Smyrna times., 1919-05-28
WHAT NIGHT!
%-
BY LINCOLN RoTHBLUM.

1
sweeping down from Newfoundland,
had buried the entire city in a heavy
blanket of white. It was but nine
O'Clock this Saturday night and the
elements, unreStrained, played at will
In the empty streets.
| Doris, wrapped up in a bathrObe of
carmen-cOlOred corduroy, pushed the
hassOck closer to the fire and Snuggled
In the comfortable warmth of the burn
ing logs.
Just year ago tonight" she MUIR
INJURED dreamily, "but it was not so
cold"
| Come, Sis" demonstrated a cOmely
lad OF sixteen, who squatted Indian
fashion, close by her, you mustn't al
ways figure how long it is since that
day. I'm big enough to know what
men do, and I'll bet my new rifle STAN
ley Chalmers amt no coward. What'n
| you bet?"
The boy extended his cramped legs,
and cooking them up before him,
clasped his hands about his knees. He
knew he would again hear the entire
account Of why his sister broke her
engagement with Stanley Chalmers,
and he wanted to be comfortable dur
ing the recital.
1T was not so cold as it is tonight"
Doris began, as If reciting a we'll
learned lesson, when we turned the
corner Of Dorchester and SaxtOn
streets. He had just been telling me
| would oil ,hovA
notwithstanding fellow bumped into
me and swOre out terrible oath. 1
surely expected Stanley would knock
him down. but all he did was grab my
arm and hustle me Off"
'When we got hOme," she continued,
pulling the bathrObe closer about her,
"you were in the hall and heard me
tell him 1 could never marry cow
ard"
"Aw, I guess I'll get some more
wood" Bob answered practically, and
in an effort to change the subject, ''the
fires dying down."
In few moments Bob returned from
the kitchen, his arms laden with rough
ly chopped pine bOughs. AS he crossed
the threshold between the two rooms
and stopped to adjust his burden, from
the upper regions of the house terrif-
ic crash reverberated. The wood
dropped from his arms and he dashed
across the room swiftly to his sister.
'What is it?" his lips formed the
words his voice refused to utter.
"We must see who 1t is" she whis-
pered, thoroughly frightened, and
grasped the rod used to stir up the
embers.
They must get help. With a dash
through the short hail. they threw open
the porch door. Doris shrill call was
lost in the sbrieks of the wind
What went there? Was that a man,
bucking the gale? Was that figure
envelOped in great coat a real man
sent by Providence to help them in
their predicament? Would he pass
their house? Did he not hear them7
"Help! Help!" they called out in
unison, "we're being robbed! There's
murderer upstairs! Helpw
The man did hear. He was turning.
He was coming towards them. AS he
vaulted the low stOOp. Bob pointed.
upstairs"
He cleared the first three steps with
a single bound, ignoring the poker
Doris mutely held out. Better that
than nothing" she subcOnsciOusly
thought, and followed up in his wake
Into one bedroom and then the other
he cast the glare of his pocket fash
light. Under the beds and in the clos
cts, no corner escaped his rigid In
spectiOn. And then into the bathroom.
The door stubbornly refused to open.
Someone was holding 1t. They en-
tered the bathroom and the door
banged tight as the flashlight went out
Alone in a dark bathroom with a
strange man and a burglarl
What a night!
Doris screamed.
The man located the electric switch
and light filled the room. A slight stir
against the opposite wall brought them
about face on the defensive. And they
saw-an extension leaf to the dining
room table slip from its mOOrings and
Join its mate at the bottom of the
bathtub in a crashing embrace.
The man laughed. Doris sank to the
floor. He assisted her down the stair
way, where Bob sat in frightened pa
tience. In a few moments she was
composed.
"That we found no burglar does not
lessen my gratitude, Mr."
The man lowered the high collar
closely concealing his head.
"Stanley" Doris gasped.
"Didn't / tell you he was bravel"
yelled Bob, pulling the hero toward the
fire.
And as they gathered about its COM
forting warmth, Doris looked up into
ewes Of soft brown and gently asked ::
"But, Stan, won't you explain about a
year ago"
\ The man squared his shoulders. Il
knew that the fellow wouldn't hurt
| pr1f