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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 1904)
!Mf HIT' It ft Hcvillp's treacherous but musical My king"1 enmc the answer In dulcet, purring nmes. and Miss ingraham know that It was Miss Grosvenor who j . r an? a av ? -; t . r , ji mr v ..mm m w w ww a . saw -wx . - w a . s, r- w ' -mr-Tr . mm rm ' - a a' a week after moving In. MontagMn Beniis- wss rPoBnlz-d the tnut (Hstltiffuwhod man In the Kett.Tnlrh flat buililln. H hnd spoken to nobody exceit his lan'ilaity, Mrs. Bchults, a dlfH-reet old Oermnn woman, deaf, and prone to taciturnity. The guy bachelors who roomed In the tlrst floor flat called Montague Seville fh fount." and. In appenranee, at lenst, he merited fh title. ITIe air was derklndly dintlnKue. Hl manner was an IndesrrllHible comMnatlon of amlahllltr and flljrnity. He walked like a marechal of France. He dressed like a fashion plate of the Bon Manh. His black, curly hair was tinsod with aray about his tPmp.'S and aboye his small, aristocratic ears, and th tiny mumache and crisp Imperial, snow white and tlffhtly twisted, gave .llKiilty rs-ther than age to his boyish frvco. " I wonder who he K" mused the bi-llf of the Ketternloh bulldlna-. as they watched him strlilln down the street. So m,am mn AnHnnnli AO ItFllffhtlV. "A SentleiZian Of fallen fortunes," thought Miss Inarah.im, following hint with iier wide brown eyea, as he stalked down the wall ahead of her. She lived In the entrance next to the count", and she knew mat ne muse De enira(rea in wi"inp, pnin clerical capacity, because h alwa-s left the houe at half past 7 In the mornlnw and returned at 8 every evening. She was a pretty, ambitious, romantic "girl" of 2, and she became Interested In the count b spite of herself. His handsome- face, was sad. she thought, especially sad about the fine, dark eyes. Doubtless he had known great sorrow; lost a fortune and a noble estate; perhaps some unhappy love affair. Tha-t reflection stung Miss Ingraham a little, but she began to ptty the hnilime stranger. One morning she walked towards the street car Una far enough behind him to be in danger of missing the car which he halltxl. He saw her coming, bade the conductor wnjt, and, with a winsome gallnniry, utterly respectful, helped er on the car. She noticed the shapeliness of his small, gloved hand, the spotlessness of his fine Unenr the grace of his Uthe limbs, the sweetaeHS of his Impersonal smile as he handed her to a seat and raised his hat. 8he noted the corner where he alighted,, and caught herself starting Into the crowd as it she meant to watch his movements. X taw days later. In the evening, Mlsa Ingraharn's canary escaped from It cage and, fluttering across the court, disappeared Into the open window of the adjoining flat. She ran downstairs, out one entrance nnd In the next, and In a few minutes was ringing at the door of Mrs. Schultz's apartments. " I'm Miss Ingraham," she explained. " My canary U In one of your rooms, the one on the court." They went Into the room and commenced to chase the bird. Miss Tngraham, flushed with her exertions, her hair charmingly disarranged, was sprawling over the bed In a wild t fTort to capture the truant, when the door opened and Mr. Montague Bevllle, hat In hand and a look of charmed surprise upon his expressive face, stood In the doorway. Miss Ingraham realized In an Instant that she was In his room. He. bowing, was about to withdraw, but Mrs. Schultz's xplanatlon held him. She mentioned the visitor's name, and he polite stranger, repeating ft In a most musical manner. bade her make herself at home. " Or," he added, with perfectly natural gallantry, " If Mfss Ingraham will permit me, I think I can catch the canary. Tes? Well, then, you will be seated, miss, and Mrs. Schultz shall watch me. This put every one at ease. Miss Ingraham, blushing, but pleased, sat down. The stolid housewife looked pleasant and said nothing. Mr. Bevllle. calm and respectful, drew off his gloves, spoke of the weather In a way that seemed to Miss Ingrah.m quite novel and engaging, and then: " If we remain like this, nulet and. for my part, happy, I think I can cause the little Mrd to come to me." He smiled sweetly at the uneasy, yellow songster, as It flirted about the head of Ms bed, his great, sad eyes fixed upon It with an expression o both yearning and command. Miss Ingraham, fascinated, watched him, and realized his masterful mind. Presently the canary circled about the room and alighted noar him on the sill of the closed window. He whistled a few shrill, birdlike notes, and the bird hopped on the back of his chair. He