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EVENING LEDaETC PHTUADELPHIA-, SATURDAY, 'APRIE 24, 1915.
9
OUTSIDE RA GirFs Adventures in Socia
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE, Author of "The Lone Wolf," "The Brass Bowl," Etc.
i!
iAN
Piracy
Rebellion
CHAP
i, hi nn " t.oui Joseph vnnre
.fought "l" become it Social pirate."
irl s.it'1 to herself, amt smiled.
i I"1 ' ,.. ,,i,ii ei,
h, Mnnvers. Hl"" "'-
Cd " as ,ho "rsl Inw 8f rlrnry
I? .- w mind "There's never n law
tffloil or nnn run" north of M."
tf "., rtt 2T, unmarried, linllutipy. out
I ',ob i lmt mid-June New York.
P. .n't she mornllv norlli nf M7 Hat
Uc-o had n-: mo store mey nan
Kr that sl.p wns to 1 "1111.1 off."
iW " . .1,A una frn
JiJdWn't mat !"" - "
I starve through the summer? Sho
Ldn't SP"'"-'" on U,oy Spm'e nny
, ,r Win, thp ,m,m pnp wns lttltllf
I"1"' ' r. u.lllnl, Hnllt.
no wis I-"" "
IWtiy pld ,,r "hn,r
Bti ms bnd nin.icM t no broke 111 New
v but fav MiniriB iw dospcrnto
- i'oll She -"iicil " ''"J' "f r'nl M'
'! henn,rl " r' " ,,cUy B0Wni'' snmP
Xhtv lingerie " mr''1 "nt '" ,l "I'llPk
W'L1'... A, she wnntod life'
f-i't'i no ""0 t"1'1 iKTRPlf. "I've
Lin he a puni"' ' Anil again. In spite
1'v.imi. mid In spite "f her lnncll-
i ,8 sho emllr.l a Httlr.
: JtH. " ... ,,, ,,,,,, .i, iMienrtl
3 Hut tier si'"1 -.. .-.
i'.nilf to on evening whose loneliness
Lmi.fld to be unhinkon: that fnlnt llnali
IS. course of her hnlf-whlmslcnl. hnlf-so-,M
medltallnn. "lio looked onco nioio
t!.t life lia'l micle llPI- a vvnik-wnrn
lwAi'i r i.i l..lntrp I'linrui. on tho
? lo'l P'enntiiiPl middle-aged hopo
Iku iplnsterhonil
'Another fit months of tlllB llfP would
lltVikhfr, boh .mil -plrlt. beyond repair.
I Her tyev. that ranged tho confines of
time mean quarters, darkened quickly
Sirlth their expression of Jatlril discontent.
ft Another six. niomnH. oiiw ii-ii iih
llhOUgh BnO CUllIU WJL HIII..-4 ...IMI.II. I D1A
boon
kAtte
r a time -"bo roso and moved lan-
When Burglar
CHAPTKU II
ck. nslcnpil In shnip panic, bewlldeied
v ti,9 Broteauerlc of some lialf-icincm-llred
dream In mntinst with tho hnish
zhi of Inclement fact, drowsily lealizInK
tltt since sho hud 1 illen asleep It had
coce on to rain 'maitlv out of a shiouded
hir-
Without the Int warning a lilinriliig
Violet Clare cut the gloom, tho atmophcio
nuled with a tci rifle shoik of thunder
rMd the downpoui In cum- heavier.
Appalled, the sirl sprang from her chair
fM groped her wn to th scuttlo thiough
'tdirkncss ipsembllng lato twilight,
t Jt was closed
Jomebod. preMimably tho Jnnltor, hnrt
ilut It agalnt tho Inipendlng storm wlth
'cut troubling to mnko sure thero was no
rets on the roof, for her chair had been
hvliiblo behind tho shoulder of tho top-
With a cry of illnrav the girl knelt and.
Uss'ns fingers beneath the cover, tugged
'wllh all her might But It wnn secuioly
hooked beneath and held fast,
i Then, driven half fiantic, less hv tho
Uihlns rain thnn bv a dread of lightning
hleh ihe had never outgrown, shn stum
bled back to the glns fnco of tho top
Bjht and pounded it with hot flsti,
Warning for some one to como nnd let
itrln But no llglit"! showed In the stu
'illoanii no one answered
J! The long, rollinc. gilndlng broadsides of
thunder made almost continuous nccom
piclmert bmken wih by the briefest In
.ttrmlsilons tu the per, sword-plnv that
ilohed Incessanth thiough and through
that rrlm tilt of swollen black cloud.
tHiU (tunned and wholly tcrilflcd. daz
lledand deafened n) well, tho girl dashed
the rain from her ees and stroo to rec
'clltct her wits and grapple sanely -with
lr plight.
