The Press., 1922-12-14
"As a Thief in the
 Night :. By JANE OSBORN
fa ey Meclare Newspaper synd


 latch clicked behind her. She was half way up the clean brick walk who could be following so close be- hindf Turning square about she saw a man, tall and diminish, stOOping d little from the weight of things swung. over his shoulders, who halted as she. faced him, asking uncertainty: Are you Mrs. DancyH And did you get my letter?"
 "I am nOt-I did not" Janet an- swered ImperativeIy. My name is Ross, but live here with Mrs. Dancy. No letter has come from anybody within the last three days. l know, because take the mail from the box"
 The man gasped faintly. He was breathing hard. as though spent. T might have guessed as much" he said. 'There was nobody to meet me, but blundered on; tell me. please, what I had better do."
 "Sit down frst-anything else de- pends," Janet answered wearily. She had burdens enough already without taking on those of stranger. She noted amid the heterogeneous burden he thankfully dropped a folding easel, a sketchboOk and sundry odd-shaped parcels, in addition to a fine leather bag. much scuffed and plGste-ed half over with vari-cOlored labels. He slumped palpably on the bench placed in the curve of the path where the crape myrtle shaded 1t. Before she had settled what to say he went on: 'I was advised to come here-climate and quiet and that sort of thing, you know. I'm not exactly a tramp, but when you're just out after six weeks in hospital you're pretty much all in.
 Naturally" Janet commented. You would like to stay here while?"
 "As long as my money will let me, VI the newcomer broke in. My name is LOCdon-not that it matters-I sketch and draw things, for illustrations, you know. Jimmy Burton sent me here; he Is kin to Mrs. Dancy-
 aI know," Janet in turn interrupted. That being the case, l am sure you can stay. At least until you are strong again. She is very hospitable. Wait here, will send her to you; you can set things straight quicker face to face"
 By such means fate set Joseph Loudon down In the softly scented summer foothills, where every day had It's own charm miraculously unlike all other days. The sun was the miracle worker, helped by clouds and winds and mists ROse-red dawns followed others of the dearest azure, stormy sunsets, riotOusly colOred, supervened after mornings so perfect the wealth erwise fOreknew their treachery. Pine scent came in hot gushes from the background mountains, ever looming enchanted. And all about was the still yet pulsing life of the country side, inhabited fully but nowhere crowded. An oasis of eontentment 1t seemed to LoudOn-he was so wearied of strange tongues, strange cities, the stir and clash of changing human tides. Here there was neither poverty nor riches. Rather a spare yet thrifty plenty, exhaling the wholesome per fume of rest after labor and joy in morning light.
 Mrs. Dancy, plump. silver-haired, motherly, had taken him almost liter ally to her heart. He bettered magi- cally under her cherishing, accepting 1t so gratefully he could but wonder how Janet Ross managed to hold 1t aloof. A queer girl, he decided; not handsome nor brilliant, yet with pO- tentialities. At first he had set her down as machIne-made-the type ground out in myriads by the mill of school and college. But presently he had surprised something of reality, that showed him depths almost tragic. heights that might be dangerously alluring. But these discoveries neither explained nor Justified her civilly re- pressed antagonism to the older wom- an- He gathered casually that she had grown up In the house; she was evidently free of 1t, yet he had. some how a sense that her position was something anomalous. When the rare visitors came she almost immediately vanished, making never an excuse. But that WAS less surprising than her solitary vigils; she occupied the se- eluded east wing, whose windows were always lighted long after midnight.
 Back to working strength, LoudOn ceased to speculate about her. He was still the fair-halred boy of his kind hostess-she thought nothing a trouble that added to his comfort. Her low-swung carriage and easy-go- ing ponies took him far and wide, up hill and down dale, seeking out beauty spots and trying to preserve some of their charm. Commonly Nose, the black house boy. drove, Ioltsring afterward to wait upon the painter, serving sometimes as model, Oftener as messenger or man of all work. LOudOn was nightly tempted to gos- sip with the lad, but held his curi- osity In check-it would be dastardly toe pry into things the woman who was so kind evidently cared to keep hidden.
 So summer slipped by until sul- try late-August morning of lowering mists and grUwling thunder. Mrs. Dancy reused him saying, hushedly, her face ashen: Wake up! You you must take Janet-she won't go with me-and she must not go alone" falling there into choking silence. In a daze LoudOn nbeyed. Presently he was driving through the stormy dawn, furiOusly, toward the station, Janef erouched beside him. her eyes burning In a stony face. A mile from the house she broke out. "YOu ought not to be here. Go buck. Nobody should go with me on such an errand"
 Let me judge for both of us," LOudon answered; T do not ask what 1t is-only know there Is great need"
 But you must knOw," Janet said; T go, God be thanked. to see my mother die. She had a life sentence for murder. Now will you go backT"
 Not if an army tried to stop me-"
 ..N