The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-30
A JUSTIFIED BURGLAR
BY Harry haines.

N>'Iy o. wi ~ totbl
Arnold Todd must have become ac-
customed to 1T. for periodically burglars
relieved him of all his pocket money.
diamonds and other personal bric-a-
brac without ever being caught In the
act or leaving any clue to their discov-
cry. Nothing was eve taken belonging
to Mrs. Todd. but. as the woman pa
thetically said. she had nothing they
could take except her wedding ring,
which was on her finger, or her clothes.
which would not have repaid the effort.
For Mrs. Todd was a veritable house
hold drudge. Her husband had houses
and lands. as well as money In several
banks. but he never gave her any OF
his wealth. and she had to beg for
enough money to buy shoes and stock
ings for the children. Their clothes she
made over from her w and their
fathers worn out garments. n in
making Mr.. Todd's trousers into jack
aged to work the knees that bagged
into the under side of elbows.
The burglaries did not worry Mr..
Todd-if the truth We're told-as much
as they did Mrs. Todd He usually
waited until the stolen goods could not
be recovered. then he purchased a new
outfit and. after hiding them carefully
every night for a few months he would
grow careless and the burglars would
give him another call. Mrs. Tod con-
sistently promised to be awake and
watch, but she declared she must have
been chloroformed, otherwise she would
never have closed am eye.
II should think, Mary her husband
complained. that Nour anxiety about
the children would keep you awake
Think what an effect IL would have on
them TO see a burglar in their room"
But the burglars never go there"
said Mrs. Todd family. children new
er have any valuables-at least ours
don't" she added with unconscious s1r-
casm.
one night the unexpected happened.
1t was the turning point in MIR. Todd's
destiny. AT that hour when lie should
have been sleeping the soundest he
suddenly awakened n saw by the dim
night light a strange figure in his room
that of a man mufiled in Il black cloak
with a SLOUGH hat drawn over his face
and a silk muffier round his neck and
chin. He was rifling MIR. Todd's pock-
cts. Mr.. Todd did not own a revolver.
He would not have killed a man to save
all his wealth, much as he loved it. He
lay still for a moment. thinking how to
surprise the burglar, then. having made
up his mind TO a plan. he put it into
Immediate execution. He leaped from
the bed with u bound that too him
into the middle of the room and PIN
Toned the burglar from behind. y
terrific scream rem the air. Todd held
in a mighty grasp a limp, trembling
form from which he tore the Disgusting
cloak, revealing the partner of his joys
and sorrows, Mrs. Todd.
Mary" he gasped. MARY, you?"
Yes, Mr.. Todd, me-" She turned and
faced him.. 'Oh. you needn' be sur
prised. Where aid you suppose l got
any none if l didn't either steal it or
beg it, seeing that you never gave me
nnyr y II tF, y1f ~ Is 49,, 10 ~,,t ,-
the contribution box on Sunday / had
to ask for it. n explain what l was
going to do with it. You never gave
me a sovereign in Your life without ex-
pecting nineteen shillings back in
change"
Marry"
ITS the truth. and You know it.
Arnold. Instead of making me a regu-
lar allowance, as any husband ought
to, YOU make me save and scrilmp and
go without everything but food. Many
a time " left my empty purse lying
about hoping you would take the hint
and fill it. N you never did. And all
the time you carried gold. silver and
l.otes in your pocket-and bought what
you wanted"
You might have taken it without
Disgusting yourself as a burglar,
Mary"
You woul nave suspected me, and
how long could 1 ave kept the money?
No. the burglar was more welcome TO 1t
than l would have been. But never
dreamed that you would wake l meant
to jump out of the window If you did
see me. Now, l do not care for myself
i am only sorry for you. The mar
who can drive a Woman to such straits
is to be pltied. l ave as good a right
to the money as you have-I helped TO
make it. and there is no law to con-
Wet a wife for stealing from her own
husband
Mr.. Todd was seeing things past and
presem. and in those few moments of
time as the dying do-clearly and with
out prejudice. He took his wife in his
arms.
You are nervous and tired, dear he
said. Lie down and compose yourself
to rest. l see, Mary, that 1 am the
real burglar have robbed you of
you earnings and your lawful dues.
Before l sleep you shall have a bank
account in your own name, and I will
never ask what you do with the money.
And you can give up being a burglar
for good and all