The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-10-04

here he was-here, under this very
roof!
A robber-that was what he wasl
A robber-a bandit, such as one saw
in the movies!
That explained why he was so we'll
dressed, so handsome, had such fas-
chatting manners. He was a gentle
man burglar.
All up-to-date villains in these days
were gentlemen. Not that she had
ever encountered a villain In the flesh.
Still, she had read romances about
them and was there not one in every
moving picture? They were not diff
cult to recognize.
1t was xhilarating-wonderfu A
thief in the room overhead! Think Of
it! The very thief for whom all the
police in the countryside were search
ing! He was no small, cheap type Of
criminal. He did things on a big scale
so big that radio announcements had
been broadcast about him and no doubt
at this instant detectives and crime
inspectors were chasing up and down
the highways; dashing through cities;
and keeping telephone wires hot In
wild search for the gentleman asleep
upstairs
Why, that very morning had not Eli
sha Winslow, the Wilton sheriff, who
had frankly admitted he yearned for
excitement, helped undress the wretch
and put him comfortably to bed? The
humor of the situation almost over
came her.
1t seemed as If she must have some
one to share the joke. But no one
should. No! Nobody should be the
wiser because of her. The poor, hunt
ed fellow should have his chance.
1t was a little venturesome and
risky, she admitted to obstruct justice
and should she be found out she would,
without doubt, be clapped into Jail.
Still she resolved to take a chance.
After all, who could prove she had
known Stanley Heath to be what he
was? Nobody. She would not even
let him suspect 1t.
The important thing was to await an
opportunity and soon-before he was
able to be about-return the hand
kerchief she held in her hand to its
place beneath the brick. Then all
would be well. This should not be diff
ficult 1t would be quite easy to get
Marcia to take up Mr.. Heath's supper
In the meantime, the situation was
intensely amusing. Its danger ap-
pealed to her. She had always en-
| joyed hair-breadth escapades. Any
thing but dullness. That had been the
trouble with Alton City-it had been
| dull-deadly dull.
But Wilton was not dull. In spite
| of the fact that only this morning
| Elisha Winslow had complained the
| town was in need of a stirring up, 1t
seethed with electricity. If she chose,
she could hurl bombshell into its
midst this very minute. But she did
| not choose.
Instead she intended to play her own
quiet game and keep what she knew
| to herself. She wondered why. Per-
| haps she was falling in love with this
adventures. Yes, that must be 1t. She
was in love with HMM love with a
| bandit!
Sylvia's Imagination had Travelled so
| swiftly and so far that 1t came to
earth with a crash when Marcia opened
the door.
1t was not alone the buffeting Of
| the salt breeze nor the exhilaration Of
walking against it that had trans
formed her into something radiantly
lovely. From within glowed strange
fire that made her another creature
altogether.
"Why-why-Mar !" breathed Syl-
via, bewildered.
"Tve had such glorious walk,
dear!" cried Marcia. "The fog has
lifted and the sky Is a sheet Of
amethyst and gold"
did the men get the boat OFF,"
"Yes. She is floating TRANQUILITY as
dove"
"What is her name?"
"'My Unknown Lady"
mercy on us! That ought to satisfy
even Elisha"
at did," said Marcia.