The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-12-26
An Excess Of Talent?
Ioriginal.l

Patsy Dolau professional DurEAr,
appreciating the opportunity offered at
Colonel Bridges fancy dress ball and
realizing that be could not personate
any one so well as himself. resolved to
attend as himself or rather as the pub
lie conceived him, with a coil Of rope
thrown over one shoulder. dark Ian
tern In one hand, revolver in the
other tnot loaded Of ceurse) and jim
my sticking out OF HIS pocket.
On the night OF the ball. having made
himself look "a little like the real Do
Ian and AZ much like stage burglar as
possible, be put on mask to cap the
costume as well as to conceal his unre-
fined featErss and proceeded TO Coioael
Bridges residence. Seeing the cesensl
at the front door taking the names Of
the arriving guests, Patsy witharsw To
the rear, climbed trellis and eafscted
an entrance iato closet on the second
noor, from wheece be emerged among
a crowd q guests pouring IN and out
vi 1at vi HN1tMH 1Ak&fs AsCAAItAAAAAtt AAA<t1
fer the time baing there must be more
people upstairs than downstairs, he de
seconded and entered the. main drawing
room, where stood the family waiting
to receive the guests.
What an original idecw exclaimed
Miss Bridges az ratsy sailed into the
room. "As sure as you I've that's Ben
Harker. ia know him in any costume.
/ knew he'd come In something unique.
Why doesn't he come up to speak to
us? Oh. / forgot: a burgisr wouldn't
know enough for that"
As soon as Miss Bridges could leave
the position Of hostess she sought ont
the burglar. she thought II would be
fun to pretend to mistake him for the
real thing.
what are you doing here, STRIP she
said. I'm going TO call policeman
and hand you over TO him"
RI Patsy's face could have been seen
through hts mask be would have be
trayed himself. but II couldn't, and this
gave him time TO recover his assurance.
which admcnished him TO bluff.
"Ye're complimentin' me costume, !"
he said at a venture.
"It's splendid. what's that sticking
out Of your pocket"
"Shure, it's me jimmyT'
You're the best character In the
room. How did you come to think Of
iitT'
4
Patsy drew a Sigh OF relief.
aBcn HnrlSer,p continued the girl,
''you needn't think Jon can fool me. I
knew you the moment saw you.
Come, let's 90 into tho ballroom"
She led the relieved Patsy away and
forced him to stand with her in n
square dance. He had no sooner dis
played his swkwardnsss than his part
ner burst into a laugh. and every one
Ia the set was convuised with mirrh at
| the blunders OF the burglar. Indeed, it
was not long before nearly every enc
In the room was watching him. This
was too much success, and he tried
hard to dance like the rest, but the
harder he tried the worse he failed.
When the dance was finished be told
his partner that he was tired and must
go upstairs for rest, but she would
not permit the best character at the
ball to retire for q moment,
"Oh, there's policeman" she ex-
claimed How nice it would be for
you two to know each otherw And
she dragged the unwilling burglar to
the cop
Here's burglar for you, Mr.. Pc
hceman. You'd better take him to Jail
You two are the best made up of any
in the house, You're both splendid"
'tAre you an old offender or new to
crimeT' asked the policeman to Keep
up the hyplay.
| Dim yung bird replied Patsy.
Ever cracked crib7s
'.Niver oncet. 0fm as Innocent as
the day Oh first whit to Sunda' school.
Miss Bridges cIapped her hands
"He beats you" she said to the police
man. isn't he perfect character7.
"As near the real thing as any l ever
saw" replied the cop in dry tone that
made Patsy wish he hadn't such re.
markable talents for impersonation.
"He wants to go upstairs and rest,
said Miss Bridges to the policeman
do you think the Jewelry would bs
safer
doubt H." replied the cop.
II think I'll take him into the supper
room. I'D like an Ice"
Watch the spoons II YOU do"
These pieasantries were charming Il
the other two. but came rather too near
home for Patsy.
"0rm thiukin'." he said, "Orm OBJ
trudin' meself betune two friens, and
tho requirements Of polite society re
quires me lawn We. Good evcnin'."
II don't think 1t safe to let you traye
about the house alone, /" said the police
man. You'd better stay by me till tbs
time comes TO unmask" Then, turning
20 the young lady, he added, Dom
you think so?"
"Unmask?D said Patsy, an IN con
cealed alarm In his voice. Whats
| that?i'
4 Il think" the officer went on, "thai
your presence at the unmasking woult
not help these festivities to pass pleas
antly, and you'd better unmask else
where. Come with me. You're want
ed.e
The last five words were not only IA
mlliar to Patsy, but were spoken in /
familiar tone Patsy followed the pc