'Already she was wet to her skin water
esuldno moro haiti her but tho mad ele
tacatal tumult co.''ounded nil her senses;
kir fole conscious Impulse was to gain
lielter ot some sort from tho sound nnd
fun; ef the tempest.
fit was a bare chance that a scuttle on
ions one ot the adjicent roofs might be,
it least, not fHitened down.
t'Flrhtlng the buffeting wind, the scourg
!tra!n and hep panic fright, sho gained
IM scuttle of the roof to tho west, but
found It Immovable
f She tried the tiet loof, with no better
fortune.
Pantlng, even sobbing a little In her
terror, sho suamhled on through a sort
I nlehlmarlsh progress to tho ne:t roof,
iadon and on to the next nnd tho next.
8hekeptno rerUoning, and couldn't havo
lild how manv roofs sho had crossed,
hen at length nln- discovered n scuttlo
Jilt was nituilh ajar, propped ulilo to
lie pounding flood and without pause to
yonder at this circumstance, or what
pltht ho her reception nnd how to nc
tount for herself, shn sivunir down Into
jUt hospltablo blai-k hole, found footing
ra uio laaaor. let herself farther clown
ndby mlschanco dislodged tho Iron arm
COSOrtlnt 41in i. ut
lit fell with a bing and a click, and
Jiny barelv es.-aped crushed llugors by
fil'aslng the nm and tunihllng Inconti-
ttDtlV tn tlin llnm
il'iPPlly sho hadn't far to fall, wasn't
Wt, and hastily picking herself up.
una naif dazed, listening for sounds of
IColncldently tho stoim sounded a crisis
J3,a series of tremendous, shattering'
f """. so heavy and so prolonged that
l tho world seemed to rock and brate,
Spaing (ho upioar like a gigantic sound-
Khll passed, but from the body ot tha
.M'JJ Rail.. hnj ........ ...i.. .k.
fi'Pltatlon of rain on the roof and tho
uuant splatter of drops trickling from
r saturated skirts into the puddle that
ft formed beneath the scuttle.
iS11 'tood In what at first seemed un
tSi.Vl darIi-ess but for glimpses re
Vrt. i y tha Incessant slash and flare ot
TOtning-at onu end of a short hallway.
MM rail of a staircase well. Three or
K,r,?r8 opened upon this hall; but she
SS'etefl no sign of any movement in th
Kiv V' &M S1U1 Ue!iTd n0 soun1
FWdlng-iiiiit now, as sho began to
jpreclate her position, almost as un
t?W la her refuge as sho had been In
S 'win-Sally crept to the rail and
SkJ. j onn 15ut ,ler stralnlner senses
?ctea nothing below more than shad
Si 1id' ana s'lenco; which, how-
jt , ,v convey reassurance; th
jju" "'" u'en scuuie woum seem to
Brnv.Kirhat 8h hadn't stumbled Into an
SShabltea house
'l!hl5f ene Proceeded to Investigate
.,! , rooms of that topmost slory-
.1 V. Huaiiers, comfortably fur.
: but tenantless
Wi step by timid step she descended
wo next rloor. wiiini, !.. ,,..! a.
Sil',"1",6 handsomely appointed bed-
,werS, also amnv JkA nln..,1 a
tTaz? rved, another flight took
CtWn i2,i; ""' K ven over wholly
ni "w".a"-oers -with bath, dressing'
?rt.n? boudolrs adjolnlntr, all very
;? to a hasty survev. '
7 ,hl T'i was an entrance hall.
and a the f,arK of , hou$p, a
7" "ip f i'n Biat mnt' in its vay .
""'S I in , ,. - . .. - l.nn.A '
V W1" Inflltini. tuaqllh n.l imn.t
u1 14 r&ed In rarlv harmontnul
nation
kJCli.J
fc-i-Jy the tasemeat; prov4 to be
TKIl I
ftulilly nut into the hall, fiom which an
Iron inrlilpr led up throuRh a ocultlp to the
roof, tho refuse nnil rettoal of tho Bludlo's
tenants on lhop hrealhless, Interminable,
wimmrr lilshls when I heir qiiartd nerp
unpniliirnhl oti'rf. llnrp thpx were free
to Inuncp nt pane, en deuhubllle; neither
the I'rpssmakpr nnr the teacher of volco
lirndiii'Ilon pn itoubled their privacy,
and spldnin tt Id nther llRiircs appear on
nn, of tho toofs which ran to the Park
nAPluie comer on an ccnct piano broken
onlv by low dlvnlliiR walls and chimney
stacks.
Three (hairs of the steampr type, nil
ma meit. eomprlseil the (iirnlturo of this
roof bhitIpii, with (hy the nay of loeat
color) on one ot tho copings a row of four
red day flower pots filled with sun-baked
dust frnn which gnarled and rmty stalks
tin tut themselves up Uko withered elfin
lltnh.i.