did not seem to move much, but his hand was slowly extended and opened, and the canary hopped lightly Into his palm. There was nothing sudden, harsh, or unnatural In tha way In which his slim, white fingers closed upon the little tuft of feathers. The bird did not even struggle, and as he, laughing right merrily, placed her pet In Miss Ingham's hand, their fingers touched and their bright eyes met and lingered for a minute. " You hypnotized him!" said she, laughing, but conscious of a'stidddn, mighty Joy about her heart. - No. miss," he answered. " 1 did not hypnotize him, unless you call gentleness and a f'W notes of his own musio ypnotlsm. I have had much experience with such pots." ' Miss Ingraham could only thank him and Mrs. Bchults and go, but he escorted her down the stairs.1 opened the door for her, and bowed her Into the vestibule. She looked tn his eyes again, blushed crimson, and ran away. She was In love, and she knew it. As for Bevllle, he went slowly back to his room, twirling his scnaH. white mustache, and matter ing to himself: "At last 1 hare found her! After looking for thirty years!" He knew that her window, like his, faced) on the court, and she knew that by sitting In her favorite chair she eould catch many an unseen glimpse of her Prince THE HOUR LICK! Click f CI Too house was a lonely one, and the bur I glar had no reason to anticipate the slightest I Interruption. H worked away with right good will, using his knife with a skill that easily betokened the practiced hand. Cllcjc! click! At last the catch moved back, and. quietly throwing up the sash, the man stepped through Into the kitchen, closed the window, threw himself Into a chair, and comfortably settled down to rest for a moment before start ing upon further explorations. Presently ha rose, struck match, found a candle, and made his way to lh larder. He was rewarded by ample discoveries, and, bringing forth the viands, he entertained . himself to supper with considerable srlf-satisfaetlo. Looking at the man as he sat facing the light one coula sea at a glance that be was not the stamp of the regulation burglar. His features were good, almost classical In their ularlty, and the 111 life he had followed had not entirely effaced ma early breeding. Seema a comfortable establishment, this," he said. "Half remind me of the snug little place Millie and 1 had when we were first married, and before I was fool enough to get In with that Kenyon and his erowd. and. led on. like the Idiot 1 was, to that forgery. I wond r where Millie la new? If I had only But there, what la the good of mor alizing? Let's get to business." He took up his diminutive bull's eye, blew out the light I t the kitchen, and made his way along the passage to the dining room. Instinct saved him a considerable amount of time, and he found little trouble In putting hla bands upon the avail able silver. It was not a big haul. Most of bis fraternity would have considered the crib not worth cracking, but It looked easy, and he was hard up. In a corner of the room waa a heap of toys an engine, a horse, a merry looking clown with Jester'a cap and bella, and a clockwork boat. ' " I shouldn't wonder If my little boy, Reggie, wasn't big enough for aucb toya aa these. The little chap bow well I remember him, bta curly hair, his blue eyea. I wonder what he would think of me now? Has his mother ever told him?" Ha turned Impatiently round and made hla way from the room. Seeking the staircase, he alowly and carefully aa ceaded. He came to a sudden halt aa he fancied he beard a movement overhead, hla right hand mechanically going to hla pocket and remaining there for moment or so. Satisfied that it was a false alarm, be continued on hla way and reached tha toa of the staircase. A room opened to hla left tha door waa just ajar. He listened for an bl atant, and, bearing nothing, entered upon tiptoe. In the far corner waa a cot. the curtains drawn around the sleeper's bead, and upon a tiny chest of drawers, to bin left, were folded neatly the wesrtng clothe of the occupant little plush Jacket and knickerbockers, stockings, and daintiest of shoe side by aid, arranged evidently by careful. loving hands. Drawing the Stvow whit curtain aalda, be looked down upon the face that neatled on the pillow. Then It was that the hardened burglar knrw why that strange, awesome feeling bad nearly overcome kins when b entered the room, for the angel ol death held sway there. The features he gaaed spun were marbled m their rigidity, pale and clear, with eyea closed, like a sculptured figure in x:- -: pf'M'v --, t i -KV, w& ,Mir- ,.- ..