Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-11-20

ef for another hour. He's been do.
tanned in Boston on business"
so y)u came or ahead and took
possession" she rejoined, with O Bit
ing little laugh.
No wonttr he felt secure with only
ono dclcnscless s,ri to cope with.
With swift decision she seated her
self ir the arm chair. II he could be
delayed, diverted, engaged in conver-
sation.
won't you sit DOWN." she asked. with
an inviting smile.
"Now. let's have a plain talk to-
gethcr," she began co~nfidentiallv. 81
assure you I'm quite to be trusted. and
| want to ask you a lot of questions.
In the first place, are you the genuine
John Bull?"
The burglar regarded her inquir-
ingly. well, yes he said slowly, IL
think I can aspire to that distinction"
She could not resist clarping her
hands. Il knew it! | knew IT," she
declared triumphantly. You soc. I
read ak about you in tie Post this
very evening, and 10Y to actually see
you" She drew a long breath and
eyed him critically.
A queer expression crossed the bur-
| glars face. Was it embarrassment or
amusement?
Really" he mlrmured. Its awful.
~ good of you. I'm sure"
Sne contemplated him with gravity.
"You see" she said. earnestly, II cant
help beirg sorry for o when I think
OF the dangerous life you arc leading,
the awful risk you rin. To think (she
claspcd her hands excitedly) that at
any moment you may he captured.
Haven't You found out that you are a
tremendous catch?'
The burglar raised his eyebrows 4
triilc. II confess" ne BEGAN lightly,
that thought has never occurred to
me before"
How careless ami i%ncrcdulous his
tone was, Her heart beat fast ard
thick. Could 1t be possible he did not
realize That he was u hunted man, a
price on his mead? TIE girl rose to
ner full height.
j''iI ' gDh hip"t sll' bliI wa 'il
that the whole country Is on your
track, your name is in all the papers
and a fun description OF you has been
cabiod all over the United States"
But the man only stared at her
blankly a moment and then burst out
laughing.
NOV you are chatting me-" he de-
I - ,,aI sN,,,i,, ,,., IL, a,-,,a .a -ps
believe that you Americans would
make such a fuss over q mere title
His title" Did he mean his so.
briquct. his alias?
"Ah. well" she said, REFRESHING an
inclination to laugh, you're n noto-
rious character. you know"
81 am afraid you were hard up
she continued, hegitatinEly. Il lEow
nothing but pressing need Of money
would have brought you here tonight
and | want You to let me help you out
Yes" she continued omphatically. warm.
ing to her scheme, Tin going to make
you a fair ard square proposal. I'll Civ,
you thc things, instead Of yOur-er-tak.
inGthCm, These rings. for instance" fshC
. "a FNllbl'lIG nv b'l'F'E'i hDt'IEI
land this bracelet ought TO be worth
something in ready money" She hclt
them out to him with an Inviting
smile, but the burglar rocoilcd, his face
working strangely.
Arc You mad" he said in quIc,t
staccato tones" or is this one OF YOU
American jokcS"'
"Of course, II isn't" the girl pro
tested. Indignantly. Tin in dead car
nest. and this isn't all, nearly all that
! a to CIV you. We've some oil
family silver. hidcous but valuable
and lots of other things that I'm gcini
to get this very minute"
She was mov'rg rapidly towards thu
door. as she spoke, but the burgla'
made no attempt to follow her TIL,
time, he only stood rooted to the car
pet. his face c:rreBsing utter bewilde''
mcnt.
Suddenly his heel crushed Some
thing that rusJled crisply. lie STOPPED
down with an exclamation. 1t wal
only n newspaper in a crump!ed hear
BY the arm char. and he was abo II e
replace it carclogs'y On the table whcr
Il certain paragraph caught and riyciet
lis eye.
One instant he stood staring at 1t IL
silent amazement. the next a peal o
deep bass laughter rang through tn
room. Surely the burglar seemed lik'
one possessed, lie Rugged himscl
m~irthfully. chuckling like n schoolboy
and staggering about In spasms OF un
con;rollable laughter. These lastet
only for a few moments. however. fo