Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-11-19
A PeriIOuS
Encounter
BY EDITH MORGAN wIILETT

Copyright, 1908 by Daily Story Pub. Coz

hAh<s
Copyright, 1908 sy Daily Story Pub. Coy
IT WO lonely Lours to face and then
that brothe. of hers would be
hero.
All there were those sounds again!
The gill sprang to her feet, thereby
considerably upsetting the equilibrium
n dignity of the yellow cat.
What a goose l ami" she declared,
resolutely returning to the arm chair.
tits only the 'Post,' with its &C
count of the Wilson robbery, that has
filled my mind with burglars. l won't
lrok at the horrid paper again"
Yet notwithstanding she was no
sooner comfortably settled than she
took up that identical sheet and with
true feminine inconsistency proceeded
to read certain glazing headlines word
for word.
Burglars make a clean sweep"
crowned the page in large type, then
below followed the details of one of the
most noteworthy robberies of the sea-
SON..
Silver, jewelry and other valuables
made way with. Detectives on the look
out for John Bull as he is known in
housebreaking circles, who is believed
to be at the bottom of this and other dar-
ing burglaries. A reward of $4,000 is
offered for his capture"
The girls eyes, horribly fascinated,
Travelled to the bottom of the sheet
where a description of the notorious
British burglar was presented in large
letters. "Age about 30. Height over
six feet. Figure athletic. Complexion
fair. Looks like q gentleman"
Was 1t only her absurd fancy that
was fitting a latchkey to the outer
door?
Her hands gripped the sides of the
chair. What was to be done? She
thought of the dinner gong yearningly,
and with sudden inspiration of Toms
pistol in his top drawer upstairs. With
these trusty weapons at hand how safe
she would feel.
The gong was easily procured from
the dining-room, but it took a lengthy
search amid a troubled sea of hand
kerchiefs and neckties in Toms top
drawer to discover his pistol. This
wasn't loaded, fortunately for her, but
held in the proper masculine attitude
would do beautifully, and down the
stairs she fled, the little steel revolver
held aloft at full cock. her %forefinger
on the trigger.
But on the bottom step she came to
a full stop-for something strange and
familiar confronted her in the shadow
of the library door. At first she JOY
fully thought ii was Toms vaiise
standing there nicely strapped but in
conspicuous, but a second glance re-
moved that possibility.
The girl stood i%rresolute on the stair
case trying to think clearly. Of course
mis- first object would be the silver in
the dining room, he must be there now,
in which case her refuge should be the
library.
She reached that conclusion and the
door simultaneously, pulled back the
portiere with q jerk and drew up
painting on the threshold, for before
her, standing with his back to the fire,
in the act of examining a bejeweled
paper weight, which he must have
picked up from the table beside him.
was the burglar!
At her approach he turned a startled
face, and for a moment the little re-
pousee ornament trembled in his hands
the next he had replaced it on the
table.
Miss Haversham, I believe" he said,
coming to meet her with what she felt
vas a pitiful attempt at nonchalance.
The girl only stared al him. Her
dazed eyes were taking note of his
height, the athletic, gentlemanly fig
ure. The close cropped, blonde hair.
The Enthusiastically English face.
Her inventory tailed exactly with
the original. Was it possible that be-
fore her stood the great notorious John
Bull himself?
But a sudden laugh from the man
brought her back to her senses.
MAY ask" he was inquiring def
erontially enough, "if those two alarm
ing objects you are holding are intend
ed for me?"
The pistol and the gong! Of course!
how absurd she must LOOK! The girl
flushed with annoyance.
cts just because I'm the only per-
son in the house." she began in self
defense and then stopped abruptly.
What a thing to tell a burglar!
His twinkling eyes only increased
her confusion.
mot that 1 am alone in the house."
she went on desperately. my brother.
of course" How she was going to
t%ruthfully end that sentence she had
not the least idea, but the burglar
saved her the trouble.
ooh, yes!" he interrupted, with a
brazen ~effrontery that astonished her.
"I'm afraid you went see your broth
er for another hour. He's been de-
tanned in Boston on business
$50 you came on ahead and took
possession she reJo1ned, with a Bit
ing little laugh.
The villain, he had timed his visit well.
No wonder he felt cur with only
one defenseless girl to cope with.
With swift decision she seated her
self in the arm chair. If he could be
delayed, diverted, engaged in CONVEX
sation.
won't you sit down? ?" she asked, with
an inviting smile.
"Now, let's have a plain talk to-
gether," she began confidentially. II
assure you Pm quite to be trusted, and
I want to ask you a lot Of questions.
In the first place, r you the genuine
John Bull?"
The burglar regarded her inquir-
ingly. well, yes" he said slowly, II
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