River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-06-15

81 daresay ii is. Stay right where yot
are, Thompson"
1t was a painful situation. Nothing
could induce that grim householder TO
believe that Thompson was himself,
and not particularly cunning and en-
terprising early-evening burglar, who
worked the dress suit racket
You Mr.. Cyril Thompson, Ell? Well,
Mr.. Cyril Thompson had beard when
heard him sing III Milo Teroro.' Can
you sing?"
Under the circumstances Thompson
could not sing. Fancy warbling: II
Milo Teroro" in such a predicamenti
The end of it was that Eliza came
in and Immediately went out again to
get policeman.
Thompson had no better luck with
the policeman than with Mr.. Cameron
that was the householder's name.
The policeman refused to look AT
1hompson's handkerchief, on which
he would have found the initials: &c.
T." elegantly embroidered. Neither
would he examine any of Thompson's
underwear. Even if he had, he would
have found only the initials, and &c.
T." may stand for Charles Tompkins"
just as well as for Cyril Thompson"
At the station house the minions OF
| the law followed the same Objectionable
course, believing nothing that Thomp-
son said about himself and laughing to
scorn what they called that old gag"
"You say you are Mr.. Cyril Thomp-
son." said the inspector. Then what
were you doing in Mr.. Cameron's house
without ringing the bell? You don't
know anybody there, do you?"
That really sealed poor Thompson's
lips. He did not want to tell this police
inspector all about his innocent little
plan for surprising Amanda Carson.
However, that part of his agony did
not last overnight. A note to a friend
brought relief-and bail. And when
| Thompson's lawyer came the police
cautiously began to believe something
of the story of the lost beard. But the
irate Cameron, by that time, had gone
| home and to bed; so there was nobody
at hand to withdraw the charge, and
| the magistrate who was called up at
l
Cameron did finally yield-thougb
not until poor Thompson had spent a
sleepless night, followed by very I'M
pleasant morning in the police court.
But, after all this, and after Thomp-
son had neglected to shave his newly-re-
vealed face, hoping that that beard
would quickly reappear-the worst was
yet to come. 1t came all through an
energetic and discerning reporter, who
saw in Thompson's account of himself
chance for good story" This is
how the good story" met Thompson's
haggard eyes when he looked at the
paper that morning of his appearance
in the police court:
| ONE ON CYRIL!
| SLICK BURGLAR, CAUGHT IN THE
ACT, SAYS HE IS "MR. THOMP-
SON"
THOUGH BEARDLESS, HE WOULD
IMPERSONATE THE HIRSUTE So
GETTY TENOR.
Now, what is n man to do in a case
like this?" Thompson piteously asked
his friend who had bailed him out.
II guess you'd better let it go at that,
| blh Seiltl Ills II NOh
don't keep quiet they may come out
with another scare head: The Bur-
glar Was Thompson, After All. What
Was He Doing in That House?' Say
nothing and let your beard grow.
That's my advice
Thompson stayed at home for two
weeks. Then he called on Amanda and
explained matters-with a freshly
grown beard.
1T was unfortunate" said Amanda,
with an unpleasantly doubtful intona-
ton. ION the whole / think you look
better with the beard than you would
without it."
And now Mrs. Cyril Thompson-nee
Carson-declares she would never let
her husband shave his beard, no matter
how clear cut his features may ben.
O. Times-Democrat.