SiteclInK thft soundest chair, Sally
illnsgul it Into the shadow cast In the
hood of the studio lopllRht. and. Pettllnt;
down with her feet on Ihp adtacPiit cop
lntr, closed her o.es and sntiRht to retnx
from her temper of high, almost hster
leal, nervous tension
Thoughts for a time distracted her.
bliMirilnfr Inlo Incoheront cssavs at lm
nclnntlvo adventure stflaed In the homes
nnd paiks of tin wealthy, ns pictured bv
the arnph mttc fislilon mnRar.lne and
cast wllh the people ot Its Rallory ot pho
toBraph subllmch smart women In
frncljj nf marvelous lnplrntlnn, nnd polo
plavhiK, inol'ir-ilrlvlnc, clothes-mad men
ot on Insouciance appalling.
On tho cilgo of unconsciousness she said
aloud, hut without knowing that sho
spoke, threi) nords.
These were. Charmeuso P.iquln
llrlilp "
And then she slept, her pallid foeo up
turned In tint high-arched sky of brass,
from which light and heat heat down In
biutnl waxes, she slept the sleep of ox
liauitlon, deep mid heavy, dark and stu
poflnc sleep possessed Iter utteily, as
overpowering nnd obliterating ns though
Induced by drugs.
Meets Burglar
ns deserted ns nnv room nhove; this
though tho kitchen clock still ticked on
teitnrously, though the flrp In tho range
had been banked rather than drawn,
though ono had hut to touch tho boiler
to learn it still hold water piping hot.
It required, however, onlv a moment's
sober thought, onco satisfied sho was
alone, to suggest as ono leiiionnble solu
tion to tho puzzlo that tho owneis had
fled town for tho week-end, leaving tho
establishment In uuo of untrustworthy
tcrvants, who hnd promptly elected to
fceok their own pleasuro elsowhero.
Content with this theory. Sally choso
ono of tho windows of the servant's
dlnlnc-room from which to spy out
stealthily, between tho shndo nnd tho sill,
over a flooded aren and street; first re
marking a sensible modification of tho
gloom In splto of an unabated downpour,
then that tho houso was near the Tark
Avenun corner, finally a policeman shel
tered In tho tradesman's entrance of tho
dwelling across tho way.
At this Inst disquieting discovery Sally
refloated expeditiously fiom tho winnow,
for tho lirst time leallzlng th.it her pres
ence In that houe, however adventitious
and Innocent, wouldn't bo easy to oxplntn
to ono of a policeman's Incredulous
Idlosjncrasv, the legal definition of bur
glar, strictly applied, fitted Sarah Man
vcrs with disconcerting neatness.
Hut nobody knew. It was only hnlf.paat
six by tho clock In tho kitchen; It was
icnsonably Impiobable that the faithless
servant would como back much before
midnight; and she need only wait for tho
storm to pass to return across tho roofs,
or. for that matter, to leave circumspect
ly by tho front door. Tor It would cer
tainly bo daik by tho tlmo tho storm ut
tered Its last surly growl and ti ailed Its
bedraggled skirts oft across Long Island.
For an instant finely thrilled with a de
licious sensn of tho wild ndventuio of he
ing nlono in a strango house, free to
range and pry nt will, sho found the
full piquancy a bit difficult to relish with
sodden clothing clinging clammily to her
body nnd limbs.
Xono the less it was qulto without defi
nite design that Sally retraced her way
to that suite of rooms In the second story
which seemed to bo tho quarters ot tha
mistress of tho establishment: nnd It was
no moro than common-senso precaution
(prompted, it's true, hy sheer, Idln curi
osity) which moved her to daiken win
dows already shuttered by drawing tnelr
draperies nf heavj, rne-colored silk be
fore switching on tho lights.
It may have been merely tho reflection
of rose-tinted walls that lent the face of
tho girl unwonted color, hut tho glow that
Informed her eyes as sho looked about
was unquestionably kindled hy envy as
much as hy excitement.
Nothing, Indeed. lacked to exclto envy
In thnt hungry heart of hers. Tho bed
chamber nnd Its boudoir nnd bath wero
not only exquisitely appointed, but stood
piepared for use at a moment's notion;
tho bed Itself was beautifully dressed:
tho dressing-table was decked with all
mannor nf scent-bottles, mirrors, and
trays, together with every conceivable
toilet Implement In tortoise-shell, with
silver-Inlay monogrnm-apparcntly A-5I-S;
the rugs wcie silken, princely, price
loss; elusive wialths of seductive per
fumes haunted the nlr like memories of
lost caresses.
