The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-08-29
A CRAFTY BURGLAR.
BY MRS. M. L. RAYNE.

The night being balmy and moonlighted,
Mrs Wallace Morton had left the doors of
her French windows open, and was sitting
in her hotel suite contemplating the beauty
of the lake sparkling in the moonbeams
Between her and the water lay a sensitive
strip Of lawn, across which a diaphanous
shadow occasionally fitted, whether friend
or foe, she could not surely tell in the half
light. Mrs. Morton would have smiled at
the suggestion of foe, yet at that moment
one darkened her windows who was not
only natural foe and intruder, but menace
to her existence. Yet she did not stir as the
man, wearing 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 I'M
lighted from within, could not be seen at a
first glance. She did not move, nor did her
voice tremble as she asked
What do you want? Have you made
mistake in the room?"
mot 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 | may as well confess that | did not ex-
pect to see Mrs. Wallace Morton herself sit
ting alone in the dark"
ooh, then you know me?" the lady said,
coolly. please state your business-but l
think your mode Of coming to my apart
ments explains your errand-you have come
to rob mel"
"I have no intention of harming you-have
no fear, madam; am here to get possession
of the Morton diamonds-When you hand
them over | will relieve you Of my pres
ence at once have no time to parley."
''You speak like an educated man. | am
not afraid, as it would do no good to use
violence The Morton diamonds are not
here. They were sent this afternoon to the
bank vaults, where | have box, so that [
am saved from great loss and you from
the commission of great crime"
Mrs. Morton spoke with conviction, and
the man standing there in the moonlight
knew she was speaking the truth. He NUT
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 l left college with my head
crammed full of fads and nothing for my
hands to do. l was told to get out and make
a living Well, L tried honest work, and
| wouldn't do A raw boy from the coun
try 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 | was not fitted
to begin over again. Not much excuse? Then
my mother cut me off. That was the last
straw"
But if you were to reform?"
''The De Greys are proud--they never for
give 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 reioiced, 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 her 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 millions
at her command she turned me out to accom-
plish work that | never was intended for.
Do you wonder that | became hold-up man,
as we are facetiously called?'
81 shall consider it my duty to tell Mrs.
De Grey-your mother-of my-my-
you. 1 am sure that you are not at all bad;
perhaps [ can bring about forgiveness and
reconciliation. You must be tired of your
present-profession?
A knock at Mrs. Morton's door interrupt
ed the conversation, and the masked bur
glar, who had been poised for instant flight,
disappeared like magic, while Mrs Morton,
who had been steadily depressing her ex-
element, nearly tainted at relief from the
great tension. She opened the door to ad-
NIT sparkling society girl, whose family
occupied adjoining suites.
Have you the time, dear?" she asked in
hutter. 81 let my sister take my watch
this afternoon"
Eyes, certainly, Alice, my watch is right
here on the table," and she stepped to a
stand that was between her and the win
dow, but she could not find it, and turned |
on the lights. The watch was gone. Her
caller had improved his time by appropri- |
ating it while he told his pitiful story Mrs. |
Morton said nothing of the visit, but re-
marked that she had been careless to leave