The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-06
Two of
Them
They Met In a 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. He
was not surprised, therefore, at finding
the old homestead vacated and his SIS
ter Cynthia away; presumably upon
one Of her Customary visits.
Cyrtnia 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 &C.
cupied by Cynthia. he lit 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 slight grating
sound which first attracted his atten-
ton. Then as his senses became more
alert he discovered 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 a 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 a sharp cry, instantly fol
lowed by a low exclamation from Hay
den. The figure standing under covel
of his threatening weapon was the
figure Of a girl. Little more than 9
girl she seemed. at least, with her fall
hair curling in tendrils about the clos
fitting velvet turban. which so resem
bled cap.
II Her eyes met his, wide and startled
while the hand which fell to her sid
held but a long and jeweled hatpin
This was the instrument, he realized
which had unfastened the latch. Thu
girl, still facing him, withdrew almos
imperceptibly toward the open win
dow.
stand STILL" Jack commanded.
The shock Of being confronted b.
this small, appealing figure after hi
] tense, expectant waiting, unnervet
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
possible accomplice: then his gaze re
turned to the girl.
"Why are you here? he asked.
The young woman glanced over tn
cleaning point Of his revolver.
"Why are your" she said coolly.
Hayden compressed his lips. "An
swer me-" he insisted. before I ca
the police"
The girl smiled scornfully. "Yo
won't do that" she said, 1T would b
rather too dangerous-for yourself.
She leaned forward suddenly. "Hav
you taken anything yet?' she asked
Because If you haven't and will 6
away quietly no one need ever kno'
that you were here. lin not q
calm as I look. Your revolver make
me quite sick"
Hayden bent toward her. What d
you meanT he asked slowly. "Wha
do you take me forT'
what would any one take you fori
the girl retorted "Who but burgla
is found armed at night in a vacate
house?'
! Jack stared, then laughed short.
$50" he said. you think there al
two Of us?"
The girl sprang to her feet. "Tw
of us!' she cried Indignantly. do 20
dare to think that-I'-
Certainly not" Jack answered sa
castically. 81 merely supposed whe
you SO skillfully pried that rear viii
dow that you had dropped in to pay
friendly call upon my sister. who
very evidently not at home"
The girl stood breathlessly regardin
him. !"Your-sister!" she murmure
unbelievingly. Cynthia Hayden yor
sister,
In careless proof Jack handed to ht
the double photograph. For time sd
looked from the original back again
the picture, then, with crimson fusl
ing face. returned the picture to him.
II IL did not know" she began blul
deringly, that you were here. III
new friend Of Cynthia's. you Sc
and / promised her'-she paused III