Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-05-26
A Burglar at Bay.

Il
suddenly the room was illumin-
ated by a brilliant flood of cleo
tric light. SO unexpectedly it came and
so dazzlingly, that was struck ali of u
heap. as it were, and stood stupidity
caught in the very act with one hand
lingering over my booty and the other
raised iastinctively to shield eyes and
face from tie binding glare.
A pretty position for a 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 girl-the
prettiest creature, | swear, that ever
donned lace and cambria for the distrac-
ton OF mankind.
She sat up in bed, q 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-
ton, 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 well-accus-
toned TO it, a silver-mounted revolver
q toy yet Enthusiastically a weapon; a
trirket such IS a dainty woman might
hang at her chatelaine, but still suffi-
GENTLY convincing to hold me planted
there deprived of any inclination to run
..;et- +or%f,,,r ftS v,of+Ia
Well" said my apprehender, in q
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 muzZie of the little pistol
Ieveled 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
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. 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 mask? 1t is only anticipating
matters a little, you know. The police
will do It anyhow when they come H."
The policer' 1 exclaimed involun-
tarily.
She nodded.
Eyes: they're all over the place you
know. Or perhaps you didn't know
One of their confidence men stool pig
cons, l think they call them discovered
your intentions and divuiged them"
"Confound it, l calculated beneath
NV breath. THAT skunk of a Boyn-
tonr'
What did you trust him forT she
said with note Of reproof In her
voice.
Heaven only knows" / replied In
derce INSTRUMENTATION. But he'll
pay for it yet. just let him wait till
get my grip on him"
My fair capter Interrupted with a
knocking laugh.
Hell have 10 walt q 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 be
about it?''
1 regarded her anxiouSly through the
eye-holes in my mask.
$50 you mean to give me up, them
e. zarded.
She returned my scrutiny with look
of lumorocs surprise.
what had you supposed / meant to
90 with youl' she asked. Wear you
on my watch chain as a curiosity. or
all your pockets with those trsnkets,
which appear to have caught your
fancy, and show you safe and sure
way Of making OF with thems"
- don't knew" said |. gloomlly. for
I really appeared Ia be in rather a bad
hole. women sometimes have tender
hearts. Beauty and youth have often
shown themselves generous and merci-
fuI 10 the unfortunate" broke OF
doubtfully.
The CLEAN Of humor IN her eyes
deepened.
yes" she remarked. ''the female
heart might well be moved 10 pity a
man IN your embarrassing position. Are
Won. perhaps. an orphanl And is your
present condition solely the result Of
+ha evil influence 10 which you have
been exposed since early YOUTH
| shook mr. head. entering into her
mood. The girl was certainly charac-
ter and lost sight Of my own dan
ser for the moment La enjoyment OF her
Falllegy.