Evening journal., 1899-07-07


front room, carrying his hat in his
hand and his evening cape over one
arm.
The room was rather dark, so Il did
not strike Thompson that none Of the
furniture or decorations were familiar.
And he had very little time 10 notice
anything.
"Elizal" he heard, sounding in mas
culine voice from the next landing.
"Elizai"
Amanda Carson had no male rela-
tiyes in her family except her father,
and that was not old Carson's voice.
"Eliza's gone out, Henry" said fe-
male voice. II sent her to mail let
ter"
Then l wish she wouldn't Nave the
front door open," said the first voice.
"Hellol Its closed now. She must have
come in. Elizal"
No answer.
Then the man growled: Its very
strange. That door didn't blow TO, OF
l would have heard il bang"
OF course, by this time, Thompson re-
allied that, after all, il was not IS that
he should have gone to, but SO.
He picked up his hat and cape and
moved quickly toward the door of the
front room, intending TO make an eN-
planation and an escape-both as rapid
as possible.
mo, you don't" said that same mas
culine voice. you stop right where
you are or I'll shoot"
The good man of the house, having,
as he supposed, grasped the fact that
a burglar had sneaked ;n at the front
door while Eliza's back was turned, now
stood, with something made Of steel in
his outstretched right hand, halfway
down the stairs.
my name is Thompson" the inno-
cent intruder began.
81 daresay tits. Stay right where you
are, Thompson"
II was n painful situation. Nothing
could induce that grim householdef'to
believe that Thompson was himself,
and not a particularly cunning aud en-
terprising early-evening burglar, who
worked the dress suit racket"
"You Mr.. Cyril Thompson, eh? Well,
Mr.. Cyril Thompson had a beard when
] heard him sing III Mic Teroro.' Can
you sing?'
Under the circumstances Thompson
could not sing. Fancy warbling; II
Mic Teroro" in such predicamenti
The end Of it was that Eliza came
in and immediately went out again tc
get policeman.
Thompson had no better luck Will
the policeman than with Mr.. Cameron
that was the householder's name
The policeman refused TO look al
Thompson's handkerchief, on whicl
he would have found the initials: sc
t." elegantly embroidered. Neither
would he examine any of Thompson
underwear. Even If he had, he weul'
have found only the initials, and &C
T." may stand for Charles TomplSins
just as well as for cyril Thompson"
At the station house the minions o
the law followed the same objectionabl
course, believing nothing that ThomI
son said about himself, and laughing I
scorn what they called "that Old gar
'You say you are Mr. Cyril EhonF
son." said the inspector. "IheH wha
were you doing in Mr.. Camerons hous
without ringing the bell? You don
know anybody there, do you?"
That really sealed poor Thompson
lips. He did not want to tell this polio
inspector oil about his innocent littl
plan for surprising Amanda Carson.
However, that part Of his agony di
not last overnight. A note TO a frien
brought relief-and bail. And whe
Thompson's lawyer came the polio
cautiously began TO believe something
of the story of the lost beard. But ia
irate Cameron, 10y that time, had gon
home and to bed; so there was nobod
at hand to withdraw the charge, an
the magistrate who was called up a
that late hour made the bail heavy.
Cameron did finally yield-thoug
not until poor Thompson had spent
sleepless night, followed by a very VI
pleasant morning in the police court.
\ But, after all this, and after ThomI
son had neglected to shave his newly-rs
vealed face, hoping that that bear
would quickly leappeaf the WolAt wa
yet to come. It came all through a
energetic and discerning reporter, VIII
saw in Thompson's account Of himse
chance for u good story" This
how the good story" met Thompson
! haggard eyes when he looked at th
paper that morning of his appearance
in the police court:
, ONE ON CYRIL
SLICK BURGLAR. CAUGHT IN TIL
ACT. SAYS HE is "MR. THOAfP-
SON"
THOUGH BEARDLEss. HE WOUL
IAIPERSONATE THE HIRsUTE Sc
CIETY TENOR
''Now, what is a man 10 do in a cas-
like this?" Thompson piteously asks
! his friend who had bailed him out.
81 guess you'd better let it go at tina
old man." said his friend. If yo
don't keep quiet they may come o.
with another scare head: The Blu
4 Ill A