Roanoke Rapids herald., 1924-01-11

around.
"Where is he?" he wanted to know.
Il left him AT the side steps--he
was jmniying the door" Mary Bell
looked pale, but determined Once
more she had exerted what she called
presence of mind, but which her small
brother paraphrased into absence Of
sense"
Il kinda wish you hadn't told him
you was going after me-" objected
Constable Smith peevshly. "Of course.
the scamp's run away by this time"
"He didn't look like the kind who
run for woman" objected Mary.
Some hard character. l reckon"
chuckled the constable as he tramped
toward the side door.
In the stiffness that followed Mary
Bell could hear the beating of her own
brave heart. Suppose the man, des-
perate, hidden perhaps inside the
house, should shoot at her for betray-
Ing his whereabouts to the constable.
Il am not afraid" she said aloud,
and just then the front door opened
noiseessly and the object of her
thoughts appeared-or rather perhaps
it was because the newcomer was so
different from the soiled and desper-
ate burglar she had encountered.
They stared ut each other.
The man was young and handsome,
with very pleasant smile and a very
determined look about his mouth at
the same time-that was what Mary
Bell was thinking. His nice hair was
damp as if newly washed, and his
clean-shaved face was that of her old
playmate, Tony Lange. grown older
and somehow nicer! Then. too. he
was wearing tennis clothes of snowy
white from head to foot. Mary Bell
saw this all at glance and In the
same instant she cried out involun-
tarily:
"Oh thought it was the burglar ~
Thanks for the compliment, Mary
Bell, but that's scarcely welcome
home to an old friend!'
"Tony-or, Anthony Lange" she
cried.
"Tony Lange-or nothing at all
evermore," he said gayly as he shook
hands with her.
"Oh, well, then Tony-we are so
glad to see you-and so proud Of all
the glory you gained in the war-and
are you going to stay home and doctor
all the folks hereabouts?" she asked
in breath.
Perhaps" he promised guardedly.
How is your mother and the rest Of
the family?"
Every well, indeed-and who is
this?" he asked curiously as the con-
stable ambled around the house to find
Mary Bell in friendly conversation
with an Immediately dressed young
man In tennis flannels.
Constable Smith smiled sourly.
"I been all through the house, Miss
Mary, and that feller's got clean
away"
who's got away?" demanded Doctor
Lange.
"The burglar Miss Mary caught
jest wish that young squirt would
come home and take care of his
house I"
Hes here now, and much obliged
to you, constable" grinned Anthony.
wall, I'll be swinged! I'd never
known you, Tony Lange, or is it doc?'
asked the man curiously.
"Oh. it's doc to my old friends" said
the war hero as he shook hands. leav-
ing something in the officials palm
that turned his rancor into JOY THANK
you for taking care of my house."
"'Twa'nt me-'twas Mary Bells
presence Of mind" twittered the con-
stable as he walked down the drive.
"I'm sorry about the burglar-I hope
he didn't steal anything-but he was
desperate looking" apologized Mary
Bell.
For reply Doctor Lange raised his
hands above his head. He twisted his
face into villainous scowl.
Mary Bell rocked with laughter.
$50 1t was you?"
"Of course. / had been under my
car away down the road and ruined
all my clothes. l found the old cap
in the garage when l arrived, lost my
key through crack In the floor Of the
porch, groveled for it, gave it up,
thought you were lady bandit at
first, then recognized you for-never
mind what-and broke into the house
found my old room. got into some out
of-date clothes, had a tub first, OF
course and here l am, and welcome to
the home of the Langes."
"Thank you. Tony" she said sweet.
ly. "And now you are coming home
with me to dinner-and everything"
AS the friendly little car took the
doctor into Its embrace 1t started of
with gentle little purring sound, and
afterward when the Lange place was
restored, it was the same little car
that took them honeymooning.
And no one save Mary Bell and her
husband ever knew what became OF
that burglar!
Got EN- Trained.