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

Q O burglary forms a vital part
of the plot, you will agree
NON that for this sort of work
theoretically, at least-there
should be no time SO fitting as the
midnight hour; no place so prolific of
spinal shiverings as bare, dimly 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. 1t was exactly upon
this theory that rented such room
In such house in lonely suburb of
San Francisco, and on certain bitter
cold evening in December prepared to
pass the night there.
My desire was to work up vivid
account of a burglary in all its fas-
cinating details-depicting the entrance
OF the burglar, the feelings of the un-
fortunate individual whose lot 1t was
to be the victim, and all that sort Of
thing, Naturally, l spared no pains
to make my environment as suggestiN e
as possible. On the table at which |
Intended to sit while recording my i'm
pressions Of the situation, ] placed a
loaded magazine pistol The blinds |
had drawn so closely that from the
outside the room must have seemed
to be in darkness. Ny only light was
a dark lantern, which | had bought
that day from benevolent-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 a
comfortable fire going in the old-fash-
ioned crate, | got out my pipe and
smoked until the midnight hOur-with
all the weird, fantastic images that it
rails up in the imagination-was almost
ut hand. At such time and such n
place, sterile, indeed, were the imagina-
tion that did not feel itself aroused.
was soon scratching away quite mer-
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 l heard faint
Bcraping sound at one of the windows.
1t startled me for the moment. Then
I concluded that it was nothing, con-
graduated myself on having brought
my imagination TO such responsive
pitch, and laughed at myself for hav-
Ing been frightened by a monster of
my own creation.
l resumed my writing. But l 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 a
few moments before. In flash / shot
the slide of my lantern to, picked up
my revolver, and slipped quickly and
noiselessly into closet. l pulled the
closet door almost shut-just leaving
a sufficient. opening to enable me to
see what was going on in the room
without myself being seen. l did not
have long to wait. The window at
which / had first heard that faint,
scraping sound was slowly, carefully
showed upward. The blind was then
cautiously thrust aside. and a masked
face appeared in the opening. For a
moment it glanced warily about the
room. Then, apparently satisfied with
what he saw, the prowler raised the
blind and climbed in softly through
the open window. This was realism
with vengeance.
shifted my feet silently, and took
a new grip on my revolver. For n
moment l thought of sallying forth
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, l would have a
decided advantage.
While these speculations had been
forming in my mind, the burglar had
pulled an ugly-looking pistol from his
pocket, examined it, and put il back.
Then with the slide half closed he he.
gan to flash his lantern about the room.
he was in truth burglar to satisfy
me requirements of the most SAIL
suinary youth who ever reveled in a
lime novel. He was short and SQUAT
f figure, shabbily dressed. and DOS
Iessed of gait which for pure burglar.
busness far surpassed anything have
ever seen on the stage. He wore a
soiled mufIier about his throat. for
The night was bitter cold. Now catch.
Ing sight Of my watch-which, in nv
excitement. | had left lying on the
table-he slid over to the table, picked
mp the watch, and after moments
scrutiny he thrust it into his pocket
with grunt of satisfaction. He con-
tinued his search of the room, but
could find nothing else worthy of his
attention. Once lie seemed to be look.