The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-03-07
LANGLEY'S BURGLAR.
KENNErr F. HARRIS.

He was a clean, venerable looking
old fellow, with q sIlOwy-white tuft Of
hair on bis chin and pair Of steel
Trimmed spectaeies asiTide Of nose
that was Aeolored just trifie deeper
tnan the rest Of his face. His express
ion was mild and benevolent A fold
cd rule was sticking out of his waist
coat pocket, and 3 thick, stubby pencil
was prorruding from behind his ear,
and he carried hammer and piece Of
weather strip.
Good morning, marm,n he said, as
Mrs. Langley opened the kitchen door.
''I'm the carpenter"
''OhT' said Mrs Langley. vaguely.
The agent sent me to look at the
windows snd see what was needed for
them" pursued the old man.
Not our windows, surely" said Mrs
Langley. There's nothing in the
world the matter with them. There
must be some mistake
"Irs the castings 1 want to look al. "
explained the carpenter. Il want TO
see if the weather stripping is set ali
right, or if it wants new anywhere.
We are going to have a cold winter
once it starts, and We don't want to
have you freezing to death"
He looked 50 particularly benevolent
as he said this, that Mrs Langley felt
quite grateful She invited hin. in,
and he inspected the kitchen windows,
the bedroom aud parlor windows, and
even the transoms, dOiRg everything in
a very conscientious, pains,aking fash
ion, and it was nearly half an hour be
fore he folded his rule and took up his
bat to 90.
There amt really much to do" he
said, ~iJh a modest air of depreciating
his efforts 10 Mrs. Langley's behalf in
order to stem an anticipated food of
thanks. Il guess there's about an
hours work altogether. That there
door Is sprung quite bad, and might
as well fix that with the rest Let the
tail 90 with the hide-that's what /
say. There's no use spelling the ship
to save a pot o pitch He didn't tell
me TO FIX the door, but | amt NAN
that likes to do things by halves"
Mrs. Langley commended these SEN
timents.
Now, marm, if you'll let me know
what day to come. I'll fix it so'st
won't have to bother you when it's not
convenient" concluded the old man.
Il don't like to come in with tools clut-
term up house when a lady amt ex-
peetini me. How'm | goin' to know
but she's got company, or somethin' O.
that sOrt?p
Mrs. Langley said he was the most
considerste man she ever saw
Langley had suspicious from the
start
Told you the agent sent him around,
did he?" he asked. THAT settles it!
The agent Sent carpenter aroundl
nsolicited-actuated by kind con-
eern for oar comfort didn't go down
on my knees half dozen times TO inn
plore him to have those windows fixed.
1 didn't finally take big club and go
to his Office and make threatening dem
onstrations? No; he thought some Of
US might sit in the draft ana catch cold,
50 he sent a man to fix It so We couldn't
Tlats the worst | ever heardEi
sounds kind Of fishy," said Plum
mer, who was over for the evening.
"What would the man want to come
a-ound for if hs wasn't sent9' asked
Ms. Langley. "He said the agent sent
him, most distinctly and positively.
He wouldn't say thing like that and
20 to all that trouble unless it was so"
What have you missed since he
went away27 asked PIummer.
ssWhat have l. Why, you don't
mean No: that would be absurd He
couldn't have taken anything without
my seeing him. 1 wAs with bim the
whole time. Besides, he wssn'. al all
that kind Of man"
''Do you mean be wasn't ticSeted as a
burglar? That don't signify anything;
be might have swallowed MS tag"
sI guess / can tell burglar when I
see one, anyEsy," said Mrs Langley,
Indignantly. This man was as nice
and pleasant and ehatty a. he could be-"
some Of the most confirmed and
inveterate burglars have known have
ben pleasant, ehatty men, remarked
Langley.
--lN nen the eBterprising burglars
not a-burgiing be loves TO lie a-basking
in the sun, quoted Plummer-
"Did be wipe his feet on the mat
when he came in?'' inquired Langley. |
Il think you are both absurd, " said
his wife. sIf he had been burglar
WHY wouldn't be have stolen some
thing while be was in the bouse? An
other thing. He wouldn't have spoken
about the broken fastenings on the pan
try window and said be would bring a
new one"
THAT'S easily explained" " remarked
Langley. s.He probably thought there
vss a chance that we would put on
new listening ourselves if he didn't say
that be would. he wanted to make
sure Of sn opening"
AN opening for person OF expert
ence,H added Plumner.
That's the idea, exactly. think we
can make up our minds that We are go
ing 70 have what they call nocturnal /
visitor. I distrust these philanthropic
nersous with silvery vhiskers-"
..Were there any vslaa5les in sight,
Ms Langley 20 asked Plummer
.fFbere Was my watch on the dress
snd my bracelets and other
hing. and there was baby's little sill
,sr mug. and the cream pitcher and