River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-07-07
THE ARCHITECT BURGLAR.


round his garden on certain mild April
morning would have imagined him to be
suffering from an acute sense of regret
1or MS wasted opportunities.
rom the top of his bald head to the
toes OF his shiny boots he might have
stood for model of middle class pros
perlty His gray suit, if it accumulated
the round proportions of his figure, was
OF fashionable cut, and he held Panama
nat OF nnest straw in the square hand on
winch diamond glittered in the spring
sunshine. Behind the terrace, over which
ngures Of impossible animals in stone
Kept watch at each corner, stood his new
ana elaborately furnished bungalow, ag-
gresslve and much decorated. Mr.. Brom-
ley Browns room in the tower over
looked stretch of pine woodS-a small
laKe, winch shone with steely brightness
under fringe of larches, and a PARKWAY
range OF rising ground He did not often
gIance at the view, but it pleased him TO
know that 1t was undeniably finer than
even that commanded from the windows
or MS nelghbor, Gen. Compton, whose
iamliy had owned acres of surrounding
heather and frs for generations past.
MI. Brown took one last stroll on the
lawn, and as he slowly assembled the
steps OF the terrace, the parlor maid laid
the newspapers on a table outside bow
window. girls figure leaned out, and
younS voice called to him:
why do you look so ssolernn, papa,
dear! What perfect day it is! Warm
ana ma, sunny enough for Juner'
The lines on Mr.. Bromley Browns
face relaxed.
was thinking" he said, impressively,
OF now very little material comfort sig
mites, and how few of us are satisfied"
don't in the least agree with you
eminently practical
Il have built this bungalow" contin-
ued Mr. Bromley Brown, "as a place
10 rest IN after life spent in the dullest
OF all occupations-money making. But
am aware that thousands Of men would
both have enjoyed the occupation and
welcomed the peace of this healthful
spot. | do neither. / was destined by
nature for something widely different"
You say that because you have done
nothing lately but read those foolish
noYels"-here she pointed a small, scorn-
full finger at book lying open on the
table-"since you had influenza, papa
dear"
Il beg your pardon, Valentine-I know
l may not look it, but since my earliest
days, as | have often told you, / have
had curious, wild craving for adven-
ture, for some excitement outside the
deadly routine of business life. It is
hard" and Mr. Bromley Brown raised
his voice in querulous expostulation,
that here am |, man who has made
a considerable fortune in a special cough
lozenge, but who, all through his boy
hood, has yainly wished to be a pirate
and who now''-he waived his hand in
the direction of the bungalow, then to-
ward the smooth shaven lawn, would
most gladly give up all this luxury to
be a successful detective"
Valentine lam cd and 1nouoI still ff1r-
Their out of the window. She, for her
part, was absolutely satisfied with the
fair face worn by the world around her.
She watched a fat blackbird as he shut
fled along by the golden border Of daffo-
dils-she rejoiced to know that the air
was musical with the voices of larks, to
see that the sun glittered ON the pool
below Gen. Compton's house and turned
it's easements into twinkling diamonds.
A man went slowly down the green drive
by the pool, his arm swaying to and
fro as he soWed grass seeds. The earth
seemed to sing a song of renewal and
hope Of love and sunshine. How good
it was only to breathe and to live! Other
people might have thought that life
would be none the less pleasant to Val
entine because her eyes were large and
gray, and her cheeks rosy like the bloom
on the boughs Of a cherry tree. But
she did not take much account of these
advantages, nor of the fact that(she was
the only child of the prosperous house OF
Bromley Brown.
Her father took off his gold-rimmed
glasses-and laid down his newspaper.
''Ha! this is most curiousw said he.
''What a splendid chance if one could
only light upon him-the plausible scoun-
drel! The shrewd young villain!
Valentine turned her gray eyes on his
shining crimson face.
Listen to me-Val," he cried; "you re-
member the general told us last week that
the Mumbys and the Jellicoes had both
had their pantry windows forced openF
did he? I don't think / was listen
ing"
things-I know that he keeps his silver in
the bank, and let's his friends use those
horrible thick spoons-and poor old Jelli-
coe had that hideous centerpiece, given
him by the cricket club, taken. Now it
transpires that in all probability the bur-
glar, or the moving spirit of the gang, is
a young man who has been Sketching
houses, in the neighborhood. He processes
to be making architectural drawings, and
by so doing finds out all manner of des
tails"
.That is certainly very original"
"Original. / should think so! Infer
nally sharp, I call itv' Mr.. Bromley
Brown here proceeded to read aloud an
extract from the newspaper.
''The Architect Burglar" for by this
sobriquet this accomplished criminal is
now known, has been seen, it is believed,
not long ago in this neighborhood, al
though probably he is now many miles
away from the scene of his late exploits.
He is described as young man Of gentle
manlike and military appearance, with
fair hair and mustache, and wearing
clothes Of fashionable make.'"
Mr.. Bromley Brown was soon absorbed
in meditation. He pictured himself, reso-
lutte, terrible, cunning, bounding down
this distinguished criminal, bringing him
to justice-afterward, in court, replying
with telling sarcasm to the cross-exami-
nation of the prisoners counsel, and, last
ly, complimented by the judge on the
lucid. admirable way in which he had
given his evidence. Life was no longer
sordid and prosaic; it was palpltating
with romance. He fell asleep to the ac-
compartment of the lark's song, and
dreamed that he was the chief Of police in
Russia. Waking up with start, he
heard the clock strike II.
"Gracious me!' he cried aloud. With
his waking eyes he still seemed to see
the female Nihilist of his vision, point
ing a revolver at his head. He stretched
himself and walked sadly across the lawn
toward the hedge that bounded his gar
den. Below him was the riband of white
road, pine bordered. Mr.. Bromley Brown
started, but much more violently this
time. Then he rubbed his face and eyes
with his handkerchief, and uttered low
exclamation.
A few yards away in the road he saw
the figure Of young man, tall, fair, yes,
and of Enthusiastically soldierly appear
ance! And he was sketching. A thrill