The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-01-11

IA
N quietly under the trees befor
. - the big gray house. The f
liage was young, verdant and ser
no sound made in their densenes.
Houses were so far apart on Il.
avenue that this one seemed TO stan
majestically alone, unafraid an
aristocratic in its genteel seclusior
There were no lights in the house
in fact the man recalled havm
passed it three previous nights, witt
cut seeing lights.
So much better for his night
work.
He drew closer to the house, wall,
ing only on the soft grass betwee
tall ANIMALS. There was not
sound anywhere. He looked at HI
watch, but was unable to see tn
time, and feared to turn his poke
searchlight on it. He felt, howeve.
that it was not later than 10 o'clocl
at the most.
He threw himself down in tn
thick grass to wait. He could al
ford to wait; better that than az
early visit that might terminate il
dire disaster. He folded his soft cap
placed it under his head and closCd
his eyes. Presently he heard voicei
that made his heart beat like trip
hammer. He could feign sleep
seen, so kept very quiet. 1t was til,
voice of girl and that of mar
probably boy, for they sat dot I
on a bench so close to the man thu
he could almost touch them. Lovers
to be sure. They laughed, joked
and ate candy. Presently their con,
versation turned to personal affairs
of very tender nature and the thiel
heard the man say, well. we are too
poor now to get married and times
are too hard to think of plunging
into it, SO we must wait. At any rate
we'll do the tbest we can. Right il
always right and wrong is always
wrong, and shall do my best and
probably next year. Yes"
This moral sermonette had no in
fluence on the man lying almos
within arms reach of them. En-
knew only too well what it meant to
slave for girl, girl who later be
came his wife and drove him to dis
traction trying to keep up with hel
demands. It still hurt him to thinl
she did not attend his trial, though
his downfall had been for her.
Another fool" he meditated. "Thl
same old bunk. He'll do it one way
or another. We don't all use a jim
my and a dark lantern"
Finally the couple left. The mar
got up, stiff from lying so long in
strained position He shook himself
sighed and walked toward the house
He went around it three times be
fore trying to enter it. The family
was away. Mr.. Bassett was usually
away. 1t was his business to be
away, Mrs. Bassett kept no serv
ants, but most Of the time one Of hei
married daughters remained with
her, or a neighbor stayed at night
The absence of any light revealed
the fact that she probably had taken
another trip with her husband.
The man walked to what seemed
to be a pantry window. He was sur
prised at his noiseless success in
raising the window. Like d cat he
climbed over the ledge. He stood
erect, not bad or evil-looking per-
son, searched his pockets, found all
that he needed and walked fearless
ly into the big hall. He felt that
what he wanted most would be found
on the second floor. He went Up
walking close to the railing to avoid
making the noise that tread Gre
ates when one walks in the middle
of the steps.
He had entered several rooms and
was following the glimmer Of his
searchlight when suddenly he almost
fell against the form Of woman
sitting at a sewing machine. lie
touched her hand, then turned the
light on the worst-looking face he
had ever seen. The face was hor-
ribly distorted and purplish black
the mouth open, with fallen false
teeth that hung from protruding
tongue. Evidently she had died at
the machine and no person found
her. The glazed eyes looked right
into his and he gave a yell Of dor
ror. He stumbled backward, fell
over a machine lid and sprawled
out on the floor. When he went te
reach for the fashlight, his hand
came in contact with rigid ankle
and he almost tainted.
Somewhere or other there must be
a switch. He was in total darkness
with that dead person, and not
match in his pocket He CROPPED
around, feeling along different walls.