Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-09-19

Mollie Wilson's Burglar.
Mary Wilson had passed the frs
seventeen years of her life in q countr,
village; then she went to the city to visi
her brother and found its attractions 81
alfuring that six months passed ava,
and the time of her return to countr,
life was, as yet, indefinitely postponed
For two months previous to her visit he
country friends had We'd with each othe
in telling her tales of the cunning, tn,
wickedness, the subtility of the city
sharpers, pickpockets and burglars, unit
the idea became firmly fixed in bel
mind that she was going into den O
thieves; but as yet, she had met with NJ
adventure worthy Of note, and was fast
reaching the conclusion that city people
were no worse than their country neigh
bofs, when something occurred which
caused her, for short time at least tc
change her mind. But of this, more
anon.
She was still heart whole, although she
had been sought by several very eligible
suitors since her arrival in the city, fol-
she was pretty girl, very desirable fol
her own sweet sake, but still more so az
Mary Wilson, sister of the wealthy and
influential lawyer Wilson, and this was
how matters stood, when one Sabbath
she CHANGED to see stranger in the
pew adjoining her brothers, and could
not kelp seeing that the stranger was re-
garding her with admiring eyes, very
handsome eyes they we're, too, but she
tried to dismiss all thought of him, and
them, as she had done of others on SINH
lar occasions, but found it impossible.
Those dark eyes presented themselves to
her mental vision with persistency for
which she could not account.
On Monday evening her brother
bought tickets and invited his wife and
sister 10 attend alecture; and Miss Mollie
czught herself wondering, as she donned
her cloak and hat, if the dark eyed gen.
deman wou' d be there, and if he would
look at her. She found the lecture in
sufferably dull, and concluded, after a
time, to return home. She whispered
this intention to her brother, who saw
her to his carriage, and giving instruc-
tons to the coachman to return for
them, he went back to his wife, while
Hiss Mollie was driven rapidly home
ward. Arrived there, she left her hat
and cloak in the hall and ran lightly up
the stairs to her room. The door was
partly open, although she was sure she
had closed it, the gas was turned low as
she had left it, ana in the half light she
saw, before she reached the doorway. a
man In the room. His back was toward
her, and he was walking toward q large
closet at the other side of the apartment.
He opened the door and stepped inside.
One glance told her that the kew was in
the lock; she ran swiftly across the room.
her feet making little or no sound on the
thick carpet. "Confound it." she heard
him mutter, "why can't they leave things
where fellow can find them?" EYES,"
she thought, her first surmise was cor
rect: it was burglar" Like q fash she
threw herself against the door and turn
ed the key. She was terribly frightened,
md felt quite sure that she should faint,
but as her prisoner made no demonstra-
lions beyond try ing the door gently, this
Rsaalng soon wore of. She turned on the
gas and drew chair in front of the closet
door, where she sat down to consider
what it would be bestto do. If she called
the servants they would be frightened;
there would be noise and confusion, and
perhaps he would get away. If she went
down after policeman, he might get out
while she was gone; no, she would stay
where she was and keep guard until her
brother should return. She had surely
caught him, and did it very neatly, too;
and the more she thought of it the drawer
and more jubilant she grew. She wished
he would speak; she was anxious to
know how he felt about the situation.
Presently he did speak; he had q very
pleasant voice; he tried the door again
and asked:
"Who locked that door,"
And she answered promptly, 81 did"
-"What for?"
Why, to lock you in there, of course,
and don't intend that you shall get
away either"
There was silence for q minute or two;
hen the prisoner remarked: Don't you
think this joke has gone far enough,
Aollie, dear? Now let me out. There's
. darling"
'Oh You wretch You william! How
dare your"
'How dare what?"
Why, call me that"
Thought it was my sister. By Jover'
he exclaimed in lower tone. Then he
bent down and looked through the key
hole. This was what he saw: A grace
full girlish figure, rohed in some soft,
ciinging material; . bright, self reliant
face, framed by masses Of fluffy brown
hair. 1t took him some time to make
these observations, for the key-hole Was
20 small that be could see but part of
tho yretty picture ct once. Then he re-
marked, II think, Miss, that there il
some mistake"
ooh, yes, I suppose 90" earcastically.
81 think I came into the wrong
HOUSE"