The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-12-26
AN OPPORTUNE INTRUDER.
BY HOWARD

vi tue cNcnluB Ol DeCeulDcr 20 anu
were served by the lady's maid, as the
butler had deserted them a few days
before. They had been married in
October, and therefore Il tetc-a-tete
dinner in their own home a not ceas-
ed to be q pleasure worth mentioning.
The absence of the butler was impor-
tant chiefly because of their prepare
tons for Christmas day, when they ex-
pected to entertain in very handsome
style.
In Mr.. IIammond's pocket was a
pretty little box containing Il diamond
bracelet of beauty and price. A corner
Of the box was making a black and blue
spot in the region of The genlleman's
ninth rib, and the sensation was really
pleasant, as a reminder, for he knew
whose eyes would open wide at the
sight of the jcwcllcd hoop and whose
lips would thank him with many kiss
eS.
After dinner Mrs. Hammond, with
her maid, as escort, went to call upon
some friends who lived near by, and
the gentleman was absolutely alone in
the apartments, for the cook a re-
ceived permission TO go to the "tceay-
ter"
He lighted a cigar In the dining
room and sat there smoking and con-
templating the bracelet with great salts
faction.
"I wonder where I'd better hide
this thing 2" said he to himself. Lucy
mustn't see 1T till Christmas.
He strolled into the parlor n
glanced around, but the familiar fur
nishings of the apartment offered no
acceptable suggestion.
"Gucss I'l put ii somewhere in my
den, 4" he said, and be walked through
the hall to II room that had been fitted
np for his W particular use.
The room was dark, and when he
turned the key in the wall that should
have lit the electric lamps there was
no CLEAN. The wiring in that room
had been out of order, and Hammond
had used a gas drop light there in writ
ing, but the electrician should have
made repairs that day. Hammond
growled a bit as he felt for the drop OF
the flat topped desk in the center o
the room. Some had taken it away
presumably under the impression tina
the electric lights had been mended
Hammond put the jewel case upon
the desk and went to look for the droI
light in a closet across the hall. Ii
found it without difficulty and brough
it to the den, where he connected tn
lamps tube with the fixture dependin
from the ceiling and soon had a light
The firss object that his eyes reste
upon was the jewel case. 1t lay O
the desk, open and empty. The brace
let had disappeared.
Hammond made three steps TO tn
door communicating with the dinin
room. 1t was locked, and the key wa
on the zeal side. Obviously no on
could have gone out that way, and a
for the other door, leading to the hal
a cat couldn't have run out there will
out Hammond's seeing it.
"I'm an idiot !" said he. eth
bracelet fell out of the case when | sc
it down on the desk, and 1t is rlgt
here, under some OF these papers"
But it W asn't. Neither could it b
founu upon the floor, where the sol
rugs might have deadcned the soun
of its falling.
"Well, that beats all my going a-lisl
ing 70 said Hammond, reverting to a
expression of his childhood. &C
course it's perfectly simple, if l ca
only get hold of it by the right end.
He dropped into his big chair b
the desk and ~endeavorcd to set tn
problem reasonably before his mint
While thus engaged he saw, out of tn
corner of his eye, the door of a close
swing slowly open a little way.
was a habit of that particular doc
and Hammond was quite familiar wit
~ Int ,uhnr Tho lnnr was haStilU an
gently closed again the phenomena
passed beyond the range of his expo
rience. He did not see a hand upo
the inside knob, but he knew That on
must be there.
In a drawer of the desk there was
revolver. 1t was not loaded, an
Hammond could not remember wins
he had done with the cartridges, bu
as the weapon was big and shiny, an
he a man of formidable size, tn
chances seemed to indicate a surrende
on the part of the person in the closet
"Come out of there ~ cried Ham
mond, levellng the revolver. "Com
out in three seconds, or III fire througI
the door. !"
In a hesitating and apolegetic man
ner the door was opened and there ap
peared a thin man of middle age, cloth
ed in shabby black. He looked pre-
cisely like the English butler tina
one sees upon the stage, no the ia
and pompous butler, but the lean as
celtic person who coughs behind hi
hand when an offense against etlJuett
is committed in his presence.
The burglar was 30 inferior in ply
sique that Hammond quickly lowered
his revolver, almost with a feeling o
shame.
"You're caught, my man., - said he
"and you might as well give up you.
plumber.
81 'aven't taken anything, sir, " re
piled the burglar weakly.
"Give me that diamond bracelet, ,
said Hammond in a . n expressive o.
a deep and dangerous sincerity.
Diamond bracelet !" gasped the
burglar. 81 'aven't seen 1t, sir. 'Por
my soul, l 'av.n't. It's not two min,
utes I'd been IN this place when yor
comes along and catches me"
1t was in that case, and now it's
gone," rejoincd Hammond. "Turn
out your pockets.
The man obeyed with alacrity. He
searched hilnself with feverish haste
and ludicrous thoroughness, but the
bracelet was not upon hims Ham
mond vas mystified. He glanced in.