--... .. I -- ""S ' . I :- ' -.lll).ll. .. - -"'. - - ,w --1 H II I I I "I .iIiMIiwA ! " - . -. & riW?k t ry J4iNV:,f. -?v Charming. And so they drifted quickly Into a mulual passion that was not less mighty because they wereno longer young. By chance thsy met at the entrance. In the street car. In the park, and In the church. She was proud of her complete conquest, and she knew that the other girls In the Ketternlch envied her her splendid cavalier. But she was pf a Jealous nature, and dreaded the consequences If ha should meet with some of the other pretty women" of the neighborhood. Just above him, for Instance, there lived a beautiful woman, younger than Miss Ingraham, and far more fashionable. To be sure, she was a stranger, and nobody seemed to know who she was or where she came from. The lovers had met her coming In or going out of the building, but Bevllle had given no sign of being Impressed with her striking beauty. Her nasn was Grosvenor, Miss Orosvenor, and that was all her neighbors knew. Miss Ingraham's regard for Bevllle was not shaken when she knew that he was only floorwalker for one of the big dry goods store, and his esteem for her was not lessened when he told him that she was studying the piano and meant to BEFORE DAWM, emblematic of peaceful Innocence, carved by some great master. He trembled again aa he looked on the face of the dead boy, trembled so violently that hi hand, resting upon the aide of the cot, shook It rill the Iron work rattled noisily. It aroused a sleeper In an adjoining room, and a light showed Itself serosa the landing. The burglar's hand went once more to hla pocket, and now alarmed for his own safety be turned and faced the door. In an Instant he was face to face with a woman, evi dently the child's mother, who stood staring, with frightened eye and aet Jaw, Into the glare of the lantern, which. In order to take bis opponent at a disadvantage, the burglar turned full upon her. She could see practically nothing of him; the light she held was not strong enough to cope with that from the lantern. He held the woman at hla mercy. He took a stride forward, Intending to brush tha woman a fragile creature aside with one sweep of 'hi arm, and then make a quick exit from the house, but something in her face held him spellbound. For aome aeconds he stood gazing ai her. and then recognition bore strongly In upon him. "Millie!" She could not distinguish his features, but she knew toe voice. "Robert!" aha gasped. She had been bold enough when she entered the room, pow she trembled like an aspen leaf. Ha shut off his bull's eye, and by the flickering light of the candle quivering In her hand they beheld each other. "You heard, then," she said at laat. "and you came? But why like this?" The man had played the brute at times durtng their ahort married life, and many a time ahe had quailed In utter terror before him. But he hung his head now and said nothing. " See?" she said, stepping across to the cot and drawing aside the curtains. " Isn't he beautiful? Look at bis dar ling curls. He died In my arms, Robert Often he used tr. speak of you and wonder when you were coming back. II always remembered you. Only a few mlnutea before the end he asked for 'Dad.' Why didn't you com before? Yon sea thle? She turned down the aheet a few Inches, and there, nursed In his folded arms, was a small rag gollywog, auch a children love. " You remember that? It waa the laat thing you gave him before . It haa slwaya been hla chief treaaure. Every night hla dear gollywog has shared hla bed. The thing bad grown to hla heart: It came to be almost brother to him. I felt I couldn't separate him from It now. Beside. It waa your gift your last gift. It kept your memory sweet and fiesb In hi mind. I wanted that." The aaan said nothing, but waa conscious of an awful tlghtnea at hla throat, and without thinking he had fallen to hi kneea But why didn't you ring the bell?" she asked presently. " Yaw know I should not have denied you thla. You f She paused, for the candle rays fell upon the Iron end of something ugly that projected from hi pocket. It took In also tha bull's eye lantern, and Ita significance tUen for th fliat time struck her. The truth flushed upon ber. Did you know?" she asked slowly. " I did not," he groaned. "Then It was mere accident! Yon cam to steal to plunder here of me of hlra?" "No. no!" be cried. "I did not know that, either. 