Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-06-09
A JUSTIFIED BURGLAR.


Il t1ODyFlgnl. iE0s Dy W. ~. ncaFnt.t
Arnold Todd must have become &C.
customed TO 1t, for periodically bur-
glars 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
discovery. Nothing was eve taken be-
longing to Mrs. Todd. but. as that
woman pathettcally said, she had moth
ing 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 YER
liable household grudge. Her husband
had houses and lands, as we'll as money
in several banks. but he never gave
her any OF his wealth, and she had To
beg for enough one to buy shoes
and stockings for the children. Their
clothes she made over from her own
and their fathers worn out garments,
and I'm making Mr.. Todd's trousers INTO
Jackets for the little Todds she always
managed to work the knees that bagged
into the under side of elbows.
The burglaries did not worry Mr..
Todd-if the truth were 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
wv I'll ~ = 4 IA hOAAh
grow careless and the burglars would
give him another call. Mrs. Todd
consistently promised to lie awake n
watch. but she declared she must have
Aaen chloroformed. otherwise she would
never have closed an eye.
Il should think. Mary" her husband
complained, that your anxiety about
the children would keep you awake.
Think what an effect ii would nave 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 sar-
casm.
One night the unexpected happened.
1t was the turning point in Mr.. Todd's
destiny. At that hour when he 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 muftied in a black cloak
with a SLOUGH hat drawn over his face
and a silk muller round his neck and
chin. He was rifing Mr.. Todd's pock-
etc. Mr.. Todd did not own a revolver.
He would lot nave 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, hay-
ing made up his mind to a plan, he
put 1t into immediate execution. He
leapt from the bed with a bound that
took him into the middle of the room
and pinioned the burglar from behind.
A terrific scream rent the air. Todd
cid in a mighty grasp a limp. trem-
bling form from which he tore the dis
guising cloak, revealing the partner OF
his joys and sorrows, Mrs. Todd.
Mary" ne gasped. MARY, your
Yes, Mr.. Todd, me- She turned and
faced him. "Oh, you needn't be sur
NNfnnA NNFLA.- Ia1 -, --A -
any money If / didn't either steal it or
beg it, seeing that you never gave me
any. If / wanted a penny to put in the
contribution box on Sunday / had to
ask you for ii, and explain what l was
going TO do with it. You never gave me
a sovereign in your life without expect
ing nineteen slillings back in change"
Mary"
It's the truth, and you know it, Arm
old. Instead OF making me a regular
allowance, as any husband ought to,
you make me save ana scrimp and go
without everything but food. Many a
time I've left my empty purse lying
about hoping you would take the hint
and fill 1t. And you never did. And
all the time you carried gold, silver
and notes in your pocket-and bought
what you wanted
you might have taken them without
Disgusting yourself as a burglar. Mary"
You would have suspected me, and
how long could | have kept the money?
No, the burglar was more welcome TO
1t thar | would have been. But /
never dreamed that you would wake.
Now, l do not care for myself am
only sorry for you. The man who can
drive a to such straits is to be
pitied. / have as good a right to the
money as you have-I helped to make
it. n there is no law to vonvict a
wife for stealing from her own hus-
band"
Mr.. Todd was seeing things past and
present, n in those few moments OF
time, as the dying do-clearly and
without prejudice. He tool his wife
in his arms,
You are nervous and tired. dea~,'' he
said. "Lie down and compose yourself
to rest. / see. Mary, that l am the
real burglarTI have robbed you of
your earnings and your lawful dues.
Before | sleep vol shall lave a bank
account in your name, and | will never
ask o what you do with the money.
And you can give up being a burglar
for good and ALL