Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-24


close the kitchen door upstairs? She did
at least she had seen that the door to the
cellar was fast and she thought she had
dotted the door upStairs-how did people
ever feel certain about anything enough
to swear that it happened? The footsteps
were nearer, in the sitting room, which
adjoiped the chamber. Her FIRST thought
was Tor the safety of the tea table with its
precious freight; she was sure if she called
to the dog kindly, he would begin wagging
his tail, that tremendous brush which,
with one sweep, might hurl her idols into
irredeemable, smashing, crashing ruin!
Sternness was the only chancei Down
charge, Diep' she commanded. bad dogl
Down.
A particularly mild voice answered her,
1t amt dog, miss; it's a man!'
"A man? repeated Miss Merryweather.
"Wellw
OF course it was not well; but Miss Mer-
ryweather did not think of the nicer mean
ings of words.
be alarmed, I'm man, burglar
Miss Merryweatber showed no signs of
alarm. In the first place, she had a fear
less soul; in the second place, the voice
Was so milo, SO almost apoloc etic, that ii
aroused her serse Of huInor.
Il don't know but that you arc less of
nuisance than the dog would be- said she.
You stay right where you are and l will
turn on the electric lights as soon as / get
on few things. Don't move, or you'll hit
Somethng.'
"All right, am" said the burglar,
only no pulling out pop, you know. and
firing 1t off at me in the dark, hit or miss"
Certainly not-at least, not until / can
see you said Miss Merryweather. All the
while she was hastily DOMINIC a wrapper
and slippers. Then she turned on the lights.
The burglar stood directly under the
blaze. He did not look like burglar; there
was nothing much in his pale face except
the look or recent sickness and hopeless
ness. His clothes were like any workman
a ltra -ntl lie. q 4,
thing like bib front, and q pate he'd, check
shirt. His hat Qt was a hat, and not the
cap IN which artists, for reasons best
known to themselves, delight to depict the
burglary was very battered soft felt, and
IT was not pulled down over his black
brows; 1t was pushed back from dark
brown locks. He looked like a workman
out of job. His hands, one of which held
pistol, were calloused and sta.ned-a
workingman's hands.
When Miss Merryweather doomed upon
him-one may say darted, since that was
the effect of the springing Of the light up
on her image-he lifted his empty hand TO
his hat.
II don't want to disturb you, ma aIn," he
repeated, but I've got to have some mon
"Why?" said Miss Merryweather. She
was quite at her ease and had taken a
rocking chair
"Why?" the man echoed, bitterly. Be
cause i prefer to steal to seeing my wife
dying for want of things done for her. and
my children without shoes TO their feet,
and never a bite amongst us all this day.
By -, i beg your pardon, lady; l wasn't
meaning to swear. but I'm wore out
Haven't you had anything to cat to-
day." said Miss Merryweather.
He shook his head. A stin lock of brown
hair, which stood up on the top of mis- head,
waggled at the motion; it gave him a
grotesque look. He certainly was fright
fully thin.
"Humphv said Miss Merryweather. ''you
s,{t hot chair TOW
there until l come up again. Don't you
burgle any until l come back; then Wen
see what we can do"
You amt going to telephone to the
police to nab me?'
Miss Merryweather waved her hand to-
ward the wall at a telephone.
1T isn't customary In houses OF people
who are not millionaires to have two tele-
phones" said she Il am going 10 bring
you something to eat"
Il won't touch a thing lady," promised
the burglar. I've been druv TO this, 1
truly have"
Miss Merryweather encouraged him by
a nod AMI departed, lighted candle in
hand.
Never, II seemed to her, had she heard
so many sinister noises at night as pricked
her ears willie her candle fitted from
pantry to sideboard. Boards creaked under
her tread they never creaked in the
daytime, and every door she touched sent
up a long shrek of remonstrance.
But Diogenes slept calmly in the laundry.
Hiss M>rrywcather shook Ter head. She
carried a revolver In her hand. which she
laid OH the tray. He seems like a decent
sort OF submerged unfortunate''-thus ran
her meditations while she provisioned the
tray-''but he may be wicked and run after
me down stains. If he does, Di and the
gun will have ~ nurI MIN.
And / won't talk to him away from the
+ telephone" She thought of waking the
sleeping dog ard taking him upstairs, but
the peril to the china of Diogenes' clumsy
bulk seemed so much greater to her in
trepid soul than any personal danger from
the mild-mannered burglar that she dis
missed the suggestion soon as it appear
ed. And when she entered her sitting
room again and saw how starved and tired
her burglar looked, she was glad of her
decision.
He was leaning back in his chair, his
pistol still in one limp hand, his head laid
back, showing his miserably thin neck,
and the white glare full on the haggard
pallor of his face.
His eyes frightened at the sight Of the
tray. Miss Merryweather, making no COM
chatting dish; and as 1t burned, she but
tered the slices of bread and plac ed beef
between them.
II am afraid the beef is a little under
done for your TASTE" observed she kind
ly, land hope you don't care for mustard
for 1 forgot it; but I've put on salt and
pepper. and they were the best done pieces
l could find. The soup will be warm in a
minute. NOW, you drink this glass of
wine"
The man drank it. keeping his eyes on
her. Then he laid the pistol on the table
Il amt going to use it," he said
Much better not returned Miss Merry
weather. THE truth is | have long had a
curiosity to burglar and / rather
have planned things that way, but didn't
expect he would be so decent as you Seem
How do you like tnrt wine? It's old
Jacques port" The burglar looked rather
bewildered, but answered that it was the
hest wine he had ever tasted. He added
irgenuously that he had net tastei much
wine.
You are rot AT all like professional
burglar" remarked the lady, who had now
come to ladling out the steaming soup.
Il think you must be an amateur"
II never touched a thing 'wasn't my own
before. lady, so help me -"
We'll. You haven't touched anything vet
row." interrupted Miss Merryweat Their
who had a mania for accuracy. She con-
tinued: II suppose you are putting that
sandwich into your pocket for your fam
lily don't do IL! I'll make you up n
basket for them. Tell me what brought
you, such a decent man, to this pass?'
The man smeared his eyes with his hand
before. he began. Il never seen a lady like
you," said he, I'm just going to tell YOU
the honest truth. / was working in Chi
caso. / belonged to the junior plumb
erS -"
"Oh, II you were a plumber, II must have