The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-04
A LOGICAL THIEF.

tanned me in town; so / determined to re.
turn to my little suburban retreat at AL
perton for the night and travel back to tht
seaside on the morrow. 1t was nearly
o'clock when l arrived opposite my little
home. 1 had to pass it on my way to the
general shop where had left the door key
fer safe keeping. 1 looked up at my bed
prise l saw the curtains move. then n long
thin hand. a mans hand. latched the win
dow ard disappeared. For moment / felt
frightened: the evening was fast fading
into darkness. Ny cottage ought to have
been as had left it two weeks ago. empty.
and yet, unless my eyesight had played me
some fanciful trick there was hand, and
il hand. as natural sequence, man.
/ do not know what made me do 1t, IL 1t
was the outcome of foo,hardiness or cour-
age. or extreme nervousness. or a mixture
OF all three but I marched to the front
door and gave rat-tat-tat that would have
aroused tae seven sleepers.
II it's a thief he will bolt, I thought,
and if-the door opened and a young man
in his shirt sleeves stood before me.
"Well?" said he. interrogatively.
wen, SAID i, 1eebly-
'Do you want anybody"
Yes 1 answered. SIS Miss Christine
Smythe at home?"
ooh, yes; she expected you. Step ir,''
and mechanically Isstepped In.
Take a seat in the parlor," said he. at
fably. and here must apologize to any of
my friends who read this. /. Christine
Smythe, a woman noted for her strength
of mind and immunity from feminine
weakness. 1, who had always derided hys-
terical and fainting women, WE'LL faint
ed.
When I regained consciousness he was
standing beside me with some brandy in
one of my best wineglasses.
Drink little, it will do you good. Miss
Smythe."
You know my name?'
Eyes. Now drink" / did so.
81 will draw the curtains and light the
lamp. only don't you move or speak," He
said the last three words in such a pecu-
liar manner that imagined it better to
obey him, but thought would give tre-
mendous scream II 1 could see anybody
passing, and looked out of the window.
He had lit the lamp. and. having drawn
the curtains, turned to me.
81 shouldn't do that" he said.
"Do what?' I asked.
Scream for help II you saw anybody
pass the window. l should have to"
and he stopped and smiled pleasantly at
me.
Have to what?''
Ever see woman gagged, Miss
Smythe?
No." answered. felt quite a creepy
sensation all over me.
You will excuse my shirt sleeves. but
took off my coat when I was working
about the house this afternoon" He sat
down on the easy chair opposite me.
He wasn't at all a bad looking man. In
fact, perhaps he was rather handsome;
and then his eyes were so ingenious, his
manner so candid.
Il suppose you are wondering who
ann" he said pleasantly.
/ looked around the room. and my ac-
customed eye missed my silver candle
sticks. my beautiful clock. my bronze
statuettes; even the Persian hearthrug
was rolled up and stood waiting in a cor
ner.
Well" said. IT should think you were
a" stopped. I was alone III a coun-
try cottage with desperate criminal. and
candor seemed strangely out of place.
60 en-" he remarked, persuasively.
Remember that you are my guest. and
that you will be treated with all the def
erence and chivalry which your charming
sex commands; that is. of course, as long
as you don't scream"
did not like to say burglar: besides.
he was so unlike one; and as for calling
him thief. couldn't. and so compro-
missed matters and said. II suppose you
area robber."
Now. there is where you are wrong.
entirely wrong; and really l am surprised
that a young lady who is not the usual
brainIess female-you will pardon the re-
Election on your seS-but who has written
so clearly and explicitly on the question
of capital and labor and On the division
of wealth, should call me robbari Sure
ly Miss Smythe. the word is misplaced"
really felt quite ashamed. 1T is not
often" he continued. that in the Pursuit
of my profession I have the opportunity
Of tete-a-tete with a charming author
ess whose books have given me such
great pleasure. and IL you would allow me
to make use of the opportunity and con-
verse with you. should be obliged. Tn
me. madam. do not insist The
few things that I have thought worthy of
are now mine. if not egaily.
at least. morally. Shall We Exchange
ideas ~
Involunta-ily my eye fell upon a little
sack in the corner of the room. peeping out
Of the mouth Of which I could discern the
only piece of silver possessed. I sighed.
why sigh" he urged. Surely a lady
endowed with so much philohophy as your
self has a mind above the trivial exchanges
of everyday life; or can it be that your
books are only sham? Why. only lately
a charming little treatise of yours fell into
my hands during a professional visit which
paid one evening TO the house Of we'll
known money lender. 1t was entitled The
Inequality OF Wealth a charming pam.
phlet. most logical and so true His ex-
pressive eyes dwelt upon me with al ad-
mi-ing glance.
I began to feel indignant.
Surely" l remarked. with asperity.
having robbed me OF my valuaoes, you
can now spare me your brutal wit
20! madam. you pain me. But with
your permission. I will resume my coat"
| made no response, but stared at him
in my iciest manner.
Then. madam" and he put on his coat.
without your permission. But there he
continued. 81 am forgetting my duties as
I host While inspecting the lower re-
riGns / discovered six half-pint bottles OF
champagne. Three have gone-the other
three are here"
He placed two glasses on the table. fetch
ID bottle from the siGe5oard. ana coEtln-
Iei: Unfortunately. the nippers are
downstairs. To procure them | should
have to leave you. l could not be so rude
ergo we must have recourse to the polk
,r" He poured 1t out with steady hand,
md noticed. with a pang that two rings
had foolishIy left upstairs decked his ar
stocratic fingers.
ut is rather an inferior Brand he re-
marked filling his own glass. Accept
ny apologies. Madam. may I have the
honor to clink glasses with your
| tried to freeze him with glance Of
supreme contempt. He looked at re re-