The Washington times., 1928-12-17

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ways got what he wanted.
Have you two been quarreIing
again., she demanded severely.
snedden muttered something
she didn't catch for 1t occurred to
her suddenly that the burglar
might have another gun. She
stared hard at the hanging and
It's stiffness treasured her little.
Nevertheless her arm aehed with
tension and the hand about the
revolver in her pocket was quite
numb.
But now they were moving on.
Iris trailing her silver wrap with
naughty unconcern, Snedden
saying goodnight.
Coming up. Mary?"
I'm . few minutes, dear. Close
the door il you don't mind?"
The street door banged and
Mary said, You may come out
now"
The banging stirred and the
burglar came toward her with
hardly any motion at all and stood
with his hands at his side, look
ing in . dazed way toward the
library door. Listen he de-
manded, Who's that moll?''
I'm sure ! beg your pardon,
butt
THAT frail--the skirt-''
''Oh, you mean iris. She's my
cousin, Iris Ring"
"Sop'
He stared at the door and Mary
studied him curiously. 'If / let
you go, she asked finally. will
you get yourself job and live
like an honest citizen?"
He glanced up quickly, white.
even teeth flashing in a smile.
Not chance, kid. This is my
racket and stick to it. That
goes. see?''
we'll she went on thought
fully, II sort Of think you're too
good for this. Maybe I'm wrong,
but / think there's fine stuff in
you somewhere"
"Cut it OUT
Really, now, wouldn't you
rather be some one else? One of
the sort your kind robs? Have a
standing and peoples respect and
decent friends? You could IL
you'd turn a new leaf"
"Y' don't know what you're
talking about, kid" She sensed
something boyish about him all at
once; something young and CROP
ing and pathetic. He had cour-
age and that had won her ad-
miration; now this other, with the
story he had told, stirred her pity.
Not even the scorn in his voice
altered the feeling.
Who d'you suppose would mix
with me?" he sneered. would
you? Would she?" jerking the
blazing head in the direction Iris
had gone.
81 might" said Mary. And
shouldn't wonder IL Iris would,
too. Anyway, you think ii over.
And believe you'd better go
now"
''Yeh? Y mean"
Il think the front entrance
would be best. 1t will attract
less. attention il you leave that
way, you know"
And maybe I'll see you again,
some time.'
Kid" he stated with a great
sincerity, II sure hope mott For
your own sake. / mean. Well"
He was moving toward the
door and quite suddenly was
gone. Mary didn't see him go: it
seemed merely that he blended
with the light and shadow for
an instant and then he wasn't
there. She listened for ihe door
to close-listened very long
time, standing with her ear to
the panel. holding her breath.
And finally she went into the
corridor and turned on the light,
but it was empty.
Rather thrilling" she told
herself as she climb d the stairs,
Though ! suppose he told me
pack OF lies. All those things
couldn't happen to one person"
And she brought up a little sigh.
Such hair! And those hands
One day Mary Smith was to
learn more of the tale an out
law had told after 2 o'clock in
the morning h. ,ause her gun
hand ives steady. She was to
understand that some odd, per-
verse strain OF underworld pride
had made him dramatize his life
in a rather staggering way and
give her facts as they were.
Sordid beyond questi and lurid.
highly improbable in spots. and
yet all true.
But now when her adventure
was over and she had suspicion
that she had been laughed at,
she felt let down and somewhat
like very little girl whose first
matinee is over. So, as she went