The suburban citizen., 1902-08-16
An Up-to-Date
Burglar.

The night being balmy and moon
lighted, Mrs. Wallace Morton had left
the doors of her French windows open,
and was sitting in her hotel suite con-
templating the beauty Of the lake
parking in the moonbeams. Between
ter and the water lay a sensitive
trip Of lawn, across which a diapha-
ious shadow occasionally fitted,
Vhether friend or foe she could not
urely tell in the half light. Mrs.
1orton would have smiled at the sug-
estion of foe, yet at that moment
ne darkened her windows who was
Dt only a natural foe and intruder
mr a menace to her existence. Yet
he did not stir as the man, wearing a
nask that was obvious in the semi
arkness, partly entered, then stopped
autiously to look around. Mrs. Morton
icing in the shadow of a room un-
lighted from within, could not be seen
It a first glance. She did not move
tor did her voice tremble as she asked:
"What do you want? Have you
made mistake in the room?"
mot at ALL" was the decisive
inswer as the man stepped inside and
Aw that no one else-was present. IL
I'm here on business, but may as well
confess that did not expect to see
drs. Wallace Morton herself sitting
llone in the dark"
"Oh, then you know meY" the lady
laid coolly. "Please state your bust
iesS-but 1 think your mode of COM
ng to my apartments explains your
lrrand-you have come to rob me-"
Il have no intention Of harming you
have no fear, madam; am here to
ret the possession of the Morton dia.
nonds-when you hand them over l
VIII relieve you of my presence at
9nce. l have no time to parley."
"You speak like an educated man.
am not afraid, as it would do no good
70 use violence. They were sent this
afternoon to the bank vault, where l
nave a box, so that am saved from
Ireat loss and you from the commission
Of great crime.
Mrs. Morton spoke with a convic-
hon, and the man standing there in
the moonlight knew she was speaking
ttss truth. He muttered an oath and
turned to go. but Mrs. Morton halted
him By a sudden question.
How long have you followed this
kind Of lifeT'
Ever since I left college, with my
head crammed full of fads and moth
Ing for my hands to do. l was told to
get out and make a living. Well.
tried honest work, and l wouldn't do.
a raw boy from the country who
never saw the inside of a college was
better adapted to the necessities of the
hour. He could begin at the foot of the
ladder and reach the room at the top.
was at the top and there was nothing
for me but to come down, and l was
not fitted to begin over again. Not
much excuse? Then my mother cut
me off. That was the last straw"
But If you We're to reformT
THE De Greys are proud-they never
forgive disgrace"
The De Greys? You cannot mean
the Horace Devon De Greys?"
Yes, l am the degenerate son OF
that family, much to their chagrin. If
could be killed incognito they would
be reJoiced, but a black sheep of the
De Grey stock reformed or caught on
an expedition of robbery-that would
crush their naughty spirits to the
dust"
"But Mrs Morton rose to he. feet to
make her announcement, do you not
know that Mrs Horace Devon De Grey
Is guest in this hotel at this very
moment? Can it be possible that she
Is your mother?"
"She is and with the De Grey mil
mons at her command she turned me
out to accomplish work that | was
never intended for Do you wonder
that l became a hold-up man, as we
are facetlOusly called?
Il shall consider It nv duty 10 tel,
Mrs. De Grey-your mother-of my
my-seeing you. am sure that you
are not all bad; perhaps | can bring
about forgiveness and reconciliation.
You must be tired of your present
prOfessionP
A knock at Mrs. Morton's door In.
terrupted the conversation and the
masked burglar. who had been poised
; for instant flight, disappeared like
magic, while Mrs. Morton, who had
been steadily represslng her ex-
citement, nearly tainted at relief from
the great tension. She opened the
door to admit sparkling society girl
whose family occupied adjoining
suites.
"Have you the time, dear?" she asked
In a hutter. 81 let my sister take my
watch this afternoon"
"Yes, certainly, Alice, my watch is
right here on the table" and she stepped
to a stand that was between her and
the window, but she could not find 1t
and turned on the light. The watch
was gone. Her caller had improved
his time by approprlating it while be
told his pitiful story. Mrs MortoT said