Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-18
AN OUTSIDER 4 A SdeIsI gjFEs fSysntur'' firseg

gardens cold and empty In the moon
light.
And at this sight temptation to foil,
assailed her and the counsel of depai
prevailed.
There was none to prevent the attemp
and the drop from the window-sill tC
the turf was not more than 10 feet. Sh,
rlsked, It was true, sprained ankle, hui
she ran chance Of escaping. And ever
IL she had to limp down to the beach
there were boats to be found there-row.
boats drawn UP on the sand-and ther'
was the bare possibility that she might bt
able to row across the strait to tn,
mainland before her flight was dis
covered.
And even If overtaken she could be nc
worse off than she was. Every one be.
lieved her guilty; there was no way fol
her to prove her Innocence.
She might better chance the adven-
ture.
On frantic impulse, without giving her.
self time to weigh the dangers, Sally
switched of her light, sat down on the
window-sill swung her legs over, and let
herself down until she hung by the grir
OF both hands upon the sill
And then she repented. She was of q
sudden terribly afraid. Remembering toe
late the high heels of her slippers, she
discounted the certainty of a turned
ankle-which would hurt frightfully even
If 1t failed to incapacatate her totally.
For the life of her she could not release
her grasp, though already the drag Of
her weight was beginning to cause a
most perceptible ache in the muscles of
her arms.
She painted with fright-and caught her
breath on a sob to hear herself called
softly from below.
Miss Manwaring! For the love of
Mike"
Trego!
She looked down and confirmed recor-
milton OF his voice with the sight of his
upturned face of amazement. He stood
almost Immediately beneath her. Heaven
or the hell that brewed her misad-
Ventures-alone knew where he had come
from so inopportunely. STILL there he
was.
what are you doing? What's the
natter" he called again-and again soft
ly, so that his voice did not carry far
She wouldn't answer. For one thing,
she couldn't think what to say. The ex-
planation was at once obvious and un-
foolish of her.
Her hands were slipping. She gritted
her teeth and kicked convulsively, but de-
corously, seeking a foothold on the
S'''ONNh iuNc VI lllt wall IHdI WASH I1ere.
At this his tone changed. He under
stood what was happening. He came
more nearly under and planted himself
with widespread feet and outstretched
arms.
You can't hold on there any longer"
he insisted. Let go. Drop. I'll catch
YOU"
Only the modification of that prospect
nerved her aching fingers to retain their
grip as long as they did-which, how
ever, was not overlong.
She felt herself slipping, remembered
that she mustn't scream, whatever hap
pened, experienced an instant of shuddel-
Ing suspense, then an instantaneous eter-
nifty wherein, paradoxically, part of her
seemed still to be clnglng to the window
ledge while most of her was spinning
giddily down through bottomless pit,
saw the grinning moon reel dizzlly in the
blue vault of heaven-and with a little
shock landed squarely in the arms of
Mr.. TreGo.
He staggered to some extent, for she
was a solidly constructed young per-
son, but recovered cleverly-and had the
lmpudence to seem amused. Sallys first
impression on regaining grasp of her wits
was of his smiling face, bent over hers.
of low chuckle and then, to her COM
plete stupefaction, that she was being
kissed.
He went about that business, having
himself to it, in a most bust
ness-like fashion; he kissed (as he would
have said for keeps, kissed her Inns
hungrily. ardently, and most thoroughly;
he had been wanting to for n long timn.
and now that his time was come he
made the most of it.
She was at first too stunned and
qhnRkp6 n fut ~ O..
ment curious medley of emotions kent
her inert in his arms. of which the most
coherent was lunatic notion that she.
too, had been wanting just this to hap
pen, just this way for the longest time.
And when at length she remembered
and felt her anger mounting and was
ready to struggle. he disappointment SET
her down upon her feet.
There" he said with satisfaction
Now that's settled-and a good lob.
too" ... '
She turned on him furiously.
How dared you"
Didn't 1 deserve II, catching Won the
way l did?" he asked, opening his ewes
N mock wonder at her. "And didn't Won
deserve it for being so silly as to try
anything like that?" He jerked his bend
-oward that window. What on earth
possessed you
Don't you know? Don't YOU under
'tand?" she stormed. 'I've been accused
1f stealing Mrs. Gosnold's jewels-locked
up. You knew that surely!"
What an Internal outragel he cried
Indignantly. mo. l didn't know it. How
would I? The faltered-"I'ye beep bav.
ng troubles OF my own"
That drove In like knlfe-thrust tbs
memory of the scene in the garden with
Nrs. Artemas. The girl recoiled from
lim as from something indescrlbablv
oathsome.
on she cried in disgust, you ara
90 contemptlble!
A third voice cut short his retort a
iaI W,th from ABOVE, Hello, down therer'
low was alight again. and somebody was
Gaming mead and shoulders out.
Hello ! say! Is that the Manwarinv |
VomanT Stop her; she's escaping arresti,,