San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-04


Hobart as he reached the edge of the
woods and caught his first sight of the
house at the foot of the hill. He felt,
distinctly, change in himself, as If the
nearness of Nathan Hobart's hoLse had
recreated him.
He stood behind the high snake fence,
deliberately enjoying the consciousness
of this new spirit in himself. 1t would
be dark in another two hours. In two
more, Nathan Hobart would have gone
to bed. In another, at the most, 1t
would be easy and safe to climb the ap-
pie tree beside the kitchen door, drop
to the low roof of the ell and so reach
the window of his own room-the win
dow with the broken catch which had
let him come and 60 so often in the
old days when he had walked in fear Of
[s'Nathan's anger.
Five hours to wait! He remembered
suddenly that he had not eaten since
morning. supper would be ready pref
ty soon down there. He thought of Ma
than Hobart eating alone, and Stephens
hatred famed again, as hunger fed it.
He could help himself to food, too, when
he had taken the money. He could risk
few minutes in the big pantry before
he left. But five hours
The need OF food dominated even his
new-wakened hate. He glanced about
him and saw hickory tree, the leaves
already turned. He filled his hat with
nuts and came back to the fence-corner
to crack them between hardheads.
His thoughts came back to the heart
Of his errand, the money he would find
in Nathan Hobart's secretary" Ma
than would have collected some Of his
loans, least, by now, and there would
be sum worth stealing in the locked
drawer of the desk in the bedroom.
1t would be easy to manage it, too,
unless Nathan had got him a new dog.
Shep had been three years old when he
left-three years ago. he could quiet
Shep easily enough. Collies didn't for
get And once inside the house, it
would all be simple. Nathan Hobart
slept with his door unlocked. A little
chloroform on gauze-a bit Of strug-
gle, perhaps, before it worked-and then
plenty of time to break open the desk
and help, himself.
He had a right to whatever he might
get, tonight. He'd had a right to it
when he asked for it, three years back.
Twenty-one, free to go if he chose, but
compelled to 60 bareheaded, if he went,
! after twelve years of labor on Nathan
Aobart's farm. Well, tonight would
settle that debt, anyway.
A step sounded behind him the slight
noise magnified to a thunder in his ears
as he sprang up and whirled his fists
cleLched. His arms lowered as he met
the level glance and recognized the face
for Retta Duncan's. Retta had grown
taller, in the three years, but that was
all the change in her, he thought-the
same thin-lipped, sullen mouth, the same
hard, straight eyes that had always
seemed to be watching him as a cat
watches a dog-hostility and distrust
and a shade of scorn In them.
'Hello, Stevie!" Her voice still held |
the harsh quality he remembered.
Retta Duncan would know that he
had come back to the Glen, and when
the news of the robbery spread, she
would know whose work 1t was. So
much the better! By the time she
talked, he would be out Of reach, lost
in the city where nobody would ever
find him. He chuckled
Scared me, Retta, sneaking up that
way"
She nodded. saw you jump, Crack
ing nuts, were you? They're no good
yet-too early"
mot much. But they're better than
nothing. Got kind of hungry, walking
over from the Junction"
bad as that?" She spoke almost
eagerly.
"Just about. Guess it from my looks,
wouldn't you" l.
She studied him silently. II
why'd you come back? Think he'll {
Thelp your
"Not il he knows it," he grinned. {
But maybe he'll help me without find |
ing it out till he can't help himself"
She watched him in silence. Then =
she nodded and said: ,
81 thought that might be the way of {
it, when saw hiding in a fence
corner like that. You're going to rob -,
him, when it's dark enough. You must
need money pretty badly" she said slow g
ly. c
he shook his head, realizing sudden q.
ly that the money was the lesser motive.
"Say, Retta-you make sure he u
knows did it, will your"
She shook her head decisively. 81 .
won't give you away, Stevie-" b
"Rut ] want you to! I'm only doing n
il so as to hit back at him. There's q
easier ways of getting money-and SAT- Il
er, I'm doing this to get square with g
III