1 awear it! I thought you were utiles away. Not till I saw be a teacher. Of their respective pasts neither spoke, but one night a particularly lender, wistful, moonlight night, when they had exchanged many assurances of love, she ventured: "Am I the first?" but he started, guiltily. It seemed to her, and answered sadly: "Ah, that's another story. I shall tell you soon. We shall tell our stories together some day soon." That put the first cloud across the bright prospect of her love, but It was a vague sense of security, too, for she had her own story to tell, and she could only hope that his would be no more dangerous to their happiness than hers. The next evening, when he reached her door, a messenger boy was there, and In his hand an outstretched letter. " Prom Mr. Douglas," the boy was saying, as Miss Ingraham took It and, seeing Bevllle, she uttered a short, scared cry and thrust the envelope Into her pocket. She was quite pale when he came In and, somehow, he could not summon back his, old, accustomed gayety. He left soon, and noticed, as he bade her good-night, that her good-night was cold and her manner distrait. Thinking gloomy thoughts, he suddenly yon face to face did I know. It waa mere accident" "Then there is no reason for your staying further," she cried. "O. that I had been spared this! My trial waa bitter enough; for hla aake I moved here, there, everywhere, but somehow It waa always tha aame. Your crime found us out As by a miracle people got to know first one, then all ot her. until we were tha talk of the place. Then followed the covert sneers, the snubs, the shunning of my boy by other children, whose parent bad told them not to play with the convict' son. O, it was terrible! You can shut up the criminal, but the crime speaks out! The father may atone, but the wife and child suffer. Escape seemed in vain. And you you who brought us to this, come back at last, when it Is tod late by accident and auch an accident." Every word ahe uttered pierced hlra to the quick, and he cade no answer. The painful silence that ensued was broken by a sound below. Both strained to listen. Somebody was gently rais ing a window sash. Almost simultaneously there waa a loud knooklng at the front door. "What is it?" she asked. "What does it all mean?" He rose to his feet and moved dejectedly towards the door. " It means seven years," he said. " They have hunted and hounded me ever since I stepped forth from those ao cursed gates, never giving me a chance, driving me to this. And now, at last they have cornered me, and I'm glad glad yes, glad!" He paused suddenly and, turning back, stooped gently over the cot and pressed bis lips to the cold forehead. Aa he did so the knocking below was renewed. When again he sought the door his wife stood before him. " What do you mean to do?" she asked. " You think I shall show fight." he said; " that there will be a scene. No, no! What's the nse? I shall simply give myself up and go back to that living hell again." She didn't speak for a moment or two, simply stood there, facing him. Her mind was struggling hard to get the grip of her emotions whilst she balanced her position. Yet the struggle was brief. When she spoke again she was calm, collected, ready for action. " You shall not go," ah said, quietly, firmly. " Quick In here undress, rapidly, silently, and feign sleep." There was no tlms for question or argument The wom an, who one had been the weaker, the Ignored, a timid, yielding creature, had In thla moment of cruris risen out of herself and assumed the master band. The man found himself wondering, as he rapidly threw off his clothes, at the change In her. She had learned resource in the year of his desertion of her. But why exercise It on his behalf? Had the love which he had thought dead killed by him long ago been but lying dormant, and now had reawakened Into renewed life? Some strange feeling welled within him. Unconsciously hi wife waa winning what had never really been hers b for her husband's heart Her dressing gown drawn closer around her. the woman slowly made her way downstairs. For some moments she stood hesitating In the ball, a circumstance which called for renewed knocking from outside. At length, arter much fum bling with the locks, the door was opened. A police sergeant presented himself. " We have reason to believe that there Is burglar con cealed on your premises," he aald. " Your back window has been forced. A well known ex-convlot has betn recognized ir the locality today, and the officer on this beat has the rememlered that there was a Mr. Douglas In the building, and that Miss Ingraham was In the habit of bowing to him. An acquaintance, of course but the note? He walked around the corner and there, sitting on the curb, puffing a clgaret, was the boy who hail Just left Mi Ingraham's. A mean temptation to question the lad suggested Itself, but he conquered