Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-09-13

glar had come at last. At HfSt our DaCn-
elor felt cold chill creeping up his
spinal column. Then, as the burglar
carefully stole through the hall and en-
tered the library Durston was astonished
to realize that he was lying in bed with
pistol in his hand, house breaker in
the next room, and that he was begin
ming to enjoy the adventure. The
thought flashed through his mind that
even breach of promise case might not
be as horrible as he had imagined.
"The reckless fellow seems to think that
there's nobody in the house, chuckled
Durston as he heard his visitor light
burner in the library. Then getting out
of bed and stepping gently to the door
of his bedroom Durston pointed the re-
volver at small dark rather well dressed
man who stood in the center of the Ii
brary looking about him eagerly.
Put up your hands, or I'll send ball
through you" cried Durston sternly
The dapper little burglar saw at a
glance that his game was up.
Don't do anything rash," he re-
marked calmly, helping himself to a
stiff dose of d r,.on's whisky and then
lighting one of his unwilling hosts
cigars.
Durston was astonished and amused.
"Now that I've got my burglar after
waiting for him so many years, | might
as well make little pleasure out of him, >"
he said to himself Then to the bur-
glar:
"You're a cool one. | congratulate
you on your nerve. You will pardon
me, however, if l ask you to take the
trouble to lay aside your cigar for
moment and step to the telephone.
The burglar looked sharply at Dur
ston, who still covered him with the re-
volver There was that in the bachelors
face that shook the GOODNESS of the in
truder He walked quickly to the tele-
phone.
"Take down that pamphlet there"
continued Durston. Nov look up the
call for the - precinct station house.
Have you found it?"
"Yes.
"Ring up the central office.
The burglar sullenly turned the crank
"You know what to do now. Go
ahead.
A glance at the revolver was sufficient
for the frightened little man. He briskly
gave the required number to the opera
tor.
"Is this the precinct station
house?" he asked after a time. "All
right. Wait moment
Tell them you're a burglar and want
a policeman sent here at once to arrest
you," commanded Durston, smiling
grimly.
will one policeman do? they ask"
said the burglar
Use your own judgment i'll that mat
ter. = remarked Durston politely.
Hello! hello! Yes; one will do very
nicely. Hurry him up, please. Yes.
Thank you. Good night"
"You did very well" commented our
bachelor. IF you robbed as clevcrly as
you telephone you would not he where
you are now. | must put you to the in-
convenience of stepping into my bedroom
for Il moment. | want my hou 'ekeeper
to see nice little burglar who has or
dered his own arrest.
bulSloH, "itii pioopi oiiii III ii't'iNt,
touched the electric button at the head
of his bed. A few moments later the
housekeeper, en- neglige, entered the Ii
brary. With a cry of despair she clasped
the burglar to her bosom.
"My son, my son, why are you here!'
DurSton was amazed. He had not
known thct his housekeeper had his
tory.
rs this one of your boys?' he yelled
at her.
My only SON. she sobbed. 81 have
not seen him for twenty years, but L rec
ognized him at once. Is he a fri, nd of
yours, Mr.. Durston?'
Our bachelor knew not what to say.
His housekeeper, as | have said, was an
inheritance from his parents an he had
always been fond of her. She had taken
good care of him all these years, and he
hated to tell her that her son was a GRIM
inal.
ayes" he shouted, she dropped in to
have a cigar with me- l knew you would
like to see him, but he is obliged to so
now. He wants to catch train for
Montreal. Kiss him farewell. He won't
be back for some time.
"Thank you, sir" murmured the bur-
glar. "You have good heart"
A few minutes later Ours on stood on
the front steps of his residence and
watched his housekeeper's son as he hur-
ried down the street.
"What shall l say to the policeman?"
was the problem veXing him.
You remember the mysterious item
that appeared in the newspapers the next
morning. Durston explained hi% tele-
phone message on the ground that he had
been suffering from nightmare. The
above is the first public statement of the
facts in the case. | hope Durston won't
get into scrape by this narration. AS
good citizen he had no right to let the
burglar escape.-[S. Van Zile.