The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-13
An Up-to-Date
Burglar.

and was sitting In her hotel suite con
templating the beauty Of the lake
sparkling in the moonbeams. Between
her and the water lay sensitive
strip Of lawn. across which dlapha'
nous shadow occasionally Aitred,
whether friend or foe she could no,
surely tell in the half light Mrs.
Morton would have smiled ut the sug.
gestion Of a foe. yet at that moment
one darkencd her windows who was
not only natural foe and intruder
but a menace to her existence. Yet
she did not stir rs the man. wearing a
mask that was obvious In the semi
darkness. partly entered. then stopped
cautiously to look around Mrs. Morton
being in the shadow Of a room an.
lighted from within. could not be seen
at a frst glance. She did not move
nor did her voice tremble as she asked:
"What do you want? Have you
made a mistake in the ROOM"
Not at ALL" was the decisive
answer as the man stepped inside and
saw that no one else was present. Il
am here on business. but I may as well
confess that did not expect to see
Mrs. Wallace Morton herself sitting
alone In the dark"
"Oh. then you know me-? the lady
said coolly. Please state your busi-
ness-but I think your mode Of COM
Ing to my apartments explains your
errand-you have come to rob me"'
Il have no intention OF harmins you
have no fear. madam: I am here to
get the possession Of the Morton dia.
monds-when you hand them over I
will relieve You Of my presence at
once. I have no time 20 parley."
You speak Ike an educated man. I
am not afraid. as II would do NO good
to use violence. The? were sent this
afternoon to the bank vault. where I
have box. so that am saved from a
great loss AMI you from the commission
Of great crime.
Mrs. Morton spoke with q convic.
ton. and the man standing there In
the moonlight knew she was speaking
the truth. He mu,tered an oath and
turned to go. but Mrs. Morton halted
him By sudden question.
How long have you followed this
kind Of life:"
Ever since I left college. with my
head crammed full Of fads and moth.
Ing for my hands 20 do. I was told to
get out apd make a living. Well.
tried honest work. and I wouldn't do.
"A raw boy from the country who
never saw the inside Of a college was
better adapted 20 the necessities OF the
hour. He could begin at the foot Of the
ladder and reach the room at the top.
was ut the top and there was nothing
Tor me but to come down. and was
not fitted to begin ove: again. Not
much excuse: Then my mother cut
me of. That was the last straw"
'But II you were to REFORM"
~rhe De Greys are proud-they nevci
forgive disgrace"
The DE Greys: You cannot mean
the Horace Devon De Greys?'
"Yes. l AN the degenerate son OF
that family. much TO their chagrin. II
j could be killed incogpito they would
be rejo'ced. but black sheep Of the
De Grey stock reformed or caught on
an expedition Of vobbery-that would
crush their haush:.y spirits to the
dustS
But Mrs Morton rose to her feet TO
make her announcement. do you not
know that 3rrs. Horace Devon De Grey
is guest In this hotel at this very
moment! Can Ii be possible that she
10 your mother:"
''She Is. and with tho De Grey mil.
Hons ut her command she turned me
out to accomplish work that I was
never intended for Do you wonder
thar became 4 holtl-up man. Us we
are facetiously called:"
II shall consider 1t my duty to tell
Mrs. De Grey-your mother-of my
my-seelng you. am sure that you
are not all bad: perhaps I can bring
about forgiveness and a reconciliation.
You must DE tired Of your present
profession:"
A knock at Mrs. Morton's door In.
terrupted the conversation and the
masked burglar. who had been poised
Tor instant flight. disappeared like
magic. while Mrs. Morton. who had
been steadily repressins her ex
element. nearly tainted at relief from
the great tension. She opened the
door to admit sparkling society gir
whose family occupied adjoining
suites.
"Have you the time. dear?" she asket
In autter. Il let my sister take my
watch this afternoon"
"Yes. certainly. Alice. my watch 1,
right here on the table," and she steppet
to a stand that was between her ane
the window. but she could not lind 4
and turned on the light. The watcl
was gone. Her caller had improved
his time by appropriating it while b,
told his pitIful story. Mrs Morton sal,
nothing OF the visit, but remarked tha
she had been careless to leave 1t nea
the open windows. That watch wa
her dearest personal belonging from
association. She felt sure he had takel
It from habit and would return
when she had restored him to hom
and society as she intended. In sIit
of her years Mrs. Morton was mo