Evening journal., 1899-08-05

The room was rather dark, so II did
not strike Thompson that none of the
furniture or decorations we're familiar.
And he had very little time to notice
anything.
"Elizal" he heard, sounding in a mas
culine voice from the next landing.
"Elizal"
Amanda Carson had no male rela-
tives in her family except her father,
and that was not old Catson's voice.
ELIAS gone out, Henry" said a te-
male voice. II sent her TO mail a let
ter"
"Then wish she wouldn't leave the
front door open," said the first voice.
"Hellol It's closed now. She must have
come in. Elizal"
No answer.
Then the man growled: "1t's very
strange. That door didn't blow TO. OF
I would have heard it bang"
OF course, by this time, Thompson re-
allied that, after all. 1t was not3s 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 esoaps-both as rapid
US 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 ELIAS back was turned, now
stood, with something made Of steel in
his outstrctched right hand, halfway
down the stairs.
MY name is Thompson" the inno-
cent intruder began.
"I daresay lis. Stay right where you
are, Thompson"
1t was a painful situation. Nothing
could induce that grim householder to
believe that Thompson was himself,
and not a particularly cunning and en-
tcrprising early-eyening burglar, who
worked the dress suit racket"
"You Mr. Cyril Thompson, Ell? Well,
Mr., Cyril Thompson had beard when
/ heard him sing III Mo Teroro.' Can
you sing?"
Under the circumstances Thompson
could not sing. Fancy warhAng; III
Mic Teroro" in such a predicamentl
The end of it was that Eliza came
In and Immediately went out again to
get.a 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 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 Tompldns'
+ just as well as for "Cyril Thompson
At the station housa the minions o'
q the law followed the sams Objectionable
, course. believing nothing that Thomp
= son said about himself, and laughing 4
scorn what they called that old gag"
z "You say you arc Mr.. Cyrn Thomp
SON." said the inspector. 's1han wha'
n were you doing in Mr.. CameronE houss
7 without ringing tho be1f You dom
know anybody there. do your"
0 That really sealed poor uhompson'I
c lips. He did not want TO tell this polics
inspector all about his innocent little
q plan for surprising Amanda Carson.
However, that part of his agony die
. not last overnight. A note 70 a friend
- brought relief-and bail. And wheI
4 Thompson's lawyer came tho polc'
q cautiously began-to believe something
n of the story Of the lost beard. But tn
irate Cameron, by that time, had gon'
v home and to bed; so there was nobod,
a ut hand to withdraw the charge. ans
It the magistrnte who waa called up a
70 thgt lato hour nnasis the baii heavy.
Ie Cameron dfd finally yieid-tifougl
e net until poor Thompson had spesrt
N sleepless night, followed bS a very I'm
pleasant morning in the police court.
y But after all this, and after Thomr
ie son had neglected to shave his newiy-re
ID vealed face. hoping mat that bean
Is would quickly reappear-the worst wa
n yet to come. II came all through a
'e energetic and discerning reporter, VIII
n saw in Thompson's account. of himsel
?. chance for a good story" This
IS how the good story" met Thompson
d haggard eyes when he looked at tn
IL paper that morning Of his appearanc
at in the police court:
Il, ONE OK CYRIL
r SLICK BURGLAR. CAUGHT IN III
ID ACT. SAYS PIE is MIR THOAfP-
SON."
Il, THOUGH BEARDLESS. HE WOUl4
= DIPERsONATE THE HJ2suTB Sc
=" CIETY TENOR.
' ''Now, what is a man to DO in q cas-
N like this?" Thompson piteopsly aslSe
- his friend who had bailed hin out
~ Il guess you'd better let it go at'tha
n old man." said his friend. If 20
y don't keep quiet they may come OF
~ y, with another scare head; phc Bu
~ glar Was Thompson, After Ap. VIII
~ Was lie Doing in That HouseT sa
" nothing and let your beard groN
That's my advice"
~, Thompson stayed at home A)r tv
weeks Then he called on Amanda an
explained matters-with a tseshl
grown beard.