Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-11-19

Joa may ~ 1aBNdASos
Haven't you found out that you are a
tremendous catch?"
The burglar raised his eyebrows a
trifle. II confess" he began lightly,
that thought has never occurred to
me before"
How careless and incredulous his
tone was! Her heart beat fast and
thick. Could 1t be possible he did not
realize that he was a hunted man, a
price on his head? The girl rose to
ner full height.
Don't you know" she olurted out,
that the whole country is on your
track, your name is in all the papers
and a full description OF you has been
cabled all over the United States?"
But the man only stared at her
blankly a moment and then burst out
laughing.
Now you are chatting me-" he de-
clared. you're not in earnest. l can't
believe that you Americans would
make such a fuss over a mere title"
His 'title?" Did he mean his So
briquet, his alias?
"Ah. WELL" she said, REFRESHING an
inclination to laugh, you're a noto-
rious character, you know"
81 am afraid you were hard up"
she continued, hesitatingly. 81 know
nothing but pressing need of money
would have brought you here tonight,
and | want you to let me help you out.
Yes" she continued emphatically, warm
ing to her scheme, "I'm going to make
you a fair and square proposal. I'll give
you the things, instead of your-er-tak-
ingthem! These rings, for instance" (she
was stripping her bejeweled fingers)
land this bracelet ought to be worth
something in ready money" She held
them out to him with an inviting
smile, but the burglar recoiled, his face
working strangely.
Are you mad?" he said in quick,
staccato tones" or is this one of your
American jokes?"
"Of course, it isn't" the girl pro-
tested, Indignantly. I'm in dead ear
nest, and this isn't all, nearly all that
| want to give you. We've some old
family silver, hideous but valuable,
and lots of other things that I'm going
to get this very minute"
She was mov'Cg rapidly towards the
door, as she spoke, but the burglar
made no attempt to follow her this
time, he only stood rooted to the car
pet, his face expressing utter bewilder-
ment.
Suddenly his heel crushed son,e
down with an exclamation. 1t was
only a newspaper in a crumpled heap
by the arm chair, and he was abolC to
replace it carelcss.y on the table when
a certain paragraph caught and riveted
lis eye.
One instant he stood staring at it in
silent amaZement, the next a peal of
deep bass laughter rang through the
room. Surely the burglar seemed like
one possessed. He Rugged himself
mirthfully, chuckling like a schoolboy,
and staggering about in spasms of I'M
controllable laughter. These lasted
only for a few moments, however, for
a light footstep in the hall recalled
his self-possession.
The girl came towards him breath
lessly, her arms laden with a varied
collection of silverware which she pro-
ceeded to place on the table one by
one.
"Ill just stow this ere in my valise
right hoff if you'll allow me-" He
fetched it from the hall forthwith and
proceeded to pack away each article
with great care. The girl watched him
with wondering eyes. A change sud-
den and unmistakable had come over
him in the last few minutes. She sup
posed it was the sight of the silver
that had turned the gentleman into
the burglar, and a cockney at that,
for 10Y that he "a off his guard a
lack of "h" was painfully evident.
She turned on him impuls1vely.
Tell me, have you never done any
honest work in your life?"
"No num-" he confessed, 1--WE never
done a stroke of honest work in my
life"
Perhaps" she suggested, 81 might get
you a position in some good livery sta
BILE, where you could drive hacks and
that sort of thing. There must be lots
of openings and-who knows-you
might end by owning a cab yourself"
1t was an alluring prospect, but her
enthusiasm awakened no response. The
burglar only looked distinctly de-
pressed. .""
1T amt no use, miss" he said,
gloomily. Them chances fall to luck
Ter chaps than me-"
The girl smiled at him encourage
ingly. "Ah, WELL" she reminded him,
perhaps it's best to be satisfied with
less. Don't mind starting from the
very beginning. Think"-it cost her a
certain effort to say it-"how your wife
is probably breaking her heart for you"
The man started, then he eyed her
inscrutably. Begin yer pardon
MISS" he said, "I'm unfortunately not
a married man."
The statement gave her a not who'll
ly unpleasant shock, but she saw her
duty plainly before her.
ooh. but,you must get married." she
began, forcing a brisk and enthusiastic
manner "A good wife would be the
saving of you" Cher cheeks crimsoned
beneath his steady, disconcerting gaze,
but she went on bravely with her set
little speech). Nov, take my advice,
and be on the lookout for a nice,
thrifty young woman, some one who'll
take care Of you and look after your
savings"
THANK you, ma'am," said the bur-
plar. n