And when tho girl pursued her Investi
gations to the point of opening closed
doors sho found clothes-presses contain
ing a wardiobo to cops with every
Imaginable emergency frocks of silk, of
lace, of satin, of linen; gowns for dinner,
tho theatre, tho street, tho opera, bou
doir-robes and negligees without end;
wraps Innumerable, hats, shoes, slippers,
mules and a store of lingerie to ravish
any woman's heart
And against all this sybaritic store the
Intruder had to set the figure mirrored
by a great cheval-glass the counterfeit
of a Jaded shop-girl In shabby, shapeless,
sodden garments, Jier damp, dark hair
framing strlnglly a pinched and haggard
faco with wistful, careworn eyes
Her heart ached with a reawakened
sense of the cruel unfairness of life, tier
flesh crept with the touch of her rain
soaked clothing. And In her thoughts
temptation stirred like a whispering ser
pent. Beyond dispute It was wronfr what she
contemplated, utterly wrong, and wild to
madness; but the girl was ripe for suoh
temptation and frail with a weakness
consequent upon long years of depriva
tion. Full half of her heart's desire was
here, free to her covetous fingers a
queen's trousseau of beautiful belong
ings. "It's only for an hour. No one need
ever know. I'll leave everything Just as
I found It. And I'm so uncomfortable I"
She hesitated a moment longer, but
only a moment; of a sudden smoldering
embers of Jealousy and desire broke into
devastating flame, consuming doubts and
scruples In a trice Swift action ensued;
this was no more an affair of conscience, I
but of persuasion ana resistless, impulse.
She flew about U'e one possessed -as, in
deed she a no less
Her first move was to turn on hot water j
In the shining porcelain tub. Then, In- I
stincUvely dpslng and locking the bsili
door ha sdppe4 from her despised ew
ments nnd, hanging litem up to dry In a
tiled corner where their dampness could
hnrm nothing, slipped Into the bath.
Half nil hour later, dellclnusly caressed
hy garments of soft white silk beneath n
fenlher-welBhl rnbe-de-cbambre. slip srtt
before the dressing table, diving her hilt
In the warm draft of nn electric fan nnrt
nuolntlng fnce. hands, nnd nrmn wllh
creams nnd delicately scented Intlons.
A fnlnt smile touched lips how guilt
tca of any hint of Riillennoss; she
bummed softly to herself, whose heart
hnd almost forgotten Its birthright of
song nnd Hughter; never tho lenst pang
of onsclencrt Unwed tho serene sur
face nf .ier content.
T'rnpcrlj dressed, hep hnlr was beauti
ful, soft, fine, and plentiful, with n nat
ural wave that lent nil nrrent to Its
brownish luster. When sho finished nr
langing It to her complete satisfaction
sho hardly knew the faro thnt smiled
back nt her rrotn the mlrror'B depth?.
Miraculously It seemed to have gained
new lines of charms; lis vpry thinness
wns now attractive, its color unquestion
ably intrinsic: and her eyes were ns tho
eves of a happy child, exulting in the
nttnlninent or tniig-cnvpted poscsslon
It wasn't In huinnn mttiite to cor'em
plate this transformation nnd fpp contrl-
tlon for whatever steps had been neces
sary to bring it about.
And when sho could do no more to
beautify her parson Pally turned again
to tho clothes-presses, hy now so far
gono In self-indulgence, her moral senso
so Insidiously sappptl by tho sheer sen
sual delight shn had of all this piltercd
luxury, that sho could contomplato with
out a qunlm less venial experiments vtltn
tho law of nieum et tmim.
Sho entertained, In short, a project
whoso lawless daring enchanted her
Imagination. If one as yet nf vague do.
tall. But with command of the icsnuices
nf this wonderful wardrobe, what was to
prevent her from appropriating n sultablo
costume nnd stealing forth, when the
storm had passed, to seek adventure, per
haps to tasto for a night those Joys thn
had read about, and dreamed about,
longed for nnd coveted, nil her llfo long?
Nothing could bo moro mad; thero wna
no telling vvhnt might not happen; thero
was every warrant for believing that tho
outcome might be most unpleasant. But
adventures oro to tha adventurous, nnd
surely this one had started off propitious
ly enough.
"And what I need sho'll never miss.
Besides, I enn Bend back everything In
the morning, anonymously, by parcel
post. It's only borrowing."
Already she had passed from contem
plation to purpose nnd stood committed
to the enterprise, reckless of Its consn
quences. But she found It far from easy to rrutko
her selection; it wouldn't do to faro forth
en decollette without an escort a con
sideration that sadly complicated the
search for Just the right thing, nt onco
simple and extravagant, modish and be
coming. Moreover, any numbor of capti
vating garments positively demanded to
be tried on, then clung tenaciously to her
pretty shoulders, refusing to be rejected.
Accessory After the Fact
CHAPTER III
At the foot ot the stairs Sally paused
In the entry hall, thoughtfully considering
the front door, the palo rectangle of
whose plate-glass was stenciled blade
with the pattern of Its lace panel. But
she decided against risking that avenue
of escape; It would bo far less foolhardy
to steal away via the basement, unosten
tatiously, that the alwaa possible
passer-by might more readily take her
for a servant
Turning back, then, toward the base
ment staircase, she began to grope her
way through blinding darkness, but had
taken only a few uncertain steps when,
of a sudden, she stopped short and for a
little stood Ilka a stricken thing, quite
motionless save that she quaked to her
very marrow In the grasp of a great and
enervating fear
If she could pot havo said what pre
cisely H was that she feared, her frl.'ht
was i ss aesperateij real fine couta
'". ."" "":-'i'J ' "-""
tee notning, bob nan neaia no soJna. per i
hands hail toucnea nothing more start- I
iin than tha banister rati, and vet '
It fia aa U sensiUva filaments. $ jpari
Sho wasted many a sigh over her
choice, which was ultimately something
darkish, n frock (I thlnkl of dark bluo
ciepe-de-chlnc, designed primarily for
afternoon wear, hut, supplemented bv a
light silk wrap, qultp piosenlnble fur
evening, nnd It fitted In nilinlrntloii.
