Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-02-08
Whitrige's Burglar,

but peering through the frosted glass!
into the dimly lighted hall he saw that
the family had retired for the night.
The idea of being found in such po-
sition was repulsive to him. After
what had occurred was he to confess
that he had been conquered by door
knob? He certainly was not, or at
F., least until all hope was gone. He re-
membered that she had said that her
father was in town and would be at
home at IL o'clock. 1t was an hour
yet, but he believed that he could per-
suade the old gentleman to hold his
peace, and that was worth long and
weary waiting.
One more attack on the door knob
convinced Whitridge of the uselessness
of further efforts at freedom, so he
settled down in corner and made
himself as comfortable as possible
under the circumstances. AS he sat
there on the floor of the dark vestibule
he forgot his unpleasant predicament
and fell to thinking of her, and as he
thought of her he forgot all else.
The sleeping man was awakened by
q gentle dig in the ribs, and he opened
his eyes into the dim glare of dark
lantern. He tried to raise himself, but
there was weight on his chest, and
he was forced back to PROSTATE con-
dition. He would have cried out, but
a heavy hand was clasped over his
mouth.
From the blackness behind the Ian
tern came hoarse whisper:
"S-sh! Mr.. Whitridge, it's me, Gro
gan, who you got of. You amt goin'
to be hurt. f"
Whitridge was wide awake now, and
the situation came to him in fash.
LIE recalled his one client. and, though
he realized the mans mission at the
Walton house, he felt that to him Gro
gan was messenger sent from heaven
to release him from the tolls. The.
weight was removed from the chest
and the hand from his mouth after
another admonitory Ssh. =
The lawyer gotto his knees and
;;sleaGfa toward the dark form of his
lquondam client seized the grimy hand
Fandsqueezed it affectionately. "Can't
you get me out, Grogan?" he whis-
pered.
There was chuckle. The light
quivered in evidence of the amusement
of the man who held it.
Cant you?" repeated Whitridge.
SSH" Grosau answered. Turn
about 'ud be fair play, seein' ez you
saved me once from the Jug"
But I'm not burglar" Whitridge
expostulated.
'Tt looks suspicious" was the re.
ply. The light quivered again and
more violently. ''You seem anxious
to get away without row."
Whitridge was in no mood for iok
ing.
"Now, see here, Grogan," he said,
ct did you good turn not long ago,
as you remember. I got you oil when
I really had reason to believe you
guilty. As"
"oh, but that was plea o. yours,
Mister Whit
''Hang the plear'
"S-sh!"
"All that ask is that you silence
your conscience, disregard your suspi-
cions and let me go my way"
Il can't. 1t looks like we're both
caught" said the burglar Whitridge
heard a muttered oath and reference
to the door knob.
''Can't you open it?" he asked.
"No, answered Grogan. "I might
have once, but it's been iammed all
out O. shape. I can't go back, nuther. "
''How in the world did you get in?"
'Why, me an ne pal come through
the cellar window, of course. He
stayed below and gathered up the sill
yer while went upstairs. / goes
into room there, an hardly was I
at work till hears woman begin to
git restless. Had it been n man I'd
stayed, for man'll mostly cover up.
his head and lay still, but a woman
alters yells. So L sneaked. Bill, he
went through the winder with the
main part of the swag an all the tools,
an I come this way. Here I am. One
doors closed, so I can't go back;
t'other I can't open."
"This is pretty kettle of fish,"
moaned WhitridSe.
''E'ish? Burglars You mean," re-
torted Grogan. "But where's your
swag?"
''5ee here, Grogan, said Whitridge,
II got in here honestly, and I'm going
to get ont honestly. These people are
friends CT mine, and I think I'll just
give the alarm. u
Chow about me?" said the burglar.
81 don't think they're on my wisitin'
list"
"But can't I say you are friend of
mine?"
ga pretty time this fer frien's to be
locked up in vestybules, particular with
pockets full O. spoons an things like
this" Grogan held handsome port
folio in the light of the lantern. 81
got it in her room while lookin' fer
jewelry an bills. Kin you read?"
He opened the leaves and turned the
light full on page'covered with an
gular handwriting, A long silence
followed. during which the burglar
ran his finger along the lines and
spelled out word after word.
''Why, it's about fellow" he NUT
tered She must a had 'em bad. IF
he'd only come back tome, she says"
"Says what?" exclaimed Whitridge,
grasping his companions arm.
''S-sh! She says if he'd only come
back she'd accept him an'--
Whitridge seized the portfolio. 'It's
woman's diary he said, roughly,
and you have no right to look at it.. %
Then, fixing it in the lantern light
4