The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-18
Two of
Them
They Met In q Vacant
House
By AGNES q. BROGAN

The European war had brought an
abrupt ending to Jack Hayden's impor-
tant commission, sending him back
Unexpectedly to his own country. BE
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 oc-
cupied by Cynthia. he lit a cigar and
threw himself into chair for a 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 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 noiselessly and slim silhouetted
figure slipped into the room. Stimuli
taneously 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
figure Of girl. Little more than a
girl she seemed, at least with her fair
hair curling in tendrils 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 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 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
The young woman glanced over the
cleaning point of his revolver.
why are your" she said coolly.
Hayden compressed his lips. can
swer me-" he insisted. before l call
the police
The girl smiled scornfully. "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 l look. Your revolver makes
me quite sick"
Hayden bent toward her. "What do
you mean?" he asked slowly. "What
do you take me forr'
what would any one take you for?'
the girl retorted. 'Who but a burglar
is found armed at night in a vacated
house?'
Jack stared, then laughed shortly.
80" he said. 'you think there are
two OF us?"
The girl sprang to her feet. 1.-TWO
of us" she cried Indignantly. do you
dare to think thatSI"-
Certainly not" Jack answered sar-
castically. Il merely supposed when
you SO skillfully pried that rear win
dow that you had dropped in to pay a
friendly call upon my sister. who Is
very evidently not at home"
The girl stood treathlessly regarding
him. "Your-sisterr' she murmured
unbelievingly. Cynthia Hayden your
sister,
In careless proof Jack handed to her
the double photograph. For time she
looked from the original back again to
the picture. then, with crimson flush
ing face, returned the picture to him.
IL did not know" she began blum
deringly. that you were here. I'm
a new friend of Cynthia's, you see.
and / promised her"-she paused un-
certainly. watching his face-"prom-
Used 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-