The Burglar and the Blizzard: A Christmas Story

was so completely forgotten that he might have made his escape with a good half hour to spare before either of the others appreciated that the music had ceased. Not knowing this,

epeated assertions that the air had barely sufficed to support him during his former occupancy, it looked like murder to insist. Geoffrey finally, when bed-time came, locked him in a d

own wakefulness, although toward morning wearin

ame called by Cecilia. He sprang up and found her standing in the hal

e. I heard a window open and steps on th

ure maddened him at the notion of McVay's escape. On the opposite side of the house there was

ing quickly across the snow. There was no question of its identity. His revolver, which he had snatched from under his pillow

he girl caught his arm. "Don't fire,"

for Geoffrey realised that all his threats to McVay had bee

his voice and shouted

perhaps, the gleam of the moon on s

im he moved back to the house. Under th

t away from us, Hol

said the girl in the littl

lland with more earnestness than seemed to be requ

To be caught and brought back is so ignominious a position that Geoffrey looked to see even Mc

" he answered; "I took it g

r sister

ind I had disappeared. You are too narrow-minded, too honourable, you would say, to

ould be saved the tr

only been quick enough to see it, was for me to escape. It was a risk, of course

u mean

cour

volver and go out

trong prejudice against suicide. I think it a cowardly action. And it would be no help to you. She would not believe that I had committed suicide. She

ad supposed himself. Yet on the other hand, the remembrance of Vaughan and the other men he was representing held him to his idea of justice. "Sit down," he said suddenly turning to McVay, "and write me out a list of everything you have stolen in this neighbourhood and where it is and how it may be obtained. Yes, I know it is difficult, but you had better try to do it for on the completeness of you

nd? Which will be e

d write your

he portfolio. After this for a long time nothing was heard but the

bsurdly low, but the dealer was a conn

r when a step sounded outside and the door

if that is the police, keep your

as his alarm showed, he had cast in his interests with M

a man in plain cloth

your safety. I am a detective working on the Vaughan and Marheim cases. I got word to com

ned me," said G

end," said McVay brisk

l eye that the detective, after st

this gentleman's

use. Then Geoffrey answered cooll

y, Holland?"

ssistance?" Envy and admiration struggled on the det

o subject for congratulation. I can't even prosecute him, confound him, for sev

he detective; "inde

be sent to prison. Yes, I know, it is compounding

anything of the kind

let him escape at once. Don't draw your revolver, please. I prefer to be the only person with a weapon in my hand. He has made a list of all the things he has stolen, and I shall see that they are returned to their owners at any cost. Will you undertake to get

say," said the man. "I

aid Geoffr

such a proposition

" put in McVay. "Can't you see

you get away and come close enough to blackmail me, I'll put you in prison without a moment's hesitat

" answered McVay; "I mean

his second five thousand for a year, and as I was saying to you, after a year I don't so much

this detective. "If I acc

o take your eye off that man for a single instant. He is a slippery customer, and you

Vay carefully from head to

way to taking this customer in a Pullman car. If he chooses to slip overboa

amiably. "Fortunately you c

ageous an offer as Geoffrey's, and they were presently deep in the discussion of their plans, Mc

he had fallen asleep again, after the alarm of the early morning, and the me

down as the burglar whose footsteps she had heard in the night. To prevent any betrayal of this opinion, Geoffrey advanced a few steps

ld of Geoffrey. He looked at her hopelessly and would perhaps in another instant

lder, "is my old friend Picklebody,-Henderson Picklebody. You have heard his

iful woman that he scarcely heard McVay. He began to guess something of the motives that led Holland to shie

that she heard the interesting name of Picklebody for the fi

Picklebody could get

ingly. "Hen comes as he has always

," said the girl, looking up at the monopol

s. Henderson did not, it is true, come to find me. It was the greatest coincidence his meeting me here. It seems that he and Holland are both interested in a mine in Mexico, and what

f the grey stone house, would have answered if she had been thoroughly candid t

them. I am sure we

cried McVay, throwing up his hands, "I cannot lea

sked Cecilia, looking u

plan that would separate us. The mine, it seems, is no place for ladies. Bu

always go to the Lees, until-until I get a position. And nothing is so important a

McVay. "Yes, I suppose I ought to accept. So

if you did," replied the detective, who had fort

went on, "if I do accept, I shall have

his afternoon,-steam

's very sudden,

dear, I'll give it

. You must go. Perhaps it is all the better that I di

or that afternoon train. I suppose we can get a sleigh at the gardener's,

g his sister, flitting about the house at such a rate that the de

was not to betray the real state of things before Miss McVay, under penalty of losing his money, McVay took special delig

of that pretty black haired girl you were so sweet

ed, would of course reply that he did

ing into the story of the pink blanket. You can always trust to my discretion. But I

e he was twenty, found himself unable to remember an

is nothing very unusual about Mary, is there, Holland? No, the name

ective crossly, casting an

ophically. "You don't even remember

im brightly, studying th

entirely gone. I was afraid it would leave a scar. Te

launch out into a story himself. Miserable as the detective was under this sort of treatment, it soon appeared that McVay

mps and thieves are so apt to break into shut-up houses, and it would be such a pity if anything happened to any of your pretty things. Ah, what an expanse of snow. Beautiful, isn't it? You may talk about your tropical scenery, Hen,

t looking up at the house that had see

it will be spring,"

shaky voice, "you like me well

Geoffrey, "to ask