The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-27
Copyright 1867, by Robert Howard

Icopyright, 1867, by Robert Howard
Russell.)
When Henry Corbouid came home at
II O'Clock ct night and saw light in ms
study he was not surprised. as he mad
been expecting his brother Chaunccy 10
como on from Boston, and Chauncey
s always made himself at home Henry
was rather glad than OTHERWISE. lac h;d
been to 3. dinner where he had been wiNed
TO an unusual degree for him, and the
Good gates of his socability We're opened
and he was Just in the mood TO chat
with Chauncey concerning the art world
IN Boston and New York. and perhaps
10 paytake a little more Of the cheering
stuff.
He put his key. into the lock noiselessly.
intending to surprise Chauncey IN turn
for the latter's surprise.
Slowly the door opened, slowly and
strange to say. without noise, and Henry
advancing through the dinaiy-lighted hall
with all the caution of u burglar, stepped
into the studio.
There was a man there-it was not
Chauncey, but a housebreaker. He had
@ suit case half packed with silycrware,
and he was in the act of taking o pair
of very handsome clo.ssonne vases from
the mantei when Henry entered.
The typical burglar wears a rough
cap with ear tabs, a pea jacket and a
black mask, but this man attircd
quite nlodishly and would not have ex-
cited suspicion IL any mans house IL he
had been sitting at the evening lamp
reading.
He turned as Henry entered and slow
ly drew his hand from his hip pocket,
disclosing pistol.
Good evening" said he, pointing it
directly at Henry's temple and lightly
carcssing the trigger. II thought that
you and your mother and the maids had
retired. Been out dining, Ell? Won't
you sit down?
Henry sat down and mechanically
removed his hat He was really not at
all pleased to find a burglar in his study
instead Of his brother Chauncey, but he
had always Believed in the convincing
quality of cold Lead. even il 1t did not
slip from the barrel, and 1t would not
be his fault If the cartridge were ex-
ploded.
The burglar picked up Eenry's hat,
which had been on the study table, and
placed it on his own head. 1t was
silk hat Of the latest mode and it was
becoming to the burglar. Henry could
Tot help noticing what a gentlemanly
man it was who was helping himself TO
his mothers bric-a-brac
Our heads are the same shape. II
you don't mind wearing q derby We'll
exchange. / think that you understand
that I can whip this thing out again in
no time Quitting his pistol away and I'm
sure that you will make no outcry. If I
hadn't fooiislily supposed that you were
fife IN bed I would have waited until
later, because I hate to alarm a man I'M
y sccesarily. 1 had occasion TO call here
;le ether day when the front door was
let open and the maid was talking to the
girl next door, and / took a decided fancy
30 your silver and kniclz-nacks generally.
Some one in the family has cultivated
srste. ] imagine it's your mother"
AS he spoke he helped himself here and
There, packing each thing away in the
suit case as he came to it.
II say. like your nerve said Henry
NJ last. but he said it with a certain diff
ftculty. The heat of the room vas hav-
Ing an unpleasant effect upon his tongue.
Il haven't bit more nerve than need
myself 50 1 can't let You have any of
81 il that's what You mean Now, used
TO be very different. AS n child, I was
SO shy that my mother despaircd of my
ever amounting to anything. but l stand
pretty high in my profession, and don't
think I have much to fear from my ri