The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-09-12
Two of
Them
They Met In a Vacant
House
By AGNES q. BROGAN

The European war had brought an
abrupt ending 10 Jack Hayden,s impor-
tant commission. sending him back
Unexpectedly 10 his own country. He
was not surprised, therefore, at finding
the old homestead vacated and his sis
ter Cynthia away, presumably upon
one Of her customary visits.
Cynthia insisted upon keeping up
the old estate and living In solitary
grandeur, while her brother traversed
the world In his civil engineering ca
pacity. His latchkey fitted now into
the lock with old time easiness. Going
upstairs to his room. now evidently 90
cupied by Cynthia. be IL q cigar and
threw himself into chair for a smoke.
He must have heen more tired than
he supposed. for the Cigar turned 70
ashes In his fingers and all became
oblivion. How long he slept he did
not know. It was a slight grating
sound which first attracted his atten-
ton. Then as his senses became moro
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 20 the yeranda 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.
ttnued a sharp instrument appeared
above the sill, and the catch was deft.
Iy moved aside.
Jack waited no longer. One swift
backward reach for his valise, and be
stood revolver in hand against the
paneling Of the wall There was nc
sound for moment but his own rapid
breathing; then the window was hung
up noiselessly and slim silhouetted
figure slipped into the room. Stimuli.
taneously with the click Of the electric
button came a sharp cry. instantly fol-
den. The figure standing under cover
Of his threatening weapon was the
figure Of a girl Little more than q
girl she seemed, at least, with her fan
hair curling In tendr1ls about the close
fitting 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
impercepdbly toward the open win
dow.
STAND STILL" Jack commanded.
The shock Of being confronted by
this small, appealing figure after his
tense. expectant waiting, unnerved
Jack Hayden strangely. His very fin
gers trembled at the revolvers hilt.
"Stt down." he ordered huskily. ST.
lently the girl obeyed. From the win
dow his keen eyes searched the MOON
Lit garden, the portico outside, for q
possible accomplice; then his gaze re-
turned to the girl
why are you hereT he asked
The young woman glanced over the
cleaning point of his revolver.
why are your" she said cooIly.
Hayden compressed his lips. "An-
swer me-" be insisted, before call
the police"
The girl smiled scornfu1ly. you
won't do that" she said, ut would be
rather too dangerous-for yourself"
She leaned forward suddenly. Have
you taken anything yeti" she asked
Because If you haven't and will go
away quietly no one need ever know
that you were here. I'm not as
calm as I look. Your revolver makes
me quite SICK"
Hayden bent toward her. what do
you meanf" he asked slowly. what
do you take me forT'
"What would any one take you for?'
the girl retorted who but q burglar
is found armed at night In q vacated
houseT
Jack stared, then laughed shortly.
80" he said, you think there are
two Of usi"
The girl sprang to her feet. 1.-TWO
Of usF' she cried Indignantly. "Do you
dare to think that r.
Certainly not" Jack answered sar-
castically. 81 merely supposed when
you SO skillfully pried that redr WIN
dow that you had dropped In 10 pay D
friendly call upon my sister, who Is
very evidently not at home"
The girl stood breathlessly regarding
him. ''Your-sisterl" she murmured
unbehevingiy. Cynthia Hayden your
sfster2"
In careless proof Jack handed to her
the double photograph. For a time she
looked from the original back again to
the picture, then, with crimson flush
ing face, returned the picture to him.
I'll did not know" she began blum
deringly, that you were here. lin
a new friend Of Cyntnia's, you see.
and promised her"-she paused un-
certainly, watching his face-"prom-
ised her that I'd stay and take care OF
the dog and cat, feed them until she
came back. We came In tonight on
the train together. I mean" she con-
t1nued desperately, "that Cynthia went
on, and / stopped over"
"And entered my sisters home"
Jack added caustically, through an
upper rear window"
II hadn't the key" the girl explain
ed. Cynthia bad given It to me, but
then there was a mistake, and-and I
had to get tn," she went on excitedly.
Il simply bad to. 1t was night, and
there was no place else to go. don't
know q living soul In this town, and
I'd lost my money, al Of II, or. rather.
Cynthia had taken my money and my
watch and rings and everything"
Anger died out Of Jack Hayden's
face. and pity took Its place as he
listened to the girls confused and in1,
probable tale But the hatpinT he
asked dryly. you're rather expert at
that trick, aren't youf"
ave often got IN that way" she re-
Piled ITS quite simple With a GER
tain sort Of window catch The outer
shutters were locked In the lower part
Of the house. That's why I had to
climb up by way of the tree"
sAnd your nameY' Jack inquired
tersely.
The girl flashed her white teeth at
him. Cecilia Celtona" she said.
To him the name sounded as fanclful
as her story. He recalled none like It
among his sisters acquaintance.
''You might" he suggested hopefully,
"havs some means Of Identification, a
card, perhaps, In your purseT
His prisoner raised her brows. "Cynr
thia has my purse. too" she said Then