This question once settled, she experi
enced little trouble finding slippers and a
hat to her tnste
Tho testimony of a small gill clock
pin rtlcil her when nt length she stood
leatly for tho next step In her nefallous
career the hour hand wan passing 10.
That seemed almost Impossible.
Hunning Into the unllrjlitnl boudoir slnv
caught hack tho window draperies, raised
the sash, and peered cautiously out
through the slanted slats of the wooden
blinds
The sky that now shone down upon the
city w-as n fair shield of sttira unblurred
by cloud; the storm had passed without
her Imowlpilge.
t'loslng thp window Sally delayed for
one Inst, rapturous survey of heieclf In
thp chevnl glass, then put out thn lights
nnd went to the door.
thp hardly knew why It was that Phe
nppticd it sn getilly and wnlled so lonu
upon thp threshold, pvory nerve tensed
in detect alien sound In the ntlllness of
Hrl fit ip Msir-P llShrO
HER HEART'S DESIRE
the empty house. But It was as If with
darkness those vacant looms and pass
ages hud liocorno populous with stinnge.
hosttlo spirits. Sho heard nothing what
ever, nt It was with un effect of peril
strong upon her senses that she stolo
foi th thiough the hallway and up tho
stairs to tho topmost floor, where,
I crched precnriouslv upon tho Iron bid
der, she tried her p.itlcneo sorely with a
stubborn scuttle-cover before recalling
tho click thnt hnd accompanied Its closing
the click of a spring-latch
Hut this last, when gropingly lni ated,
proved equally obdurate, sho fumbled
doggedly until hack and limbs ached with
tho strain of her position; but her fingers
lacked cunning to solvo tho secict, and
In tho end, when on tho point of climbing
down to fetch matches, sho henril a sound
that chilled her heart and cheoked her
breath In a twinkling nn odd, pcuflllng
Iiolsa on tho roof.
At fit fit remote and confused, It drew
nearer and grew more clear a sound of
light footfalls on tho shect-tln.
Ker self-confldenco and satisfaction
measurably dashed, she climbed down, so
feat fill of betraying herself to tho person
on tho roof that she went to thn absurd
extremo of gathering her aklrts up tightly
to still their sllknn murmur. .
Now sho must leave by tho Street. And
now she remembered tho policeman who
kopt nightly vigil nt tho avenue crosslngl
Sho was beginning to bo definitely
frightened, vividly picturing to hersolf
the punishment that must follow detec
tion. And as sho crept downstairs, gJlded
only by tho banister rail, the sense of her
loneliness and hopelessness there In that
strango, dark place worked upon the tem
per of the girl until her plight, however
real, was exaggerated hideously and en
dued with terrors so frightful that bhe
was ready to scream at the least alarm.
ceptlons even finer than sight, touch and
hearing had found and recoiled from
something strange and terriblo skulking
there, masked by the encompassing
murk.
Probably less than 30 seconds elapsed,
but It seemed a long minute before her
heart stirred anew, leaping Into action
with a quickened heat, and she was able
to reassert command of her reason and
reassured, persuaded her fright lacked
any real founditlon move on.
Five paces moro brought hor to the el
bow of the rail; here, In the very act of
turning to follow It down to the base
ment, she halted Involuntarily, again
transfixed with terror.
But this time her alarm had visible ex
cuse; that there was something wrong In
that strange house, so strangely deserted,
was evident beyond dispute
She stood facing the dining room door,
the door to the library on the left, if not
In any way evident to her senses ih
rollid fl, ... , i -;.-. -.
r - - " ,.. vnununir
- "- memory, out mrouja m
former opening her vision, ranglmr at
random. Instinctively seeking relief, from t
the oppression of blank darknewi, delect
ed it slender beam nf niilfici.il ligbi no
thicker than n lead pendl-n golden
blade that Inured lite obscurltv, gleam
ing dull upon a rue, more bright cm
linked pnrquetrv, vivid athwart the dust
rlnih shrnuillng the dining tnhle
Tor n moment or two the girl lingered,
unstlrrlng, fnsrlnntcd hv that slender,
swpivpIbss rn : then, slowly, holding her
breath, urged against her will bv Impor
tunnlo curiosity, sho crossed the thresh
old n r tho dining rnnm. following thn
light hack 1o Its souree-it narrow crmk
In the roldliig doors mmmunlcntlng with
the llbrarv.
