The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-10

forward. He went up the trellis with
ouick. conclusive movements; ;" uhS
his legs over the parapet Oh the pSi-
cony, and dropped, painting IN IIe
shadow, even as he had designed. ne nc
was trembling violently, snort Oh
brao+b and his heart pumped noisily,
hut his mood was eXultatlon- he couiu
have shouted to find he was so little
afraid. I'D learned
from Wills "Mephistopheles came III ..I
to his mind as he crouched there,
feel like a cat on the tiles. ne wis Wis
nered il to himself. 1t was far better
tban he had exDected-thiS adVentur-
ons exhilaration. He was sorry for all
moor men to whom burglary was I'M
known. Nothing happened: he was
quite safe And he was acting IN the
bravest manner!
And now for the window to make the
burglary complete! Would ne care ~
do that? It's position above the front
door defined it as a landing or passage,
and there were no looking glasses Oh
anv bedroom signs about 1t or any
other on the first floor, to suggest the
possibility of a sleeper within. For
time he listened under the ledge, lhe1
raised his eyes above the Sill anu
peered again. Beyond was d vi 90 "a
landing family cleaning, 1llmSy ldp-
ric of bead curtain, very black anu
sharp against a further window, a
broad staircase plunging into a gun
of darkness below, and another ascend
ing to the second floor He glanced
behind him. but the stiffness OF the
night was unbrOken. CRIME, ne
whisDered. crime and scrambled
softly and swiftly over the sill into
the house. His feet fell noiselessly on
a mat of skin. He was a burglar IN
deed
He crouched for time, all ears and
peering eyes Outside was a Scamper-
ing and rustling, and for moment ne
reDented of his enterprise. A snort
miaow, a splitting and a rush INTO
silence spoke reassuringly OF cats. HIS
courage grew. He stood up. Every
one was abed, it seemed. So easy is
it to commit a burglary, II one is so
minded. He determined TO take some
pretty trophy, just to prove his free-
dom from any abject fear OF the law
and depart the way he had come.
He Deered about him, and suddenly
the critical spirit arose again. Burglars
did Gar more than such mere elemen-
tary entrance as this: they went INTO
rooms they forced safes. Well, he was
not afraid He could not force safes,
because that would be u stupid want
of consideration for his hosts. But ne
would go into rooms-he would so up
r.
he was perfectly secure; an empty
house could not be more reassuringiy
still. He had to clinch his lands, never
theless. and summon all ais resolution
before he began very softly to ascend
the dim staircase, Dausing for several
seconds between each step. Above
was a square landing with one open
and several closed doors, and all the
house was still. For a moment he
es+r WOnl6 hAnDen
if some sleeper woke suddenly and
emerged. The open door showed a
Inoonlit bedroom, the coverlet white
and undisturbed. Into this room he
crept in three interminable minutes
and took piece of SOAP for his plum
der-his trophy He turned to descend
even more softly than he had ascend
ed It was as easy as. Hist
Footsteps! On the gravel outside the
house. and then the noise OF a latch
key, the yarn and bang of a door, and
the splitting of a match in the hall be-
low. Mr.. Ledbetter stood Detrified by
the sudden discovery of the folly upon
which he had come. How on earth
am 1 to get out of this?" said Mr.. Led
better
The hall grew bright with a candle
flame, some heavy object bumped
against the umbrella stand, and feet
were ascending the staircase. In
flash Mr.. Ledbetter realized that his
retreat was closed. He stood for
moment, a Ditiful figure OF penitent
confusion. Ny goodness, What
fool 7 have beeni" he whispered, and
then darted swiftly across the
shadowy landing into the empty bed
room from which he had just come.
He stood istening-quivering The
footsteps reached the' first floor land
ing.