The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1903-07-02
A Burglar at Bay.

q HAD all but done the trick when
/ suddenly the room was illumln-
ated by brilliant flood OF cleo
trie light. So Unexpectedly 1t came and
so dazzllngly, that was struck all OF a
heap, as 1t were and stood stupldly
caught in the very act, with one hand
lingering over my booty and the other
raised instinctively to shield eyes ana
face from the binding glare.
\ pretty position for professional
burglar. Taken completely at dlsad-
vantage, like any greenhorn. Held up,
as you might say, at the very psyche
logical moment and by girl-the
prettlest creature, | swear, that ever
d nned lace and cambria for the distrac-
ton of mankind.
She sat up in bed. a symphony In
white, all be-laced and be-ribboned.
and confronted me, bending upon me
two eyes as blue as twin sapphires, In
which was neither alarm nor suppllca-
ton, but satisfaction only-satisfac-
ton complete and apparently long an
ticlpated.
The loYeliest hand In the world, white
as the lawn that fell back kindly TO re-
veal IT, and nodded Ike that of the
Medlcean Venus held as if well-accus-
toned to Ii, a silver-mounted revolver
a toy, yet Enthusiastically a weapon; a
trlnket such as dainty woman might
hang at her chatelaine, but still suffl-
clently convincing TO hold me planted
there deprived of any inclination to run
the risk of testing its mettle.
well" said my apprehender, In n
voice that betrayed no more emotion
than did her lovely face, which was SO
lntoned as to set my susceptible heart
beating, "at last I've got you. Now
drop into that chair If you please. No,
keep your hands in front of you, If you
don't mind Yes, so; and let me talk TO
you. Good gracious! But I'm in luck.
To think of my getting hold of a bur
glar at last.'
Her charming features beamed with
delight. She even smiled, revealing a
double row of the whtest, dearest lit
lie teeth II is possible to imagine. Still
keeping the muzzle Of the little pistol
leyeled straight at me with a hand that
never trembled, with the other she
reached down to the foot Of the bed
and drew up delicate wooden wrap Of
pale blue, which she flung deftly about
her shoulders, after which she raised
the pillows at her back so that they
should support her in an upright posi-
ton, and sank back upon them with a
luxurious air of establishing herself in
comfort. 1t was evident from look,
tone and gesture that the situation was
exceedingly agreeable to her, and that
she was bent upon enjoying 1t to the
utmost.
Now" she commanded, tell me
about Yourself. All my life I've longed
to hear something of burglars history
from his own lips. Pardon me, but
would you very much mind removing
your mask7 1t is only anticipating
matters a little, you know. TIE police
will do 1t anyhow when they come In.
1.-THE police" | exclaimed inyolun
tarily.
She nodded.
Eyes; they're all over the place, yol
know. Or perhaps you didn't know
that we were warned of your coming
One of their confidence men stool pig
cons, think they call them discovered
your intentions and divulged them"
"Confound itv' l CALCULATED beneath
my breath. THAT skunk of a Boyn
TONI
what did you trust him for?" sh,
said with note of reproof In he
voice.
Heaven only knows" replied II
fierce self-condemnation. "But he'll
pay for 1t yet. Just let him wait till
get my grip on him"
My fair captor interrupted with ,
mocking laugh.
Hell have to wait long time, ex
pect." she remarked. Il shouldn't won
der IL you get about FIVE years for this
Shouldn't you consider that would b.
about it?"
| regarded her anxiously through tn
eye-holes in my mask.
$50 you mean TO give me up. then?
hazarded.
She returned my scrutiny with a loo
of humorous surprise.
"what had you supposed | meant I
do with your" she asked. Wear 20
on my watch chain as curiosity, Q
fill your pockets with those trinket'
which appear to have caught you
fancy, and show you n safe and sur
way of making of with themf'
~ don't know" said l, gloomily, fc
| really appeared to be in rather ba
hole. "Women sometimes have tend'
hearts. = Beauty and youth have wife
shown themselves generous and mere