Roanoke Rapids herald., 1924-01-11
Her Presence of
Mind
*.:|..I.
By CLARISSA MACKIE

+*******"**.a -
The chimneys of the old Lange house
were visible between the towering
trees that shaded the place. For many
years no one of that distinguished
name had occupied the place. An
thongs parents were dead his sisters
had married and moved away, and the
homestead, left to the only son, An
thony. had been closed for ten years
while the owner finished his medical
studies in Europe. The war had in
terrupted. and he had brought new
honors to the family name, but had
remained overseas long after peace
had been declared. Rumor had it that
young Doctor Lange was coming home.
so each day when Mary Bell flew past
in her tidy little sport car she
stretched her pretty neck to see If
smoke came from the ancestral chin
ncys of her old playmate-Tony
Lange
"As If any sensible man would build
scoffed again as she slowed down and
looked through the open gate. "The
gate Is open-dOn't get excited, Mary
Bell-it is probably nobody but Amos
White raking the lawn-but there is
a man around the shrubbery and l
don't see Amos moving grass 1t
must be tramp or burglar"
If Mary's heart skipped a beat one
would not have guessed it, for she alb
ruptly turned the tidy car into the
frowning gateway of Lange House and
crept up the leaf-strewn avenue. Pres
emily she turned on to the unkempt
lawn that Amos White labored in vain
to keep in order
The car had almost reached the side
door of the house when Mary had a
good look at roughly-dressed form
bent over some task at the door. Mary
correctly guessed that he was trying
to enter the house by force.
She whipped out small revolver
from Its case at the side of her seat.
"Hold up your hands, please" she said
politely.
The man whirled about and stared
at her. He was very dirty-looking
man, with villainous scowl under the
visor of an old cap.
Hands up!" repeated the pretty
maid In the car.
Nothing doing. madam" said the
tnterlopcr curtly.
"Then ! shall shoot"
what for? Is this your house?"
ut is the house Of one of my
friends"
That's funny" he said, throwing
off his cap and coming to sit On the
steps of the porch. He smiled In a
most appealing manner.
But Mary Bell did not waver. She
still held the weapon, for which she
had tremendous respect, aimed at
the intruder, and was rather wishing
he would throw up his hands in the
orthodox manner of Wild West motion
picture villains and back timidly out
Of the vicinity.
This villain did nothing of the sort.
He simply bent his head and rumpled
his dark hair with blackened hands.
Mary knew he was laughing at her.
Such impertinence
The little car backed Indignantly on
to the lawn.
The burglar" came down the steps
with very sheepish air and bowed
humbly. "Do you need any help.
ma'am?" he inuuIred.
Mary grew pink. II am going after
help" she said distinctly. Il am 60
Ing after the constable"
why"
Because you are trying to break
into that house-you are, aren't your
"Yes, it's my" but his words were
drowned in an impertinent little
screech from the horn as the car tore
its way across the tangled grass and
weeds. The would-be burglar stared
after her moment, then slapped his
knee. laughed softly. and went back
to the door which he soon opened with
the aid Of crowbar he had found in
the woodshed.
Once within the little entry he closed
the door softly and stood for a mo-
ment listening. He would listen in
vain, for never again would the voices
of dead and gone Langes echo
through the house. Standing for a
moment with bent head he pressed
the back of his hand to his eyes and
then with quick Strengthening Of his
shoulders he opened door in front of
him that led into the dining room.
Here he fingered, looking at the pic
lures and furniture, peering through
the closed shutters where sunshine
tried to pierce the gloom. S,ftly he
tiptoed from room to room, mounted
the stairs and repeated the same ex-
animation of every room in the house.
At last he found room where a ward
robe disclosed some clothing-he rum
mayed drawers and closets. Then he
entered the bathroom and turned on
the shower.
Half an hour later the little car of
Mary Bell whirled up to the frcnt