The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-18
Two of
Them
They Met In q Vacant
House
By AGNES q. BROGAN

The European war had brought a
abrupt ending to Jack Hayden's impor
tant commission, sending him bac
unexpectedly to his own country. 81
was not surprised, therefore, at fndin,
the old homestead vacated and his sis
ter Cynthia away. presumably upol
one of her customary visits.
Cynthia insisted upon keeping vi
the old estate and living in solitary
grandeur. while her brother traverset
the world in his civil engineering ca
pacity. His latchkey fitted now into
the lock with old time easiness. Coins
upstairs to his room. now evidently oc
cupied by Cynthia, he lit a cigar and
threw himself into chair for smoke
He must have been more tired than
he supposed, for the cigar turned to
ashes In his fingers and all became
oblivion. How long he slept he did
not know. 1t was a slight grating
sound which first attracted his atten-
ton. Then as his senses became more
alert he discovered a black capped
head upon the outer side of the win
dow, within direct range Of his vision.
There was no doubt the intruder had
climbed to the veranda roof and was
now at work loosening the clasp Of
the window. Darkness and silence
had added to the workers assurance
that the house was empty. With fas-
cinated eyes Jack Hayden watched
the black cap as he withdrew farther
Into the shadows. As the grating con-
tinued sharp instrument appeared
above the sill, and the catch was deft.
ly moved aside.
Jack waited no longer. One swift
backward reach for his valise, and he
stood revolver in hand against the
paneling Of the wall There was no
sound for moment but his own rapid
breathing; then the window was flung
up no1selessly and q slim silhouetted
figure slipped into the room. Stimuli.
taneously with the click of the electric
button came sharp cry, instantly fol.
lowed by low exclamation from Hay.
den. The figure standing under cover
or his threatening weapon was the
figure OF girl. Little more than
girl she seemed, at least with her fair
hair curling in tendrils about the close
hitting velvet turban. which so resem-
bled cap.
Her eyes met his, wide and startled !
while the hand which fell to her side
held but a long and jeweled hatpin.
This was the instrument he realized.
which had unfastened the latch. The
girl, still facing him, withdrew almost
lmperceptibly toward the open win
dow.
stand STILL" Jack commanded.
The shock Of being confronted bv
this small. appealing figure after his
tense, expectant waiting, unnerved
Jack Hayden strangely. His very fin.
gers trembled at the revolver's hilt.
"Sit down." he ordered huskily. 81.
lently the girl obeyed. From the win.
dow his keen eyes searched the moon.
lit garden, the portico outside. for a
possible accomplice: then his gaze re-.
turned to the girl.
why are you here?" he asked.
Inc young woman glanced over the
cleaning point of his revolver.
why are your" she said coolly.
Hayden compressed his lips. "An-
'wer me-" he insisted. before | call
he police"
The girl smiled scornfully. "You
won't do that" she said, st would be
'ather too dangerous-for Yourself"
She leaned forward suddenly. Have
'ou taken anything YETI" she asked
Because If you haven't and will go
way quietly no one need ever know
hat you were here I'm not as
aim as / look. Your revolver makes
ne quite sick"
Hayden bent toward her. What do
GU mean?" he asked slowly. What
10 you take me forf'
What would any one take you for?"
he girl retorted. who but a burglar
found armed at night In a vacated
ouse?"
Jack stared, then laughed shortly.
So" he said. you think there are
wo of us?"
The girl sprang to her feet 1.-TWO ,
usT she cried Indignantly. "Do you /.
are to think that r.
Certainly not" Jack answered sar. :
astically. Il merely supposed when
GU so skillfully pried that rear win !,
ow that you had dropped in to nav a r
riendly call upon my sister. who Is :
cry evidently not at home" /,
The girl stood breathlessly regarding :
I'm "Your-sisterr' she murmured !
Cynthia Hayden your :
ster?'
In careless proof Jack handed to her b
lie double photograph. For time she
oked from the original back again to r
lie picture. then. with crimson flush. >,
G face, returned the picture to him. :,
IL did not know" she began blum. 9,
'ringly. that you were here. I'm a.
new friend of Cynthia's, you see. n
I'd I promised her"-she paused un. :,
rtainly. watching his face-"prom. :,
ed her that I'd stay and take care of :,
e dog and cat feed them until she
me back. We came I'm toniph, or -.