Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-10-04
Two of
Them
They Met In q Vacant
House
By AGNES q. BROdAN

~ hOiNIo Os O<UuAiN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The European war had brought IN
abrupt ending to Jack Hayden's irnpor-
tant commission. sending him back
unexpectedly to 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
tho old estate and living In solitary
grandeur. while her brother traversed
the world In his civil engineering ca
pacity. His iatchkey fitted now into
the lock With old time easiness. Going
upstairs to his room. now evidently oc-
cupied by Cynthia. he lit q cigar and
threw himself into q chair for q smoke
He must have been moro tired than
be supposed. for the cigar turned to
ashes In his nngers and all became
oblivion How long he slept be did
not know. II was q slight grating
sound which nrst attracted his atten-
ton Then a. his senses became morS
alert be discovered q 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 vcranda 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 shadowA A the grating con
ttnued a sharp instrument appeared
above the sill. and the catch was deft-
" moved aside
Jack waited no longer. One swim
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 tho window was flung
up notselessiy and slim silhouetted
figure slipped into tho room Stimuli
faneously with the click Of the electric
button came sharp cry. instantly fol
lowed by a low exclamation from Hay.
den The figure standing under cover
Of his threatening weapon was the
dgure Of girl Little more than q
girl she seemed. At least. with her fair
hair curling In tendrils about the close
hitting velvet turban, which 20 reaem-
HE'D a 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
Imperceptibly toward the open win
dow.
stand still" Jack commanded
The shock Of being confronted BY
this small. appealing figure after bis
tense. expectant waiting. unnerved
Jack Hayden strangely. His very m
gers trembled a the revoiver's hiit.
-SK down." be ordered huskily 81
iently the gil obeyed From the vim
dow his keen eyes searched the moon
III garden. the portico outside for .
possible accomplice; then his gaze re-
turned to the girl.
why arc you hereY' he asked
The young woman glanced over the
cleaning point OF his revolver.
why are your" she said cooily.
Hayden compressed mis- lips. AN
swer me-" he insisted. before l call
the police
The girl smiled scornfully You
won't do that she said. 1T would be
She leaned forward suddenly. Have
you taken anything YETI" she asked.
Because II you haven't and will go
away quietly no one need ever know
that you we're here. lin not as
calm as look. Your revolver makes
me quite sick"
Hayden bent toward her. What do
yon mean?" he asked slowly. What
do you take me forT'
What would any one take you for?"
! the girl retorted- who but burglar
is found armed Of night In vacated
house?'
Jack stared. then laughed shortly.
So he said. you think there are
two of us?'
The girl sprang to her feet Two
Of usr' she cried Indignantly "Do you
dare to think that r.
| Certainly not" Jack answered sar-
rastically. Il merely supposed when
you SO e.illfully pried that rear win
dow that you had dropped In to pay q
friendly call upon my sister. who Il
eery evidently not at home"
The girl stood breathlessly regarding
him "Your-sisterr" she murmured
unbelievingly. Cynthia Hayden your
sister,
In careless proof Jack banded to her
the double photograph For a time she
looked from the original back again to
the picture. then. with crimson fush-