The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-09-28
Ellnor was a little hurt.

| In the arbor, after dinner, they
planned the robbery. Where old Hill
airy would have taken month to think
and plan, they took minutes. There
was a ball at the club that night, the
last or the waning country-club season.
The entrance TO the grounds was
mile from the clubhouse--two iron
gates standing open between pillars,
and dense shrubbery all about. Talbot
would wreck his car there, driving into
one Of the gates. That would require
each departing cur to slow down, prob
ably to stop.
The arrangement was that Talbot
walk up to the club, and establish an
alibi and his innocence by telephoning
to city garage for help. The rest
was left to HUFF and Lethbridge. A
quarter of mile away across the golf
links, they would have a car In which
to mako their getaway.
Lethbrldge was only lukewarm.
wen get lot OF jewelry," he OBJ
Jected "What we need is money"
But Talbot was sure the loot would
include money.
1t was rather cleverly planned.
From the vault Hun brought up a fine
chain studded with spikes. Stretched
across the road outside the entrance, 1t
meant that every car passing over 1t
would limp along on fiat tires. 1t
meant time to the bandits.
Hun and Lethbridge, who had left
their car In thicket over the hill,
went first. Talbot followed soon, in
his gray car.
Good luck, boys" said Elinor in
! echo of her father, from her garden,
and went back into the house to watch
the clock. At one. or little sooner
| the summer dances were early ones
she was to be In her garden again. The
loot would be thrown over the wall.
She was there much earlier, hands
cold, lips shaking with nervousness.
Always old Hilary had done these
things. She was profoundly frightened.
Ward, walking rapidly home from
the club, saw her there, little after
midnight. There was young moon,
and at first he thought he must be mis-
taken. Then, when he was sure of her,
he ran up the shallow steps. The glad
ness that was over him rang out In his
| deep voice.
$50 now / have your secret" he said
gnily. Like all the other fairies, you
are only to be seen in the moonlight !"
'.Tn the daylight" said Elinor, trying
to smile. II frequent the woodlands.
and miss my most agreeable visitor
my only visitor" She corrected her
self.
Her hand was ice In his.
"You are coldw
Really. no."
There was minutes pause. They
had no common ground between them.
Ward. who dreamed of her eyes, and
took long walks up the hill In the mere
hope of seeing her In her garden,
found himself dumb, now that he stood
before her. He had meant to be most
impersonal, TO run In, say CHEEKY
good night" to her. and be off. But
face to face, with the dark house loom-
Ing over them, he plunged into the
thing nearest his heart.
"Are you still so--alone7"
"There are the servants"
Ell think of you often. One OF my
windows faces this way, and can see
a light burning very late"
II read at night. do not sleep well.
But you-you are up late, also"
"Ahl" He bent little toward her in
his eagerness. "You know that? You
! know my windowT
: "Yes. watch 1t very often"
( 1t was well for Walter Huff, crouched
| in the shrubbery at the country club
{ eyes glitterlng, automatic revolver in
! hand, that he did not hear the thrill
. in Wards voice that night in Elinor's
! garden. or her soft reply.
Many things cried for utteranee IL
e Ward: his pitiful sense of the girl:
loneliness, yearning desire to com
i fort her, to be near her--even mor'
i that magic night, mad longing to hole
d out his arms aud coax her into them
e as one might coax some shy creatur,
of the woods.
l. But Elinor was suddenly aloof ant
e distant again. At any time now a ca
7, would come wildly down the hill, AM
n toss at her feet its defiance of law an,
ownership. What had she and thi
Is man before her in common? The thrill
it was in his voice now, but how quickl.
b, it would turn to loathing when h
n knewl She put out her cold hand, an
he took 1t.