Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-05-22
A Burglar at Bay.
: HAD all but done the trick whe1

Ct HAD all but done the trick when
suddenly the room was illumin-
ated by q brilliant food of elec-
tric light. So Unexpectedly it came and
so dazzlingly, that was struck all OF
heap, as 1t were, and stood stupidly
caught in the very act, with one hand
lingering over my booty and the other
raised instinctively to shield eyes and
face from the binding glare.
A pretty position for professional
burglar. Taken completely at a disad-
vantage, like any greenhorn. Held up,
as you might say, at the very psyche
logical moment and by 5girl-the
prettiest creature, swear, that ever
d nned lace and cambric 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 supplica-
tion, but satisfaction only-satisfac-
ton complete and apparently long an
ticipated.
The loveliest hand in the world, white
as the lawn that fell back kindly to re-
veal 1t, and nodded like that Of the
Medicean Venus, held, as If wellaccus-
toned to 1t, silver-mounted revolver
a toy, yet unmistakably weapon; a
trinket such as a dainty woman might
hang at her chatelaine, but still suft1-
ciently convincing to hold me planted
there deprived of any inclination to run
the risk Of testing its mettle.
WELL" said my apprehender, in a
voice that betrayed no more emotion
than did her lovely face, which was SO
intoned 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 bur-
glar at last"
Her charming features beamed with
delight. She even smiled, revealing a
double row of the whitest, dearest lit
tie teeth 1t is possible to imagine. Still
keeping the muzzle Of the little pistol
leveled straight at me with hand that
never trembled, with the other she
reached down to the foot Of the bed
and drew up a delicate woolen 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-
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 it to the
utmost.
"Now," she commanded, "tell me
about yourself. ALI 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 mask? 1t Is only anticipating
matters a little, you know. The police
will do 1t anyhow when they come in,"
: 'sThe polcew / exclaimed involun-
tarily.
She nodded.
"Yes; they're all over the place, you
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 itr' I calculated beneath
my breath. ''That skunk Of a Boyn-
tonT
What did you trust him for?" she
said with note of reproof in her
voice.
Heaven only knows" 1 replied in
ierce self lf-condemnation. "But he'll
pay for 1t yet. Just let him wait till 1
get my grip on him
My fair captor interrupted with
laugh.
Hell have to wait long time, 1 ex-
pect," she remarked. 81 shouldn't won
der If you get about Eve years for this.
Shouldn't you consider that would be
about it?"
/ regarded her anxiously through the
eye-holes in my mask.
$50 you mean to give me up, then?'
hazarded.
She returned my scrutiny with a look
Of humorous surprise.
what had you supposed 1 meant to
do with your" she asked. Wear you
ON my watch chain as a curiosity, or
fll your pockets with those trinkets,
which appear to have caught your
fancy, and show you safe and sure
way of making off with themF
'I don't know" said I, gloomily, for
really appeared to be i1f rather a bad
hole. "Women sometimes have tender
hearts. Beauty and youth have often
Ihowp ti.4aHe2vfs GsDneous and merci-