Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-18

4
thing of beauty, the gentlemans was
peculiar CHASTITY grin. Miss Jones re-
marked Mr.. BENEFITS facial contortions
with an appearance OF considerable inter-
est.
81 never had them smile quite so SYM
pathetically before. in that respect, Mr..
Bennett, you are unique. Charmed to
have met you, / am sure" The young
| LADY knocked the ash off her cigarette
with her dainty finger and turned her at
tention to Miss Welsh Il don't think,
Hannah, that we will have any scratching
| out of eyes,"
When she had thus delivered herself,
Miss Jones reclined in silence for some
moments on her pillows, discharging the
smoke of her cigarette through her delicate
pink nostrils. When she spoke again, it
was to the gentleman she addressed her
self.
"Mr. Bennett, would you mind closing
that box of diamonds and replacing them
in the drawer ?"
Mr.. Bennett shut the box with little
snap and carried it across the room.
There was something odd about his de-
meanor as he did this-an appearance as
though ne were not engaged in the sort of
labor which physics pain. Miss Welsh,
standing as though rooted to the ground,
followed him with her eyes. The express
sion of her countenance was one of undis-
guised amazement. Her face was elo-
quent with a yearning to relieve herself
with words. When Mr. Bennett put the
box back where he had found it and shut
the drawer she gave kind of gasp. From
Mr.. Bennett there came distinctly aud
ible groan. Turn round, Mr.. Bennett,
and look at me-" Mr. Bennett did as he
was hidden. He was not altogether bad
looking young man-his chief fault, from
the physiognomist's point of view, lay in
the steely tint of his clear blue eyes. Miss
Jones' great big orbs seemed to rest upon
him with certain degree of pleasure.
81 need scarcely point out to you that the
burglary is a failure. The principal cause
Of failure is that you are too subjective.
You have quite one of the most subjective
organisms | have yet encountered. The
ideal criminal must keep himself abreast
with the advance of science. In failing to
do SO, Mr. Bennett, YOU have been guilty
of blunder which, in your case, is GER
tainly worse than crime You are dread
full example of the Burglars blunder. l
might label you, preserve you in your
hypnotic state, and use you as an illustra-
ton of lecture / am now preparing.
But have other views, and it is not i'm
possible | may encounter you again. 60
to my writing table. You will find a
sheet Of paper. Write what | dictate
Mr.. Bennett went to the writing table.
He found the sheet of foolscap paper.
"Write in good, bold characters
"IA AM GEORGE BENNETT,
The Burglar.
For further particulars apply at Acacia Villa
Mr.. Bennett wrote as she dictated, dis
playing the above legend in a striking
round hand right across the sheet of paper.
Miss Jones addressed Miss Welsh;
Hannah, in my work basket you will
find needle and some good stout thread.
Get it out" Miss Welsh got it out. "Mr.
Bennett, take off that sack which you have
wound round your body beneath your
coat" Mr. Bennett took it off. Button
up your coat again" Mr.. Bennett but
toned it up" Hannah, take that sheet
of foolscap paper on which Mr.. Bennett has
written at my dictation and sew it firmly
to the front of his buttonedup coat"
Miss Welsh took the sheet of foolscap
paper She approached Mr. Bennett hold
| ing it in her hand Mr.. Benefits hands
dropped to his sides. He regarded her
with look which was the reverse of ami
able. She eyed him with what were
doubtless intended to be soft, pleading
glances. When she reached him she
placed her hand timidly against his chest.
Mr.. Bennett looked particularly glum.
She raised the other hand, which held the
sheet of foolscap paper, and spread it cut
upon his breast. It was legible at quite a
considerable distance:
'IAM GEORGE BENNETT,
The Burglar.
Fer further particulars apply at Acacia Villa"
1t was hardly the sort of inscription a
chivalrous spirit would wish to have dis
played upon his breast by the object of his
hearts desire, or even by the woman he
had promised to marry in the course of the
following morning Miss Welsh, who
seemed to feel the truth of this, looked al
him with sad, beseeching eyes. But Mr.
Benefits guinness perceptibly increased
Then Miss Welsh proceeded to sew the in,
scription. 1t must be owned that it was
a conscientious piece of sewing. She first
tackled it round the edges, then she sewed
it up and down and across, from corner tc
corner, with hundred careful stitches, in
such way that he would have had tc
tear it TO fragments piecemeal in order tc
get it off, 1t would have been quite i'm
possible to unbutton his coat while he had
that inscription on. The process seemed
to make Miss Welsh extremely sad. Il
made Mr.. Bennett saddes still. Wher
L L. G., al ~
work she crossed her hands meekly il
front of her and looked up at him with 6
rapturous gaze. Mr.. Bennett did not seem
to feel rapturous at all.
'Now, Hannah, take the sack which
Mr.. Bennett wore beneath his coat, hold il
open for him and enable him to step in
side"
The sack was lying on the floor. Mis-
Welsh, with half-uttered sigh, picked il
up and held the mouth wide open. Mr.
Bennett scowled first at the lady, then al
the bag. He raised his left foot gingerly
and placed it in the opening. Miss Welsh
assisted him in thrusting his leg vel
home Then there was pause.
'Perhaps, Mr. Bennett, you had better
put your arms round Hannah's neck,
observed Miss Jones. She was engaged il
lighting a second cigarette at the ashes o
the first.
Mr. Bennett put his arms about Mis-
Welsh's neck and thrust his other leg into
the sack.
"Draw it up about his waist" remarked
Miss Jones. By now the second cigarette
was well alight.
Miss Welsh drew it up about his waist
1t was good-sized sack, SO that, although
man of at least the average hight, being
drawn up it reached his loins.
"Mr. Bennett, hold the sack in that pc
sition with both of your hands" Mr.. Ben
nett held the sack in that position with
both his hands. Hannah, in the bottom
of the hanging cupboard you will fine
some cord. Get it out"
In mechanically melancholy way Mis-
Welsh did as she was told. The cord, be-