Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-09-21


hand and his evening cape over on
arm.
The room was rather dark, so IL dit
not strike Thompson that none of tn
furniture or decorations were familiar
And he had very little time to MOTTO
anything.
"Eliza!" he heard, sounding In a mas
culine voice from the next landing
"Elizal"
Amanda Carson had no male rela
tiyes in her family except her father
and that was not old Carsons voice.
ELIAS gone out, Henry" said fe
male voice. II sent her TO mail let
ter"
Then l wish she wouldn't leave the
front door OPEN" said the first voice
"Hellol Its closed now. She must have
come in. Eliza!'
No answer.
Then the man growled: Its very
strange. TAat door didn't blow to, or
| would have heard it bang"
OF course, by this time, Thompson re
allied that, after all, it 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 ex-
PLANTATION 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 III shoot"
The good man of the house, having,
as he supposed, grasped the fact that
a burglar had sneaked in 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 limo
cent intruder began.
"Idaresay is. Stay right where you
are, Thompson"
II was a painful situation Nothing
could induce that grim householder to /
believe that Thompson was himself, /
and not particularly cunning and en-
terprising early-eyening burglar, who 1
worked the dress suit racket"
"You Mr.. Cyril Thompson, Ell? Well, /
Mr.. Cyril Thompson had a beard when
i heard him sing ii Milo Teroro.' Can
you sing?"
Under the circumstances Thompson
could not sing. Fancy warbling: III
Mic Teroro" in such predicament!
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
lhompson's handkerchief, on which
he would have found the initials: sc.
T." elegantly embroidered. Neither
would he examine any of Thompson's
underwear. Even IL he had, he would
have found only the initials, and &C.
l." 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
,corn what they called that old gag"
You say you are Mr.. Cyril Thomp-
son." said the inspector. Then what
we're you doing in Mr. Cameron's house
without ringing the bell2 You don't
know anybody there, do your"
That really sealed poor Thompsons
Ups. He did not want TO tell this police
Inspector all about his innocent little
'lan for surprising Amanda Carson.
However, that part of his agony did
rot last overnight. note to a friend
brought relief-and bail And when J
rhompson's lawyer came the police
cautiously began to believe something .
Il the story of the lost beard. But the
rate Cameron, by that time, had gone !
home and to bed so there was nobody
It hand TO withdraw the charge, and /
he magistrate who was called up at
hat late hour made the bail heavy. ,
Cameron did finally yield-though !
Tot until poor Thompson had spent a I
leepless night, followed by a very un- y
pleasant morning in the police court. .
But, after all this, and after Thomp-
on had neglected TO shave his newly-re- a
called face, hoping that that beard d
would quickly reappear-the worst was .
ct to come. II came all through an S
nergetic and discerning reporter, who {
aw in Thompson's account Of himself q
chance for good story" This is /
ow the good story" met Thompson's \
aggard eyes when he looked at the y
'aper that morning Of his appearance il
n the police court: Ii
ONE ON CYRIL a
LICK BURGLAR. CAUGHT IN THE s.
ACT. SAYS HE is MIR. THoMP-
SON"
HOUGH BEARDLESs, HE WOULD
IMPERsONATE THE HIRsUTE So ii
GETTY TENOR !.
Now, what is a man to do in case I,
Ike this?" Thompson piteously asked p
IS friend who had bailed him out. :
Il guess you'd better let it 90 at that IS
id man." said his friend. IF Won 5
ont keep quiet they may come out il
nth another scare head: The Bur II