It and went back to his room. Meanwhile Miss Ingraham, agitated and annoyed by her meeting wijh Bevllle at the same moment that the boy had given her Mr. Douglas' note, went to her room overlooking the court and, without lighting her gas. sat staring acrovs at the dark window of her lover's room. A pale moon half lit the narrow, gloomy area. As she sat gazing wistfully across, she heard his door open and close; she saw the flash of a match and the glare of the sudden light. Then she saw him draw down the shade, leaving a space of about two Inches at the bottom. thrnuKh which shone a bright plane of gaslight. As she eat musing she was startled to hear three smart raps as of metal against "ietal, repeated at Intervals, and seeming to come from his room. Then she fancied she heard a window raised Miss Grosvenors window! She looked upward, but the moon was clouded now, and there was no other light but that which issued from Bevllle's window. Absolute silence sepmed to cover the house, but as she stared across the court she became gradually aware of a thin, pale streak like a cord descending from Miss Grosvenor's window. Its end came down till It was opposite the slit of light, a hand was thrust hastily out and withdrawn, and a moment later came three more light taps as before. Then a heavy, dark, ropelike streak darted out of Bevllle's window and was quickly drawn by the lighter cord to the sill of Mln Grosvenor's window, where the watching Miss Ingraham saw a white hand thrust out and boldly pull the end of the rope, or whatever It might be. Into her room. "An Intrigue!" gasped the astonished girl, the tears starting to her eyes. "Great God! Can Montague, my Montague, be going to steal Into that hateful woman's room!" She left the window In a fury of anger and grief, and when she came back, determined to convince herself of his perfidy, she found that neither from his window nor from Miss Grosvenor's came the faintest ray of light. Either they had not lighted the gas or they had pulled down the shades so as to wholly darken each window. It was so dark now that she could not see the black line that had been drawn between the two roorhs. She was beginning to hope that she had been the victim of some horrible Illusion, when a familiar voice, speaking In low, impassioned tones, said: strongest suspicion for suspecting he has entered this houee. I have the place aufrounded." "It Is good of you," she said. "I fancied I heard a noise, but I did not disturb my husband. He was up lata and Is thoroughly tired out. Please make a thorough search, and may I ask, as quietly and expeditiously as pos sible. This Is a house of mourning. My our child " " I think I understand." said the sergeant sympathetical ly. " I am sorry that you should be put to Inconvenience. But there Is no doubt about It, tho man Is actually on your premises now. We shall make thorough search. Anyway, your wishes shall b respected as far as possible." Going to the back of the house the sergeant unbolted the door nnd admitted a couple of officers. There were others without, but their duty was to wait untiL possibly, the quarry broke cover. Then the search commeneed; first the cellars, then the ground floor. The traces of the burglar'a doings la tha kitchen were only too apparent. " A cool customer, used to the work," commented the aergeant, as he surveyed the remains of the spread. ."An old hand. I've no doubt you're right, Collins. It's tha man we want, I'll warrant." They were going upstairs now, softly, every man keenly alert, confident of success, but success that might have to be purchased at some risk. The sergeant had possessed himself of the candle and the men had their bull's eyes on ,the flash; the woman brought up the rear. One room after another they Inspected. The search was narrowing down. The quarry was being cornered. "There are but two rooms more our own apartment, where my husband Is asleep, and the room where you won't need to search that?" v " I wish It was unnecessary, ma'am," said tho sergeant, " but, unfortunately, thieves aren't particular. It's any port In a storm with them. Besides, probably he wouldn't know. If he did he'd think It wa the best place, perhaps, si's being the most unlikely for us to search." Gently the sergeant and Collins entered. The coverlet was still thrown back and the face of the child. In Ita peace ful beauty, could he seen aa the men neared the bed. Collins stood with open mouth. "The same kiddy," he muttered. "Well, who'd ha' thought It! The little 'un what pulled my mite out from under a brewer's dray, when Amelia capsized the baby cart He got knocked down