Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-11-20
A Peri1OuS :
Encounter :
By EDITH MORGAN wILLETT d.
Copyright, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

here.
All! there were those sounds again!
The girl sprang to her feet. thereby
considerably upsetting the equilibrium
and dignity of the yellow cat.
What a goose | ami" she declared.
resolutely returning to the arm chair.
IT'S only the Post with its &C
count of the Wilson robbery. that a
filled my mind with burglars. ! won't
look 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 glariEg headlines word
for word.
Burglars make n clean sweep"
crowned the page in large type. then
below followed the details of one of the
most noteworthy robberies of he sea-
son.
silver. iewelry and other valuables
made way with. Detectives on the look
out for 'JCEn Bull as he Is known in
housebroaking circles. who Is believed
to be OF the bottom Of this ard other dar-
ing burelarics. a reward of $1,000 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 80. Height over
six feet. Figure athletic. Complexion
fair. Looks like n gentleman"
Wa It only her absurd fancy that
was httins a latchkey to the outer
door?
Her hands rrippcd 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 tristy weapons at hand how safe
she would feel.
The gong was easily procured from
the GininE-rOom. but ii took "A lengthy
search amid Il troubled sea of hand
kerchiefa aad ncckties in Toms top
drawer TO discover his pistol. This
wasn't loaded, fortunately for her, but
held in tho proper masculine attitude
would do beautifully. and down tho
stairs she fed, the little steel revolver
h'lI tipiL = INIi MI Iol'liilSCl
on the trigger.
But on the bottom sep she camc to
a FIJI stOD-for something strange and
familiar confronted her in the shadow
of the library door. At first she JOY
fully thought IL WAS Tons valise
standinG there nicely strapped but in
conspicuous, but a second glance re-
moved that possibility.
The girl stood irresolutc 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 he
library.
She reached that conclusion and the
door simultaneously, pulled back the
p0rticre with n jerk ana drew mp
painting on the threshold, for before
her, STANDING with his back to the fire.
in tho act Of examining a bejcwelcd
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-
pousec ornament tremblcd In his hands
tie next he had replaced it on the
table.
"Miss Havcrsham, ! believe" he said
coming to meet her with what she felt
was a pitiful attempt at nonchalance.
The girl only stared AT nm. Her
dazed eyes were taking note Of his
height. the athletic. gentlcmanly fig
urc. The close cropped. blonde hair,
The Enthusiastically English face.
Her inventory tailed exactly with
the original. Wa 1t 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,
ercnti1lly 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 girI
flushed with annoyance.
"It's Just because I'm the only per.
son in the house." she began in sell
defense and then stopped abruptly.
What a thing to tell n burglar!
His twinkling eyes only Incl easet
her confusion.
mot that I am tlone in the house.
she went on desperately. MY brother
OF course" How she was going Il
truthfully end that sentence she hat
not the least idea. but the burglar
saved her the trouble.
"Oh, yes!" he interrupted. with
--.-~ A,,r thnt aotantuLoI hAu