The Press., 1920-01-15
73ie Midnight Man @<D
(Copyrsght, 1919, by the Western News
 paper Union.)
By GEORGE ELMER COBB

the boarding house of Mrs. Mary l'u- rand. that motherly hearted lady was solicitous and helpful. There was something about the silent, d1gnlhed man that enforced respect, and his attentions to her daughter, Lucille, delicate and sincere, had won the lat ter, too.
 Mrs. Durand was widow and had a hard time getting along and Lucille worked with zest and uEconpaln- ingly She was educated and refined.
 During Wards illness mother and daughter divided the most perfect care of him. In addition to that MT. Ward loved music and it was his de- light afternoons to leave the door or his room open while Lucille in the parlor played for him his favorite tunes.
 Just as Ward was getting well Mrs. Durand was taken i'll and died. While saving little. as wHS his way, Ward deeply sympathiZed 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 as possible without distressing Lucille.
 .It will be necessary to sell all of the furniture and lease in order to pay the dehts," he said.
 q don't know what I shall do, spoke Lucille deprcHscdly.
 q have tried to think out W"N for you," replied Ward. 'I am man of few words and I can condense my rec ommendation briefly. Marry me"
 She regarded him in profound won derment. Then a slight flush over spread her sorrowful face, but she re mained silent
 ''You know little of me-" proceeded Ward. "and I shall tell you nothing more than that I am an honest. re spectable man of clear record with a great liking for you and fair income I do not suppose you feel anything deeper for me than the kindly interest in everybody that is natural to you, but I shall make it the object Of my life to bring you happiness
 They were welded and settled down in a pretty cottage at EVerdeen, a quiet suburb Ward was all that was chivalric and thoughtful, but he never eyDlained the business that took him each afternoon to the city and he al ways came home on the last train. It got to be so that the neighborS be- gan to get curious end designated him as "thp midnight man" and all this sccretivencSs and mystery troubled Lucille. She grow still more uneasy when. one day accompanying her nus 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 penitcntiary for so many yearS?"
 A namcless dread chilled Lucille's heart. Pcnitentiary, Had her hus band been an inmate of d penal insti | tution-a criminal, 9 convict
 A few days later Lucille endured new distress of spirit. At their little home her husband had a room Whicl | held some hOoEcaS@s, a desk, ant | which was his special den. Lucille | found the door open. She crossed tlI room to open the window for ventila tiOn and could not help but notice il an open cabinet weapons, handcuifS and what she decided was d set Ot | burglar'S tools. She fled prociptatclN from this Bluebeard closet and was wrctchcd and fearful all that day.
 It was late that night when Lucille i awaiting the return of her husband | heard d strange noise in the den. Sht threw open the door of the den ant | the light from the other room revealed a startling sight.
 \ man had got half through the out side window and the sash, with al old-ra<hioned catch, had imprisoned him there, lis body half in the room He could be nothing less than thief Lucille realized She acted speedily | hruvcly. Seizing the pair of handcuff from the cabinet she rushed at hin and slipped them over his wrists an' then held him at bay with d levele' weapon.
 "Com" quick,' she cried breathless ly. as she heard lhe footsteps of he huShand on the porch, and huttere
 forth her sensational story as War
 entered tn" rc0:A.
 "One of the spie>: of the Trust, eh,
 spoke Ward. after d keen glance at tn
 captive "After some of my merlin
 mating papers? Well. they this da
 pass ed into the hands of the goVerl
 mcnt. and the case will come on tC
 morrow. Your 0ccunatiOn is gone m
 man. for after a years work l hay
 traced down the hundreds of thol
 x; nds of dollars of which the Trus
 has sWindled the government
 He coolly released the captive an , thrust him out of the house. Then h
 turned to Lucille with his cuStOmar welcoming kiss.
 My brave little WOman." he con
 mpndcd, "yoH faced a desperate erin inal for that man is dangerous col
 vict once in my keeping when l wa a prison warden"
 "And not an inmate!" With vii l cry of relief and joy Lucille thre herself into tie arms of the huSban l >Lp had d;StlllstCd. A few days late : Robert Ward received d large fee f. g his services in running down the of l riHl> of high up but dshonest Trus l and Lucille never told the man Sl , TOW loved and trusted so dpvotedly
 thr dark hours when she had bee haunted by an apparent mystery his life.