himself and was stunned for a bit Only caught a glimpse of him. His mother whisked him off In a cab. But I know hltn again. And now well well " But the sergeant was paying little attention, and Collins, his duty cuffed sleev drawn quietly across his face, followed his superior from the room. "There's only our bedroom now," said the woman. " And I know nobody la there except my husband. I pray you do not disturb him. The man must have escaped before you entered. It would h&ve been better to have made quit sure before disturbing me, don't you think?" "I'm sure enough," said the man. "I tracked him all night, and what's more. I saw a light In the kitchen for some time. He must have escaped while I ran to Dobson's beat to get help. Or els he's gone out of tha skylight while we've boon doing the house In th's genteel fashion!" "That'll do. You've worked this smart" said 4a ser geant sneerlngly " You won't be long before you're an In spector, you won't. You ought to have kept your eye on the man. Nice report this' II make." Rage sorrow, shame nearly sunocnien me .u..i....-u yeung woman. She seized her hat. slipped fn.rn the room, and wKhoul plan or purpose hastened towards the park There she found a seclu.l-d bench, and. throwing herself upon It. she wept' silently as though her heart would break She did not notice that s broad shouldered, tall man had followed her or that now he st.-o.l a few feet away, hidden by the shrubbery, but watching her When she became ca.m he stepped Into the gravel wslk Nsi.le her and said: "Kate! Kate! I must s-.-e-ik with you." Tor a minute you may." sh- replied with strange equa nimity. " I don't see any one about, and so It need not mat ter for this once. Hut It is. It must be the last time. Did you follow me. Oeorae?" They sat down together In the gloom, not like lovers, ana yet like old acquaintances. Their voices Wore low and earnest and so utter was the silence of the night that Mon- tague Beville. who. slerpliss and exciteo. nan come im i stroll about the park, coulil hear them distinctly when ne stopped unnoticed a few paces behind their sheltered bench. " And now you must go. George." she was saying. " We must not be seen together. If you cannot fulfill your part towards me for awhile. I will wait. If you can, let me know, but always by messenger or through the mall. I have spe- cial reasons for " Her. voice sunk low. or maybe It was drowned from his hearing by the sudden surge of blood that rushed Into Be vllle's temples. Miss Inaraham! And lit a vulgar midnight rendezvous In a public park! M uislrous! His Kate! Kate Ingraham. the demure. Ingenuous, smiling, winsome divinity who had won his heart. Surely he must have been dreaming. He made one swift step forward and then imused. ' . " You must go alone." s;ild Miss Ingraham. "I'm not afraid. The park Is deserted. Do your best, that's all I ask. Good-by, Mister Douglas!" Mr. Douglas! The note delivered by the messenger! Be vllle heard the swift steps of the man dylnt away Into th still darknesj and guessed that his lost swtcthenrt was ther alone on the bench a few feet away. A moment later h -was bowing before her. "You!" she almost screamed. "Yes, Miss Ingraham," he answered with an unnatnr-i coolness. "I was taking a walk when I accidentally hca 1 your voice. I believe you were speaking to Mr. Douplr . I would have passed on, but as he walked suddenly awr . leaving you alone, I thought best to offer to escort you hon. You have not quarreled with him. I trust?" "You have no right to question me. sir!" furiously. "I did not question. Mls.".'deprecntlngly. 1 " T ' wish ' to lie v.ilone." "You are not safe. I will follow at a distance." An awkward sllrnce followed. Miss Ingraham ground her heel Into the gravel. Bevllle stared siuuMly at the stars. Then, with a slight tremor In her voice. Miss Ingraham: "Mr. Douglas wa-was my my husband. We were di vorced. I have not sp-spoken t-to him since. He f-fol!owed me here and talked on a p-purely business matter. There In nothing between us. We had been mistaken, Incompatible, nnd and oo-oo " She was crying outright. " Kate, dear, gentle, Innocent Kate!" he commenced, but she pushed him away and stormed: " Don't dare to touch me! Go back to Miss Grosvenor this Instant! Go back to 'your queen.' 