Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-15
CHAPTER XVIII
GePaIdine. The Comforter

The round moon slipped down out
of the sky and sank behind the Jersey
hills, and with its disappearance
came blackness, except for that faint,
vague trace of glow in the western
horizon. Up from the sleeping city
there came now the plodding and the
rumble of the very earliest stirring of
drowsy life; huge, dim wagons drawn
by stolid thick-necked, heavy-rumped,
big-footed horses; a lonely elevated
train ratified and clattered in the dis
tance with sharp clearness, and pre-
sently another, the intervals between
them growing less as the darkness
hour, a policemans shrill whistle, the
sound of running feet, silence again;
then long, slow, dragging minutes. In
the east q faint radiance began to
appear, not streak of light, but
lesser blackness, and with it's coming,
the bent figure in the window
Strengthened and sighed. The standing
figure, at the window in the other end
of the lounging-room, moved.
Hadn't you better go to bed, sir ?"
Burke extraordinary tall and spectre
like in his heavy striped robe.
mo, / think not" John Doe, his
voice quiet, full of patience. THE
nights are still little chilly, Burke"
Yes, sir" The hint was enough.
Burke touched n match to the paper
and kindlings in the big fireplace, and,
as the flames leaped up, the first
light since midnight came into the big
lounging-room, and revealed the old
man as still dressed, from pumps to
white tie, just as he had been when
he came in from the theater. 1t had
been a very dull show, and the fold
ing opera glasses still lay on the table.
They had not been used. Box A had
been empty!
Burke looked at his watch, then
he went into the pantry. Presently
he came back with tray, and stop
ped at the mantel. He set up a glass
of the green liquid, and stood and
looked at it a moment, then he crossed
to John Doe with his tray.
L thought you might like cup of
hot coffee sir"
THANK you" The old man drew
a tabourette beside him, but his eyes
were fixed on the glass of green LIQUID
on the mantel. Neither of them said
anything more. Burke set the tray
on the tabourette, and went back to
his post at the window in the far end
of the room, leaning, in tall case,
against the casing, and gazing SOM
berly down into the street, with its
long perspective of lonely lights.
The dawn was advancing now; there
was dull red streak in the east, al
was mist in the air. 1t would be a
gloomy day. John Doe slipped at his
coffee in silence.
There was the click of a key in the
latch. Burke Strengthened instantly
and turned John Doe set down his
coffee. The door swung open. and
Billy stood, for moment, framed
against the dim light of the hall. His
hair was matted upon his forehead
with the dampness of the night, his
cravat was awry, his face was hag-
gard, but his eyes. though there was
hollowness about them, were clear
and steady, and his mouth was firm.
lie swayed as he stepped into the
room and closed the door behind him.
but 1t was from weariness.
He walked across to the table. and
as Burke strode forward to meet him
he handed over his hat and gloves
and let Burke divest him of his top
coat.
You haven't been sitting UP all
night, Hal?" His voice was husky, and
there was deadness in it which fitted
with the deadness of his eyes. He
reached for a cigaret. The decanter