, 1922-02-04

a Parsonage. Would - yo1
wear your gray frock II you were ne,
as something quiet and suitable In
tnstey"
he VIII probably not know vheth-
e. ynur frock Is gray or red Grace
assured her; -the mans head Is so fun
Of ethics and fsnS.'"
SO thst evening Cynthia decided to
remain at home alone. while the 9TH
ers attended the lecture. She wished
to rest after her journey. and to pre-
pare herself for the treat OF the next
night to come.
Grace pointed out to her the lighting
button beneath the stair In the lower
hall as they departed
when II grows dark sire gu
toned. press the button to light the
upper hall before you ascend. We
Will leave the verandR and garden
lights going"
II was truly q pretty sight. the 1T
tie electric bulbs cleaning here and
there among h trees. making the
grounds as bright as day. Far out by
the lake the hotel windows CLEANED
as with a hundred eyes. and she could
glimpse the gny colors OF the throng
In the amphitheater.
One by one cottage doors were
locked. is at the toll o. the bell their
inmates hurried OF to meeting.
II came upon Cynthia presently
that in the vast. lighted stiffness she
wal a creature alone. Alone 10 her
treevauited cathedral. the wash Of
he waves came 10 her rhythmicnlly,
d~istantly. II was rather eerie. She
laughed softly at the s,rangeness Of
the situation. She would go to the
upper yeranda and rend. she decided.
some thrilling magazine taia that
would put from her mind for the time
empty locked houses aud queer %rustling
sounds In the grass.
She found the designated button
and pressed II. so that when she came
TO the top OF the stnirs the hall was
lighted to receive her. She left It so
and went out TO her favorite seat In
the hammock. The tale was most
absorbing: In its peruSal she forgot
the Assembly, the absent friends, the
very balcony upon which she was sit
ting.
Enthrnlled, she bent lower over the
book md then-Cynthia stretched
forth her hands; n deep, impenetrable
darkness enveioped her. darkness
around about. darkness as she strained
her eyes above. As realization came
slowly. her heart resumed Its normal
beating. OF course, Il was the cleo
tricity which had failed: in a mo-
ment IL would he on again.
But far away twinkied the lights OF
the hotel. and the amphithenter was
stili brilliant. Cynthia remembered
uncomfortnbly the large sum Of money
which she had been chlded for bring
ing md which still remained In the
sntchel IN her room. Was II possible
that some one had learned of her
|, carclessness7 II so. great was his
opportunity.
The lighting button, she remem-
hered, could only be manipulated In
the lower hall, and even II She might
feel her way across this upper bal
cony. had she the courage to 60 alone
down the dark boxed-in stalrs1 She
would make n pretense of having a
companion II the thief were in hid
Ing. that might intImldnte him. She
would see.
Mrs. Miller" she called loudly.
She recalled hat Grace had SO called
her ~neighbor. airs. Miller. what
shall we do about it?' and almost as
Cynthia spoke, the lights blazed on.
For one Jong moment 'sh stood
white-faced n alone in the glare,
then as suddenly was again left in
darkness.
Her knees failed her now. as she
sank back upon the hammock. There
was no doubt about It. A thief had
discovered her helplessness, and had
also located the thick roll OF bills
in her bag. S%tealthily, yet unmlstak-
ably, cnme the sound OF some one
moving up the rough stair. She could
distinctly hear the muffied breathing,
the pauses made as IL to listen.
"Who is there7" she cried. her voice
shaking. Silence answered. Then.
presently. on again came the shutting
across the boards, nearer, nearer. II
there were only a glimmer of light,
TINT she might find a way to escape.
To wait In the darkness was unbear-
able.
From the amphitheater came the
song Of a hundred singers. What use
to call for help II help were needed
A heavy body brushed the screen
door at her YER side. Desperately
Cynthia arose and CROPPED along the
railing. At the front was a pillar. n
round, veranda pillar. If she could
find this, clasp her arms about II and
slide TO the ground. She would try.
An instant she stood dangerously sus-
pended upon tho narrow outer ledge.
One high-heeled white slipper felt its
why, then Cynthia slipped safe,.y and
breathlessly to the ground.
Swift as her own descent the lights
finred on again. and she found her
self stirring wide-eyed and startled
into the bewiidered face of a man
crouched upon the lower step.
"By JoveI !" muttered the man.
"You-you cowardi" hurst out Gym
thia.