Now Pally remomherpcl clearly thnt the
folding doors had been wide open nt th'
time of her first tour ot Invest igntlon: ns.
Indeed, had the door between the Ithrnrv
nnd hall now tight shut, else this lijjht
would have been perwptlbln in the hull
as well.
It wns undehlnblp, then, thnt since she
had c'losptecl hprself upslnlrs nnother per
son hnd entered the house somp one whs
had shut himoplf up therp In the llhinrv
for n purpose apparently ns liandcstlne
its her own. Or whv such pains to maslt
the light, nnd whv such carp not to dis
turb tho silence of the house?
To havo gono on nnd mndn good an es-
cr.pe without trvlng to read this riddle
would have heen hardly human of tho
girl, for all her misgivings, she stolo on
to the folding doors with less noise than
a mouse hnd mado and put nil ve to the
crack, which, piovlng somewhit wider
thnn sho nnd anticipated, nfforded a fair
view of the best part nf tho other room.
An electric chandelier was on full blaze
ubovo the broad and heavy centre tablo
of mahngauv, hevond which, against the
farther wall, stood on the ono hand a
bookcase, on tho other a desk of the roll
top type closed Above each of the.se the
wnll was decorated with trophies of
omlent armor; between them hung a
hugo canvas in n maesivo gilt frame tho
portrait of a beautiful woman beautifully
painted And Immediately beneath the
portrait stood a young man, posed In
profound abstraction, staring nt the desk
Ho rested lightly ngnlnst tho table, hU
back square to Sally's view, revealing a
woll-turneil hoad thati-hed with daik
hair, clipped snugly by well-formed ears
and tho salient lino of ono Joan, brown
cheek. But even so, with his countenance
hidden, homethlng convoyed a strong im
pression to the girl of a perplexed nnd
disconcerted humor.
Sho was frankly disappointed. For
soma reason sho had expected to discover
a burglar of nno or another accepted
type either a dashing cracksman In full
blown evening dress, lltho. polished, pan
thertsh, or a common yegg, a rod -overt,
unshaven, burly bruto in iho rags and
tatters of a tramp But this man wore
unromantlc blue sergo upon a pprson
neither fasclnntlng nor repellent She
could hardly Imagine him either stealing
ft diamond tiara or hopping a freight.
But that he was of a truly criminal
disposition pho was not permitted long to
doubt; for In nnother moment ho started
from his pensive pose with tho animation
of ono Inspired, strode alertly to tho wall,
stepped upon the seat of a chair beside
the desk, and straining on tiptoes (though
tolerably talll contrived to ginsp the
handle nf a ehort-bladed Itnman sword
which formed part of one of the tro
phies. With some dlfllculty and, In the end. a
grunt nf satisfaction, ho worked the
weapon loose and, Jumping down, turned
to the desk, thrust the point of the sword
between the writing pad and tho edge of
the roll-top, forced tho blado well in, and
bore all hi weight upon thn haft of this
Improvised Jimmy. Promptly, with a
sound of rending wood, the top flew half
way up.
At this the man released the sword,
which fell with a thump to the rug at his
feet, pushed the top as far bark as It
would go, and, bending over the desk, ex
plored Us rack of pigeonholes and draw
ers. One ot the latter eventually yielded
the object ot his search; he took from It
11 rat a small automatic pistol, whioh he
placed carelessly to one side, then a small
leather-bound book, whose pages ho
thumbed in nervous haste, evidently seek
ing some memorandum essential to his
ends. This found, he paused, conned it
attentively for an Instant then turned
and tonk the book with Mm arross the
room hevond the bookcase thus vanishing
from the field of Salh s vision
Now was her chance to slip down
stairs and. undetected, awav But, sur
prisingly enough, she proved of two
minds about advantaging berelf ot the
oppoitunltv. To begin with, sho was no
moro afraid nt least, not to any great
OMlent What, sho argued scornfully, was
ono man, niter nil'' especially otm who
had no more lawful business thnn she
upon those irrftnlsesl Hlie wasn't afraid
of men. and even were this one to catch
her watching dim (something Snllv meant
to tnko good rare he shouldn't) he could
hardly denounce her to thn police tie
sides, vvhnt was he up to, nnv how, over
there In thnt i ortier, out or sight? Sho
simply had to know tho meutilng of l hose,
noises he was making.
They wero illfllcult to diagnose -nn odd
whirring sound broken hy repeated muf
fled clanks nnd bv several tubers as baf
fling, nnlnbly n muled metallic knocking
and rnltllna.
