, 1919-08-21
Friend Burglar
n
BY R. RAY BAKER
Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)


A twig snapped and a light flashed.
lnez Lawton jumped. 1t seemed that
she went at least three feet straight
up, but she afterward admitted that
the distance was probably
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 a 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, yea from fright.
but managed IL steady herself by back
ing against the trunk of a tree.
Her nerves somewhat Gained by the
race, she clasped a weapon in her
right hand and waited. The weapon
was one of those long, sharp instru-
ments used to keep hats from blow
ing from heads.
Two more twigs were released
from pressure and voiced resentment
at being crushed by a foot. The light
flashed on again and remained steady,
circling round the glen in a m%enacing
manner as if determined that no OBJ
ject, large or small, should go unre-
vealed.
But a bush interposed between Inez
and the fiashlight, 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 move !" warned a
harsh masculine voice. 'Tve 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-
WINGED. Even in those oment OF
what appeared to be dire peril she
chided herself for so recklessly ven
turing into the haunt of the hotel
burglar. She should have known he
would be lurking somewhere in the
Avonshire woods, waiting for night to
come so he could ply his trade.
A spirit of adventure, however, had
prompted her to accept Bessie Elv-
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 hat she was approach
more a~pprehensive.
Finally she was forced to the belief
h a she was lost, INT had wandered
about aimlessly until she came across
the dark glen in which she was now
being obliged to pay for her intrepid
ity.
Il vas a fool" she told herself,
while her teeth ratified. I'm in the
worst plight imaginable. Here l stand,
helpless before that desperate man
hi has terrorized the resort for three
weeks
The light found her and rested on
Iti Al lew StCOlluS. II SIONeu II SILL.
light-haired girl, with a small, rather
round face, standing at bay, back
against a tree. Her big hat was tilted
on n side of her head with a rakish-
ness that was not intended.
A laugh came from the man with
the light. whom she could not see.
Inez shuddered.
"a grill" exclaimed the harsh voice.
"A girl! andy George! it's Inez
Lawtoni"
She started. Surely this robber
could not know her.
who are.youY" she demanded in as
firm tones as she could muster.
He turned the light ON his own face.
She almost screamed, but she man
aged to stifie 1t. so that the sound that
came from her throat was more like a
gasp or IL groun.
Chester Straight !" she said weakly.
"You-you of all men! To think that
you-that you-"
The situation was too much for her.
The intense fear she had experienced,
coupled with the revelation that tile
man who stood before her was the one
she had once promised to marry, over
came her. nez Lawton. for the first
time in her life. knew what ii was TO
faint.
Chester Straight had attended col
lege with her. and while they had not
fallen In love at first sight 1t had not
taken them long to become seriously
fond of each other. On the day they
xyara graduated than haaana .,w...