Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-11
I6e
Midnight Man
40
By GEORGE ELMER COBB
Copyright 1913. ~ n. Western Ns-s-
PAPER UHtsAl


rand. thst motherly hearted lady was
solcitous and helpful There was
something about the silent dienraca
man that enforced respect, ara his
attentions 10 her daughter, fuciQo.
delicate and sincere. hsd woa the LAT.
fer. too
Mrs nurnnd was s widow ana had &
hard tine getting along and Lnclpe
worked with q Eest ana u~nc0mplaiR-
fnrly. She was educated and rchued.
During Wards Illness mother and
daughter divided TIE most perfect
care Of him. In addition to thar MI
Ward loved music. ana L WAS his de
light afternoons 70 leave the door Of
his room open while iucilie IN The
parior played for him his favorite
trDes
Just SIS Ward was getting well Mrs
Durand was taken in and died, While
saying little, as VAS his way. Ward
deeply svmpathized In the fervent
grief OF the stricken orphan girl. Mrs.
Durand had died deeply IN debt He
volunteered to clear up her affairs as
much ss possible without distressing
Lucille.
at viii be necessary 70 sell sl OF
The furniture and lease in order to pay
be debts" he said.
az don't know what I shall de-"
spoke Lucille depressedly.
II have tried TO think out a way FOR
you" replied Ward. 81 am q man 81
few words and ! can eondense my rec
ommendation briefly. Marry me."
She regarded him IN profound won
derment. Then a slight flush W
spread her sorrowful face, but she ~
manned silent.
"You know little OF me" proceeded
Ward. and I shall tell you nothing
more thar that l am an honest r.
spectacle man OF clear record will e
great liking for you and 8 fair income
! do moi uppose you fee auy thins
deeper for me than the kindly infe~es
in everybody that is natural te a
but I shall make It the obts% q Cy
life TO bring o happiness
They were welded and sa%lPE Sow
in q pretty cottage a. FveraeaH- e
quiet suburb. Ward wss al HhsJ WIS
chivalric and thoughtful, hut he never
explained the business that tnOk hin
each afternoon 70 the city and be a.
ways came home on the last rrAin
II got TO be 90 that the ~ne4shbars be
gan to get curious and designated hin
as "the midnight man" and all this
secretiveness and mystery troubled
Lucille. She grew still more une2Sy
when. one day accompanying her hus-
band on the train to the city, as Ward
went forward TO the smoker one Of
two men passing him In the aisle said:
wasn't that Bob Ward who was In
the state penitentiary for so many
years?"
A nameless dread chilled Lucille's
heart. Penitentiaryl Had her hus-
band been an inmate of a penal insti-
tution-a criminal. a convict!
A few days later Lucille endured
new distress of spirit. At their little
home her husband had a room which
held some bookcases, q desk, and
which was his special den. Lucille
lOuhu hhC 0OoL WYNN oAC NhOooSu thS l
room to open the window for ventila- !
ton and could not help but notice in
an open cabinet weapons. handouts, |
and what she decided was a set of
burglars tools. She fed precipitately
from this Bluebeard closet and was
wretched and fearful all that day.
1t was late that night when Lucille !
awaiting the return of her husband
heard a strange noise in the den. She |
threw open the door Of the den and
the light from the other room revealed |
a startling sight.
A man had got half through the out
side window and the sash, with an
old-fashioned catch. had imprisoned
him there, his body half In the room |
de could be nothing less than a thief
Lucille realized. She acted speedily |
bravely. Selling the pair of handouts
from the cabinet she rushed at him
and slipped them over his wrists n |
then held him at bay with a leveled
weapon.
Come quick - she cried GREATNESS |
ly, as she heard the footsteps of her
husband on the porch, and fiuttered !
forth her sensational story as Ward
entered the room.
"One of the spies of the Trust, eh," |
spoke Ward, after a keen glance at the
captive. after some Of my incrim
mating papers? Well, they this dag
passed into the hands of the govern |
ment, and the case will come On to
morrow. Your occupation is gone, M
man, for after a years work / have
traced down the hundreds of thou
sands of dollars of which the Trust
has swindled the government.
He coolly released the captive and
thrust him out of the house. Then he
turned to Lucille with his customary
welcoming kiss.
my brave little woman !" he com
mended. you faced a desperate Grim
jnal, for that man Is a dangerous con
Wet. once In my keeping when l was
a prison warden"
"And not an inmate |" With a wild
cry of relief and Joy Lucille threw
herself into the arms Of the husband
she had distrusted. A few days later
Robert Ward received a large fee for
his services In running down the off
ciais of a high up but dishonest, Trust
al .4ilAt AAld Tho yan> Ehn