The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-08-23

. O burglary forms vital part
of the plot, you will agree
NON that for this sort of work
theoretically, nt least-there
should be no time SO fitting as the
midnight hour; no place so prolific OF
spinal shiverings as bare, dlmly lit
room in rambling, deserted old
house, where cold draughts, and eerie,
unaccountable crcakings conspire TO
add just the right flavor of ghostliness
TO the situation. II was exactly upon
this theory that | rented such n room
On such house in lonely suburb of
San Francisco and on n certain bitter
cold evening In December prepared to
pass the night there.
My desire was to work up vivid
account OF burglary in all its fas-
clnating details-dcpictlng the entrance
OF the burglar, the feelings of the un-
fortunate individual whose lot It was
to be the victim, and all that sort Of
thing. Naturally, | spared no pains
TO make my environment as suggestiN @
as possible. On the table at which |
intended to sit while recording my i'm
pressons of the situation, ! placed n
loaded magazine pistol. The blinds |
had drawn so closely that from the
outside the room must have seemed
to be in darkness. My only light was
q dark lantern, which | had bought
that day from benevolent-loo looking
Hebrew patriarch, who recommended
the lantern most highly. He evidently
had mistaken my calling.
did not at once feel in the mood
for writing. And so, as there was n
comfortable fire going in the old-fash-
toned crate, got out my pipe and
smoked until the midnight hour-with
all the weird, fantastic images that 1t
rails up in the magination-was almost
Mt hand. At such a time and such n
place, sterile, indeed, were the imagina-
tion that did not feel itself aroused. !
was soon scratching away quite mcr-
rily. l had been working thus for
perhaps twenty minutes, and had just
reached the point where the burglar is
due TO make his entry on the scene,
when | fancied that | heard faint
scraping sound at one of the windows.
Ii startled me for the moment. Then
I concluded that It was nothing, con-
graduated myself on having brought
pitch. and laughed at myself for hav.
Ing been frightened by monster OF
my own creation.
resumed my writing. But had
not completed dozen lines when
something occurred which was not
down on my program. 1t was a repe
tition-this time Enthusiastically real
Of the sound which had startled me q
few moments before. In flash | shot
the slide of my lantern TO, picked up
my revolver, and slipped quickly and
noiselessly into a closet. pulled the
closet door almost shut-just leaving
a sufficient opening to enable me tc
see what was going on in the room
without myself being seen. did moi
have long to wait. The window a
which I had first heard that faint
scraping sound was slowly, carefully
showed upward. The blind was ther
cautiously thrust aside, and masked
face appeared in the opening. For q
moment it glanced warily about the
room. Then, apparently satisfied will
what he saw, the prowler raised the
Mind and a1iDnhad In cnftlr yhrott n
the open window. This was realism
with vengeance.
l shifted my feet silently, and tool
new grip on my revolver. For {
moment l thought of sallying fortl
from my hiding place and giving battle
to my nocturnal visitor. On second con
sideration it seemed better for me to re
main where l was and await deveiop
ments. Then if the burglar did dis
cover my hiding-place, would have ;
decided advantage.
While these speculations had beer
forming in my mind, the burglar ha(
pulled an ugly-looking pistol from hi
pocket. examined it, and put it back
NH "ieh tht sliue uull CIOseu lie ne
gan to flash his lantern about the room
He was in truth burglar to satisf,
The requirements of the most san
ruinary youth who ever reveled in
lime novel. He was short and soua
" figure, shabbily dressed, and DOS
Iessed of gait which for pure burglar
business far surpassed anything I hav
ever seen on the stage. He wore
soiled muflier about his throat. 10
The night was bitter cold. Now catch
Ing sight of my watch-which, in m
excitement. 1 had left lying on til
table-he slid over to the table, pickle
mp the watch, and after a moment
scrutiny he thrust it into his pocke
with grunt of satisfaction. He cor
tinued his search of the room, bu
could find nothing else worthy of hi
attention. Once lie seemed to be Iool