The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-04-22
Ole Architect Burglar.

No one who had happened to OBJ
Berve the figure of Mr. Bromley Brown
wandering round his garden on GER
tain mild April morning would have
Imagined him TO be suffering from an
hcute sense of regret for his wasted
opportunities.
From the top of his bald head to the
toes of his shiny boots he might have
stood for model Of middle class pros
perity. His gray suit, IL 1t accentuated
the round proportions of his figure,
was of fashionable cut, and he held a
panama hat of finest straw in tho
square hand on which " diamond gilt
tered in the spring sunshine. Behind
the terrace, over which figures of inn
possible animals in stone kept watch
at each corner. stood his new and elab-
orately furnished bungalow, aggressive
and much decorated. Mr.. Bromley
Browns room in the tower overlooked
q stretch of pine woods-a small
lake, which shone with steely bright
ness under a fringe of larches, and a
far-away range of rising ground. He
did not often glance at the view, but
II pleased him to know that 1t was un-
deniably finer than even that COM
manded from the windows OF, his neigh
bor, General Compton, whose family
bad owned acres of surrounding heath
er and frs for generations past.
Mr.. Brown took one last stroll on
the lawn, and as he slowly ascended
the steps of the terrace, the parlor
maid laid the newspapers on table
outside bow window. A girls figure
leaned out, and a young voice called
to him:
"Why do you look so solemn, papa,
dear? What a perfect day it is! Warm
and sunny enough for June!"
The lines on Mr.. Bromley Browns
face relaxed.
"I was thinking" he said, impress
lively, ''of how very little material COM
fort signifies. and how few of us are
satisfied"
II don't in the least agree with you
there, dear" said Valentine, who was
eminently practical.
81 have built this bungalow" con-
tined Mr.. Bromley Brown, "as a place
to rest in after a life spent in the
dullest OF all occupations-money max
ing. But / am aware that thousands
of men would both have enjoyed the
occupation and welcomed the peace of
this beautiful spot. / do neither.
was destined by nature for something
widely different"
"You say that because you have done
nothing lately but read those foolish
novels. here she pointed small,
scornful finger at book lying open OH
the table-"since you had influenza,
papa, dear"
81 beg your pardon, Valentine-I
know l may not look 1t, but since my
earliest days, as have often told you, |
have had a curious, wild craving for
adventure, for some excitement outside
the deadly routine of business life.
1t is hard" and Mr.. Bromley Brown
raised his voice in querulous expostu-
iation, that here am, man who has
made q considerable fortune in spe-
cial cough lozenge, but who, all
through his boyhood, has vainly wished
70 be pirate, and who now'-he
waved his hand in the direction OF
the bungalow, then toward the smooth
shaven lawn, would most gladly give
all tuis luxury TO be successful de-
tective."
Valentine laughed, and leaned still
further out of the window. She. for
her part, was absolutely satisfied with
the fair face worn by the world around
her. She watched q fat blackbird as
he shuftied along by the golden border
of daffodils-she rejoiced to know that
the air was musical with the voices OF
larks, to see that the sun glittered or
the pool below General Compton's
house and turned its easements into
twinkling diamonds. A man wen
slowly down the green drive by tho
pool. his arm swaying to and fro AZ
he sowed grass seeds. The eartl
seemed to sing a song of renewal ant
hope, Of love and sunshine. How goot
II was only to breathe and to live
Other people might have thought tina
life would be none the less pleasan
TO Valentine because her eyes wer'
large and gray, and her cheeks ros.
like the bloom on the boughs of |
cherry tree. But she did not talk
much account Of these advantages, no
of the fact that she was the only chill
of the prosperous house OF Bromle.
Brown.
Her father took off his gold-rlmme
glasses--and laid down his newspaper
"Ha! this Is most curious!" said he
''What splendid chance II one coul
only light upon him-the plausibl
scoundrel! The shrewd young VII
1a1n!"
Valentine turned her gray eyes o
his shining crimson face
sIAsten to me-yal," he cried, "yo
gomember the general told Us las