She pxperleneed nn exflspeinllng effect
of trying to see around a corner
But In the end she Identified thosr
sounds beyond mistake; the man was
fretting the combination of the safe,
pausing now nnd then to try tho handle
For vvhnt. Indeed, hnd he forced that
deslt If not to find tho combination''
In due course the noises censpd and the
malefactor reappeared, bringing with him
a morocco-hound bos of good sire Shh
marie no doubt whatever thai this vvn n
Jewel i use, and look his smile fin confirm
ntlon of her surmise, though It was really
less a smllo thnn satisfaction twitching
the full llpa beneath his dark little mus
tache tone of those modishly flat affairs
so widely advertised hy collar manufac
turers). For now the miscreant was facing Snlly
as ho bent over the tablo and fumbled
with tho lock of tho Jewel case, and she
mado good ui.0 of this chnnro to memoilzo
a countenance of mildly snrdonic cast, not
unhandsome tho facn of a conventional
modern voluptuary, self-conscious, self
satisfied, selfish rather nttractlvo withal
In the eyes of nn eclted voung woman
But a moment Inter, finding the case ti.
bo font-locked, the burglar gave uttor
aneo to an exclamation that verv nearly
cost him his appeal to her ndmiratlon.
She couldn't he.ir'dlstlnctlv, for tho in
patient mnnosyllahlo wns breathed rather
than spoken, but nt that distance It
sounded damnably llko "Pshaw!"
And immediately tho man turned back
tu tho desk to renew his rummaging In
search of a key to fit tho case, she
guessed. Hut his business there was sur
prisingly ahbrcviated-inten noted In n.
fashion certainly as startling to him as
to her who skulked and bpled on tho dark
sldo of the folding doors.
Neither received the least Intimation
thnt tho door from tho library to the hall
had been opened. Sallv. for one, remained
firmly persuov'd that they two wero
alone In tho shot houso until the In
stant when sho sa.v a second man hurl
himself upon tho back of the first ,i
swift-moving shapo of darkness, some
thins almost feline in his grim, violent
furv that afforded tho victim no time
either to turn or lift a hand In self,
defense. In a twinkling the two went
headlong to. the floor and disappeared,
screened hy tho broad top of tho centre
table. There, presumably, Blue Sergo recov
ered suffciently from the shook of sur
prise to mako some show of fighting back.
Confused sounds of scuffling nnd hard
breathing became audible, with a thump
or two deadened by the rug, hut more
than that, nothing never a word from
either combatant. Thero wns something
uncanny In the silence of It all.
For nn Instant Sally remained where
sho was, rooted In fright .and wonder;
but the next, and without In the least
understanding how she had come there,
she found herself by the open door In
the entry-hall. Just beyond 'the threshold
to the library, commanding nn unobstruct
ed view of the conflict.
Apparently this neared Its rulmlnatlon.
Though he had gone down face forward.
The Gentle Art
CHAPTER IV
There was a breathless Instant -while
the combination of knobs, bolts and looks
defied her Importunity so obstinately that
Bally was tempted to despair.
And when 'the door suddenly yielded
she heard or fancied that she heard his
voice. Its accent permptor 'Stop'"
Or perhaps It was '-Walt'''
But she did neither the door sUnuned
behind hr with a crash that threatened
Its glass. sl was at the foot of the front
steps before that sound had falrl regis
tered on her consciousness, and her panic--vrineed
heals had carried, tha yountr
Blue Seige had contrived to turn over
on his back. In which position he now
Inv, still stiuggllng, but helpless, beneath
tho hulk of his nssnllnnt-n burly, black
nvlsed scoundtel who straddled tho chest
of his prey, a knee pinning clown either
arm both hnlids busy wllh efforts to
make nn unnppellrlng bniulntm serve ns
n ung.
Pardonably rewarded for this Incon
siderate treatment, the fnt one suddenly
sunt, tied one hand awnj, conveved a bit
ten flncer to his mouth. Insinntlv spat It
out together with n gust of masterful
prnf.mltv nnd, the other taking advantage,
of the opportunity In renew his struggles,
shirted his grip to nine Serge's throat
and, bending forunul, strove with pur
pose undoubtedly murderous to get pos
session of tho short Unman sword.
It lay lust nn Inch hevond his reach.
He stialned his inmost toward It, al
most touched Its haft with eager finger
tips. At this a Mrance thing happened
strongest of nil tn Snllv For she. who
never in her life had touched firearm or
viewed scetie of violence moro desperate
thnn n schonlhni squabble, discovered
herself inside the llbrHrv, stnndlng besldo
the desk nnd leveling nt the head of the
henvv villain the nutoniatlc pistol that
had rested there.
Rlniultntieouslv she was awaro of the
sound of her own voice, its accents per
haps a hit shaky, hut none the less sharp,
cnlng: "Stop! Don't you dare' Drop
thnt swoid nnd put up vour hands' I
say, put up your hands'"
The stout assassin ntnrted back nnd
turned up to the iimnzlng apparition of
her a ludicrous mnsk of nstonlshmcnt,
e.ves ncnggle, mouth agnpe, pendulous,
beard-rust v chin nqulver like some un
savory soit of tells Then slowly
thanks to something convincing In tho
manner of this oung woman, nflnme ns
she was with Indignant championship of
the under dog he elevated two grimy
hands to the point ot conspicuous futll
It.v : nnd a liuskv whisper. like a stifled
roar, rustled pnst bis lips
"Well inn villi beat If"
A thrill of self-confidence galvanized
the person of Mips Mnnvers, steadying at
once her hand nnd her voice
"(Jet up'" she snnpped "Nn keep your
hands In sight. Oct up somehow, and
be quick nbotit It!"
