Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-09-04
Friend Burglar
u
By r. RAY BAKER
A WE snapped and a lIght dashed

N@h~ "tAh 80 RNAPA AhANS AN1A nAk IA
up, but she afterward admitted that
the distance vas probably no more
than one.
The snap of the twig was ominous,
and the light was weird, casting long,
fantastic shadows that cavorted above
and around the trees In u way to give
one a creepy sensation. Inez expert
enced chills all over her body and her
teeth Chartered. She felt herself sink
Ing to the ground, weak from fright,
but managed to steady herself by back
Ing against the trunk of a tree.
Her nerves somewhat Gained by the
brace. she clasped a weapon in her
right hand and waited. The weapon
was me of those hong, sharp instru-
ments used to keep hats from blow
ing from heads.
Two more twigs we're released
from pressure and voiced resentment
at being crushed by a foot. The light
dashed on again and remained steady,
rircllng round the glen in u menacing
manner as If determined that no OBJ
lect, large or small, should go unre-
vealed.
But a bush interposed between Inez
and the hashlight, which tried in vain
to penetrate to the place where she
was standing.
Some more noisy twigs indicated the
holder of the light was approaching
with steady strides. She held her
ground, determined to put up a fight.
Presently the brush was pushed back
and the sweeping arc of light almost
found the girl. A hand reached out in
front of the bullseye and pointed a
formidable looking object at her-a
long, narrow object that reflected the
light.
Don't dare to novel" warned q
harsh masculine voice. 1--WE got you
covered"
The hatpin fell from the girls nerve
less grasp and she trembled again. She
was as good as dead, she felt con,
vinced. Even in those moments OF
what appeared to be dire peril she
chided herself for so recklessly ven
turing into the haunts of the hotel
burglar. She should have known he
would be lurking somewhere In the
A%vonshire woods, waiting for night to
come so he could ply his trade.
A spirit Of adventure, however, had
prompted her to accept Bessie Ely
ridges dare to walk alone through the
woods back to the hotel and run
chances OF meeting 'friend burglar
as she loosely called him.
She had started out bravely enough,
but as darkness approached and she
saw no signs that she was approach
Ing the hotel she became more and
more a~pprehensive.
Finally she was forced to the belief
that she was lost, and had wandered
about aimlessly until she came across
the dark glen In which she was now
being obliged to pay for her intrepid.
lily.
Il was a fool" she told herself
while her teeth ratified. I'm in the
worst plight imaginable. Here l stand
helpless before that desperate mar
who has terrorized the resort for three
weeks"
The light found her and rested OF
her a few seconds. 1t showed a slim
light-haired girl, with a small, ratllel
round face, standing at bay, back
against a tree. Her big hat was tilted
on one side of her head with a rakish
uess that was not intended.
A laugh came from the man witt
the light, whom she could not see
Inez %shuddered.
"A girl ~ exclaimed the harsh voice
"a girl! andy George! it's Inc,
Lawton"
She started. Surely this robbel
could not know her.
"Who are your" she demanded in a,
firm tones as she could muster.
He turned the light on his own face
She almost screamed, but she man
aged to stifie it, SO that the sound tina
came from her throat was more like +.
gasp or q grOan.
Chester Straight !" she said weakly
"You-you of all men! To think tina
you-that you-"
The situation was too much for her
The intense fear she had experienced
coupled with the revelation that tlu
man who stood before her was the on
she had once promised to marry, over
came her. IneZ LawtOn. for the frs
time in her life, knew what 1t was +
faint.
Chester Straight had attended col
lege with her, and while they had no
fallen in love at first sight it had no
taken them long to become seriousl
fond Of each other, On the day the
were graduated they became engaged
teach music and wait for him to max
a name for himself, and some world
wealth to go with it. A year late
Chester wrote her that the propose
marriage could never be, because h
had contracted tuberculosis so he /,
leased her from her obligation.
Don't expect to hear from m
again." ne wrote. 81 must wipe tn
memory of you from my mind" He il
sisted that she keep the ring, and sh
did.
That was the last letter she eve
received from him, but she wore ii
token of their engagement, decidin