Evening journal., 1899-08-30

arm.
Tho room was rather dark, so It did
not strike Thompson that none of the
furniture or decorations were familiar.
And he had very little time TO notice
anything.
"Ellzal" he heard, sounding in mas
culine voice from the next landing.
"ElizaIs'
Amanda Carson had no male rela-
tives 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 1 wish she wouldn't leave the
front door open," said the first voice.
"Hellol It's closed now. She must have
come in. Elizai"
No answer.
Then the man growled: TITS very
strange. That door didn't blow 10, or
would have heard it bang"
OF course, by this time, Thompson re-
allied that, after all, il was not 3S 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 70 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 I'll shoot"
The good man of the house, having.
as he supposed, grasped the fact that
q 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 inno-
cent intruder began.
'Idaresay tits. Stay right where you
are, Thompson"
It was a painful situation. Nothing
could induce that grim householder to
believe that Thompson was himself,
and not a particularly cunning and en-
terprising early-evenfng burglar, who
worked the dress suit racket"
you Mr.. Cyril Thompson, eh? Wen,
Mr.. Cyril Thompson had beard when
1 heard him sing IL Mic Teroro.' Can
you sing?"
Under the circumstances Thompson
could not sing. Fancy warbling: I'll
Mic Teroro" in such predicamentl
The end Of it was that Eliza came
in and Immediately went out again to
get n 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
Thompson's handkerchief, on which
he would have found the .intitials: &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 Tomplins'
just as well as for 'eyril Thompson"
At the station house the minions oi
the law followed the same Objectionable
course, believing nothing that Thomp
son said about himself, and laughing L
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.houss
without ringing the bell2 You don't
know anybody there, do your"
That really sealed poor Thompson'l
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 wher
Thompson's lawyer came the police
cautiously began TO believe something
of the story of the lost beard. But thl
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 al
that late hour mads the bail heavy.
Cameron did finally yield-thougl
not until poor Thompson had spent {
sleepless night. followed by a very un
pleasant morning in thepohce court.
But, after all this, and after Ihomp
son had neglected to shave his newly-re
vealed face, hoping that that beart
would quickly reappear-the worst was
yet TO come. It came all through al
energetic and discerning reporter, wh'
saw in Thompson's account of himsel
chance for "good story" This Il
how the good story" met Thompsoni
haggard eyes when he looked at thu
paper that morning Of his appearances
in the police court:
ONE on CYRIL
SLICK BURGLAR, CAUGHT IN THI
, ACT. SAYS HE IS MR.. THOMP-
SON."
THOUGH BEARDLESS. HE WOULl
4 IAiPERsONATE THE HIRsUTE so
CIETY TENOR.
, 'Now, what is a man to do in acas
like this?" Thompson piteously aslSe
l his friend who had baiIed him out.
! II guess you'd better let it go at that
e old man." said his friend. IF yor
don't keep quiet they may come ou
j. with another scare head: The Bun
! glar Was Thompson, After An. Wha
e Was He Doing in That House,? Sa.
a nothing and let your beard grow
That's my advice"
{. Thompson stayed at home for tw
I weeks. Then he called on Amanda an
/ explained matters-with a freshly
grown beard.