Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-18
BY FRANK L. PACKARD
(AUTHOR or TIE MIRACLE MAN")
= Copyright 1873. by Public Ledger Company

were safe from Dago Georges reach, to
watch you, and get the money myself
IL l could. DO you understand? =.
when came here tonight, / did
not think that you had yet got the
George said made me think that per-
haps you had, and that perhaps he
thought so, too. And so ] sat there H.
my room in the darkness waiting until
oil was quiet In the house, and could
steal into your room and search, IT. i
could get in through either door or win
dow; and then, whether j got In or
not, or whether the search wns success
full or not. l meant to wait until tho
drug had worn itself off sufficiently to
enable me to arouse you, nnd tell you
to get away.
And then. do not know what time
1t was, ] heard some one steal up the
stairs and go TO the door Of your room.
and work at the lock very, very quietly.
and go into your room, and move
around in there. 7 waa listening then
with my ear to the partition, and |
could just make out the sounds, 10
more. | should never have heard any
thing had | been asleep there was
never enough noise to have awakened
Inc.
The footsteps went downstairs. then.
and i opened my door and waited until
heard them. louder. as though eau
ton were no longer necessary. on the
| second landing; and then ] stole down
stairs myself. There was light in
Eago Georges room. II came through
the fanlight. The door was closed. But
by leaning over the banister of the lower
Fight of stairs, / could see into the far
end of the room through the fanlight.
He had package in his hand. 1t was
torn ut one corner, and from this he
pulled out what ] could see were q
number Of yellow back banknotcs.
He looked Mt these for moment,
then replaced them in the package, and
went To his safe. He knclt down in
front OF it, laid the package on the
floor beside him, and began to open the
| safe. ] heard some one moving above
then, and I tiptoed back. and hid in
what seemed TO be a small private din
ing room on the second floor. | heard
some one go quietly down the stairs, and
then i came back here to my room to
| wait until ] could arouse you. The
| money was in Dago Georges safe. IL
would be there until morning ut least,
and on that account it no longer con-
cerncd me for the moment. And then
after long time | heard you move in
your room. It was safer TO come this
way than to go out into the hall, for
| did not know what Dago George
might intend TO do with you. or with
me either, now that he had the money.
He would not hesitate to get rid of us
both II his cunning prompted him TO
believe that was his safest course. And
| | was afraid Of that. Only you and
]. besides himself. knew anything about
| that mOnCy--and he had got It into his
| possession. DO YOU understand? When
| heard you move. | started through
the window to 80 TO YOU, and-and YOU
saw me-.
Dave Henderson had sunk his elbows
on the iron railing. hia chin resting in
| his hands. and was staring at the
! strange. flutcd skyline where the
points up into the night. It was long
time before he spoke.
ITS kind Of queer. Teresa" he said
slowly. "It's kind Of queer. You're
something like n friend of-like mar
| know. It's kind Of queer. Well
you've given me my chance, you've
riskcd your life to give me my chance,
you've played as square as any woman
God ever made--and now what are you
going to do?'
She drew in her breath sharply
ms though startled. as though his word,
we're foreign. startlingly foreign to any
thing she had expected.
"1-have / any choice:' she an
swered. II know where the money is
and | must notify the authorities.
must tell the police so that they can
get it,"
Dave Henderson's eyes. Il curious
smile in them that the darkness hid
| shifted from the skyline to the little
dark figure before him.
And do YOU think / will let you tell
the police where that money iS?" H.
laughed quietly. "Do you? Did you
think you could come ana tell me just
where it was, and then calmly leave
me. and walk into the police station
with the news--and get away with it?''
She shook her head.
II know - she said. "You think it.,
! a woman \ inconsistency. 1t isn't
/ didn't know what you would do.
all, huve told you what ! intend t.
! do. il possibly can. I had to tell You
hrst. II | was to be- hUucst all thc
way with myself. | had fret Of all to
be honest with you. After that wHs
! free. | don't know what YOU will do.
! don I see what YOU Cau do now, Eut
if you keep me from notifying the p"lic"
tonight--thcrc is tomorrow and after
that another tomorrow. No matter
what happens, to you, or to mr. ! am
going through with this. T'-hcr voice
chokcd suddenly-"I have to.
Dave Henderson Strengthened up
~ believe you - he said under his
breath. after what you've done, Ill
be fool if l didn't. And you're Offer
ing me square fight. aren't you.
Teresa" He was laughing in that
quiet, curious way again. "Well. I'm
not sure l want to fight. Just before
l found out that money was gone l was
wondering If l wouldn't give it baci.
| myself"
Dave! 1t was the first time she
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