'Dear. Innocent Kate!" Pooh! Innocent, yes; but no fool!" He was dumfounded for a minute and then a great light dawned upon him. "You saw?" he gasped faintly. "And heard!" she snapped with vicious Incision. " But Kate " "Kate me no Kates, sir! The rope!" " What rope? You mean the hose, the garden hose!" "No matter. She is your queen'? You are 'her king'?". Sneering. " We were playing chess. Kate. The hose was our speak ing tube. She was in her room above mine and I was alont in, my own room. She she t.'SED TO BR MY WIFE!" "A-a-h!!" weakly. "Don't faint, Kate. It was a case of Incompatibility, honorable divorce, maiden name and all that. We have never met but once since. I didn't know where she lived when I moved Into the Ketternlch. but we met In the hnll by chance and talked for awhile. We had but one Interest In common, CHESS. She was starving for a game and so was I. We agreed never to be seen together nnd so I thought of playing by the use of a speaking tube. Three raps on the steam pipe was my signal. I shall never sound It again. Kate. I will teach you to play chess, too." He sat down beside her and was forgiven. Never mind! It was pitci. dark. "But that note, Kate," he whispered, laughing uneasily. " Do you get notes from him now?" "Alimony. Montague. Just alimony, lie came here to night to tell mo that he couldn't pay me any more." "So much the better, Kate,"' he said, putting his arm around her. "Let's go home and forget them both." "Yes. Monty," she cooed. "Let's go home and forget." And they went away through tho dim aisles, glorified with an unspeakable happiness, radiant with an unseen splendor, for all the past had vanished and therj was for them only the magic future. m v 5 ' By Ulyss . Rogers. " Well, we haven't searched the whole house yet," mur mured Collins. "And I'll swear I made no mistake!" " True, there's another room," said the sergeant. " I think we shall have to trouble you, Just to make quite sure. Col lins and I'll JiiBt have a quiet look round. We needn't wake your husband. Worn to death, I reckon, sitting up with the little 'un. I know, I loet one.o' my own lust spring." The quietude of the sergeant and Collins was of the kind that would have Instantly aroused any ordinary sleeper, but the man In the bed was undisturbed. In the wardrobe, be neath the dressing table, under the bed, anywhere, every where, the sergennt searched. Collins was even more pains taking; but 'after a moment or so he took a casual glance at the sleeper. The effect rpon Collins' face was magical. For a second or so he stood, with wldo open mouth, gazing at the man; then his eye took In the facti that there was only one sock on the floor. Collins smiled grimly. His mind had forgotten all about the sleeping 'husband, for here, con cealed In the bed, was the burglar he had tracked, the ex convict whose description was in every police station, who was suspected of a hand In half a dozen recent little affairs. "What a cop!" he muttered to himself. And Instinctively his hand reached out to throw back the clothes. And ttien his eyes alighted on a face on the other side of the bed a fac drawn In fear and suspense and terror. And In the face he, dull wltted though the sergeant thought htm, read the whole story. "The klddy'B dad, eh! Her husband!" His hand fell to his side again. " Nothln' here, Collins?" asked the sergeant. Nothin' rr," said Collins; "only the father of the lit tle 'un In there. Quarry must ha' gone." "Humph!" grunted the sergeant. A few minutes later the house was quiet again. As the woman returned upstairs from letting the officers out she met her husband on the landing, fully dressed. "Ooodly," he suld. "You have saved me. Believe me, I am grateiful, very grateful." " You are going?" she cried. " Why, yes. I you didn't think I meant to atay. How could I, and bring disgrace upon you and the memory of tha child? No, Kate, I've gone too far. Even If I would, they will not let me rest In thla country. You have aaved ma tonight from the teeth of those bloodhounds. You and the boy have aaved me from worse from myself. If I can slip the country, God helping me, I'll make a new start. In five year before if I can If I am worthy of you, I will write and " He caught her In hla anna, for ahe waa reeling backwards scalnst the baluatera. "Surely you don't care for me Ilk that? I've been a brute to you, Kate starved you, deserted you, disgraced you, killed all tho affection you ever bad for me. No, no, I m not worthy of It Don't cry. There, there, forget me, forget me. I'm not worth a thought!" "Robert, la there no chance no hope? Of a new start. I meant" "Thera Is every chance every hope; not here, but abroad." - "Then why mayn't I share the new life with you?" " You will? Dearest, it wa more than I dared ask dared hope for!" He strained ber to hla heart. "The night hns been dark." she said; "and th darkest hour is always that before the dawn. See, the light Is steal Ing between th lay ices. Thank God, th dawn ha come!" i