The Washington times., 1920-03-28

most
She cut on the words that would
have confirmed the truth betrayed
to the keen listener by the impul-
sive "ohl" and questioned instead
why do you ask?"
"My dear" Mrs. Dace said, don't
you know how the village is stirred
up about the burglaries3 You
must have heard about them. And
hasn't II ever occurred TO you that
this man is a total stranger? NO
body knows anything at all about
him d-and"-this burglar Is
a daredevil and won't stop at any
thing"
The warning voice broke on, and
the village gossip rushed ike
poisonous air into the librarians
fairy realm. She had not foreseen
that a thing so beautiful as her
love could scarcely outlive a rose
leaf. The awful suspicion be-
numbed her. AS II the words came
from a great distance she heard
Mrs. Dace say:
"Has 1t gone so far as this, Bar
bara?"
"You have seen, Mrs. Dace," she
answered, rising stiffly.
She went to the library as II
cropping through fog. II followed
her into the shelyed room, and II
made those who came for books
dim and spectral. One man, whose
home had been broken into a few
weeks before, gave the details OF
the latest burglary:
1.-THE scoundrel shot at Graham
night before last. But he'll soon be
up against 1t good and hard. Several
of the best detectives from New
York came down the other day, and
they have a plan that will soon put
the william where he belongs. He
will do just about one more rob
berry and them they'll have him."
Barbara was conscious that each
word was a stab, but she was un-
able to suffer. An icy numbness
held muscle and nerve and brain.
At S:45, his time for coming, she
was alone. She felt that she must
not see him, yet she could do moth
ing to avoid the meeting. Pres
emily his step sounded on the tiles,
alert, eager as 1t always was when
he came. She rose dazedly from
her chair. She was not afraid
only numb He came to the coun.
ter out of the fog.
Then, instantly-by the magic Of
her love-muscle, nerve and brain
were released. Never before had
she seen such a smile upon his
face. II told Of some new expec-
tation, some new ground for per-
feet happiness. She rose into SUI
preme eXaltation. Something had
driven away the anxiety that al
ways lurked under his smile.
Barbara" he said, in a voice
that uttered and echoed his glad
ness, 81 am a boy tonight. ! have
had such news. No-nOt tonight
| may be deceived-as I've been be-
fore. But God forbid. ! shall be
away tomorrow, but | shall come
in the evening as usual and then
then l will tell you all. 1t is al
ulOSl llulc W so " tHC u
but come with me little way
She delayed as she took her hat
from a hook. Why was he going
away? Had he heard of the plans
for capture and was he merely
making vulgar escaDe? For an
instant the numbness held her
again, but she drove it away. She
would be happy. She would never
let him know that she had har-
bored the suspicion for a second.
Yet all their evenings together had
given her right to know the
truth, and, returning to the coun-
ter. she said:
81 am excited tonight, Alfred.
Everybody is talking of the dread
full burglaries. They say the man
is a terrible, murderous criminal,
and everybody is alarmed. But he
can't keep on with his crimes very
long. A man was here this eve
ming and he said that the police
have plans that will soon lead to
his capture"
The book in his hand fell to the
floor. He stopped for 1t, but not
: before she saw that anxiety had
rushed back to his face. But when
he rose he was smiling again, al.
most as sunnily as before.
why should we waste our few
precious moments discussing such a
thing, Barbara" he asked. What
Is it to US If some man has a mis-
guided notion Of the rights Of prop
erty? Why should we distress our
selves If millionaire loses few
trinkets? Instead OF that we
should be happier than we have
ever been"
In twinkling she was scorning
herself. 1t was almost sacrilege to
suspect this man of low thievery.
What II his prowling at night and
his reticence regarding himself
had troubled her? She would not
let them do so again. She wished
to be happier than before, and she