken OF IN
austere silence, ne allowed three OF the
fellows, one being Monty, to lnVelsle MN
into a game of bridge. He and Monty
were triumphant by some 1900 points, and
he departed for home with a rising
barometer.
A few minutes vigorous exercise of the
same sort that he had given mis- uh-
welcome visitors, few afternoons BEFORE
made him feel quite fit and ready TO re-
tire, and he turned in to begin SOUND
and refreshing SLEEP unbroken by any OF
the mental perpleXities of the day. HIS
conscience, at any rate, was proved to be
clear, even though his brain had been
muddled
How long he slept he did not know-nor
why it was that he awoke with an uneasy
start He had heard nothing, at least
with his waking mind, but now he lay
rnotionless but with every sense alert
his eyes wide open, striving to pierce the
darkness.
He was sure that something or some
one was moving about in his room.
The figure was not erect; he would nave
seen it as a blurred shadow. 1t was
crouching or crawling in the darkness
along the floor.
Mike never came into his room after
ne had retired and he would have had
no cause to prowl around like beast on
all fours. No, this was some foreign pres
ence or person. But how silent it was!
He knew that he sensed rather than heard
the intruder lie scarcely breathed, so
intent was he upon locating and Identify
ing some sound.
Presently he was sure he detected
stealthy movement, as though the writh-
ing object were crossing the room. 1t
was coming in his direction, but he did
not move He felt no fear. Instead, he
was busy speculating in a detached sort
of way just what would be the best way
TO counter an attack. He had the trained
spnrtsmans caution. He had hunted big
game too often not to know that in his
own GOODNESS lay his greatest safety.
Holding himself in motionless alertness.
he made his ears do double duty. They
assured him of one stray fact after an
other. as to the visitors actions Grad
ually he discovered that In all likelihood
he had to deal with a burglar. but not an
ordinary second-story man. This was a
past master in the professional very
prince Of thieves! His motions were as
silent and yet as certain as though he
were a nocturnal creature gifted with the
power of seeing In the dark,
All! a quick, tiny flash of light that
vanished almost as soon as seen! His
prowling friend had an electric pocket
lantern. and had used it for reconnoiter-
ing purposes. One glimpse, however
seemed sufficient. for the flash did not
reappear. This man took no needless
chances; he made his wits do his work
he must indeed be the arch-burglar of
the tribe.
Rutherford lay upon his side. In the
exact position he had found himself when !
awakened. He could see very little, strain |
his eyes as he might. a chair, on which |
infprnngpl
itself dlmly between his vision and the |
window. Could his eyes be deceiving him? |
The chAir was no longer rigid, but had |
begun TO move-oh. so slightly! Still, by |
sighting 1t against the sharp line of the |
window-sill, he was sure II moved
The chair certainly was not moving OF
itself He knew that, extended along the !
carpet, the sinuous figure had reached |
forth long, white hand TO grasp il, and |
was slowly pulling 1t further back into |
the obscurity of the corner.
Rutherford waited for that moment, the |
time OF his opportunity, of which his in |
stinct would inform him. He watched the |
chair move barely half an inch at a time, |
until 1t was a little way from the bed. |
Then he heard faint sounds which told |
him that the hand had reached up and |
was searching through one pocket after |
another. He made no outward protest to |
this careful search; on the contrary, he |
suddenly devoted himself to giving a per- |
feet initiation of a man sound asleep. The |
tiny searchlight had swept across his face |
inquiringly. He 5reathed deeply and |
regularly and soon his was rewarded |
by "A slight motion OF his pillow. The de- |
termined and curious hand had slid un- |
derneath 1t.
His time for action had come. With |
the swiftness and agility of the sprinter |
leaping away at the tape, Craig flung |
himself clear OF the covers and with a /
nying stride was upon the burglar,
throttllng him.
Surprised and stunned the man went
down. craigs hand went out instantly /
from the elenched fist, and fung 1t across
the room
Now I've got you!" he breathed be-
tween set teeth.
The thief offered no resistance or dis
agreement TO this view; he simply lay |
supine under Craigs clutch Craig had |
released his hold upon the mans throat.
and this lack OF effort TO escape was un-
natural Nlnety-nine out OF a hundred /
burglars would have put up night. This /
WAS evidently the hundFedth, and his
very acquleseenee might show his SUI
periority 10 the average breed. Ruther-
ford knew too much OF human nature,
waited 70 a general working knowledge OF
burglars, 10 believe that the man would
submit 70 being taken without a protest
IIkaNise be had discovered, as he chung
fenacIoaaly 10 his quarry, that the per-
e1H underneath him was no less an ath-
ieIe illan he himself. Bith bone and sineW
ana n4ascle quite as hard as his own.
4s asst - cautious. therefore A
hnlnar necneniem Ike the one he grippad
Wez uaz e l@ caught and hauled 70
Justice HIIH4AI contest. cfaig Waa