WI'hout visible leluctnncc. If with somo
dlfllculty. like n clumsy automaton ani
mated hv unwilling springs, the fat scoun
drel lurched awkwardly to his feet and
paused.
"Very good " She was surptlsed at the
cold, level menace of her tone Now,
stand back to the wall' Quick'"
Slip was abruptly Interrupted by a vaBt,
discordant bellow- "Look out. lady' Look
out! That gun might go off'"
And as If hoping by that sudden and
deafening roar tn stnitle her off guard,
the man started toward her l,ut pulled up
as nuleklv, dashed nnd sullen. For she
did tiol flinch nn Inch
"That's vonr lookout'" she retoited In
clslvelv "If you'ie afraid of It stand
buck nnd keep jour hands up"'
Wllh a flicker of n sheepish grin tho
logue obeved. falling back until his
shoulders touched the wnll and Keeping
his bunds level with his cars
Still holding the pistol ready, the girl
shifted her glance tn Blue Serge
He had altpadv picked himself up, and
now stood surveUng hl nlly with a re
gard which wnvcred between amaze and
admiration, suspicion and surprise. Mean
wlulo he felt glngerls of his throat as
though it were still sore, nnd nervously
enrU-nvored to readjust n collar which had
broken fiom Its moorings c'ntching her
Inquiring eve, he bowed Jerkily.
"Thinks"' he panted. "I nil good of
j ou. I'm sure"
She checked him roollv "Take vour
time plenty nf it, you know get your'
bredlh and pull vourself together"
He laughed uncei tnlnlv "Ah thanks
again .lust a minute I'm all as dum
founded as grateful, vou knoiv."
Sho nodded with a eurlnesis due to dis
illusionment, tho man was palpably
frightened, and. whatever his excuse, a
timid Baffles was a sorrv object higher
esteem at that Instant. She had antici
pated of him she h.irdlv knew w hat
something brilliant, bold, and dashing,
something as romantic ns one has every
right to expect of a hero of romantlo
fiction. But this ono stood panting,
trombllng, "sparring for wind," for all
the world like any commonplace person
fresh from rough handling'
It was most disappointing, so much so
that sho conceded giudglnglv the testi
mony tif her senses to the rapidity with
which ho regained his normal poise and
command of resource, for one evidence
of whlrh last she noted that he backed
up to the ccntertable with a casual air,
as if needing Its support, unci with a deft,
certnln. swift gestuio bllpped tho Jewel
easo Into his coat pocket And she noted,
too, n flash of anxiety In his eves, as
though ho wero wondering whether she
had noticed.
At this she lost patience "Well"' sho
said brusquely, "If you've had time to
think "
"To ba sure," Blue Serge leturned easl
lv. "Yov mean, about this gentleman?
If you ns, me. I think he'd be far less
potentially inlsohlevous facing the wall "
"All right." Sally ngreod, nnd added
with a fine flourish of tho pistol: "Face
about, jou!"
With fluttering docility tho fat rascal
faced about.
"And now." Bluo Sergo suggested, "by
your leave "
Drawing near the girl, he held out his
hand for the pistol, and to her own sur
prise sho surrendered It without demur,
suddenly conscious that ho was no more
afraid, that he vvas rapidly assuming com
prehensive command of the situation he
vond her to gainsay, and that he knew,
nnd knew that she knew he knew, that
sho had nover entertained nny real In
tention of pulling the trigger, however
despernte the emeigenry might become.
And incontinently, as though he had
taken away all her courage, together with
that nlckel-plated symbol, she started
back, almost cringing In a panto of sadly
Jangled nerves.
Happily for her conceit, once he had
disarmed hor, Blue Serge transferred his
interest exclusively to his late assailant.
Calmly showing the girl his back, he
stepped over, poked the pistol's nose sig
nificantly Into the folds of the ruffian's
neck, and with a sharp word of warning
slapped smartly his two hip-pockets, in
consequenco of which singular perform
ance he thrust a hand beneath the tall of
the fellow's coat and brought away a
bulldog revolver of heavy calibre.
And then he stepped back, (milling,
with a sidelong glance of triumph for
Sally's benefit a glance that spent Itself
on emptiness.
For Sally was no more there; her untn
structed fingers wero already fumbling
with the fastenings nf the front door
when Blue Serge discovered her defection.
of Blackmail
woman well round the corner and Into
Park avenue before she appreciated how
Interesting her tempestuous flight front
that rather thoroughly burglarized man
sion would be apt to sees to a peg-poit
policeman And then she pulled up short,
ah if reckoning to divert suspicion with
a semblance of mmi haljjic now Hut sh
had escaped'
Continued in Monday's
Evening Ledger
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