The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-10-12
Van Nesten and the Burglar.
BY w. s ROGERS.

Tie wind blew and blew. 1t tapped
across the river and disported itself up
through the town, shaking and tearing
at things-gatcs, thimneys and wire
hung smokestacks. 1t shriekcd and
roared through alleys and around cor
ners, and at last it careened up Main
street, on the very stroke of midnight.
There it contendcd with an uncertain
minded person, whom 1t found trying to
navigate.
This was Mr.. Chester Van Nesten, and
and he was supposed (by himself only,
for no one else on earth knew anything
at all about it) to be going somewhere.
Not home, however, for Mr.. Van Nesten
was opposed to going home in dark and
windy weather at twelve o'clock at
night. IN dear" he had said impress
lively when he thought of home, lodge
meet 'n-in-itiation s'ciety laies :"
And that, several times repeated, seemed
to clinch the argument.
Having formed a resolution not to go
to his home until such time as the streets
and buildings, which whirled about him
so eiratically, should find themselves
once more in their proper positions, he
decided to go to his office and there spend
the night.
At length, after series of wonderful
tacks, he succeeded in steering up to the
darkened building in which were stu
ated the offices of the firm of Hidgepit
and Van Nesten.
Pausing before the stairway entrance
of the old building, Mr.. Van Nesten rat
tied at the door-knob
Locked" he muttered as he fumbled
uncertainty in his pockets.
The keys were forthcoming in due time,
and then, in a spasmodic manner, he ap-
piled himself to the task of opening the
door. He succeeded. Then, closing the
door after him, he slouched and STUN
bled along till he encountered a staircase.
Mr.. Van Nesten paused to TEST and con-
very hard, he clutched an invisible ban
mister and began by painful degrees to
ascend.
Hidgepit and Van Nesten's office was
on the second floor, near the center of
the building. Hidgepit and Van Nesten's
composing room being in front and
Hidgepit and Van Nesten's bindery in the
rear. Mr.. Van Nesten arrived at last at
the Office He stumbled in and endea-
vored to light the gas. But he had no
matches-none-and after solemnly ex-
pressing appreciation of this mystery, he
grouped about in the dark for time,
humping himself uncertainty against
things, till he found a certain small
leather-covered couch or lounge that re-
posed in a corner of the room with it's
head against big iron safe. Mr.. Van
Nesten, breathing audible relief. sat down
to rest.
His father-in-law and senior partner,
Mr.. Hidgepit. owned this lounge, and
was in the habit of reclining on it daily
Sundays excepted) after lunch, while he
meditated and encouraged digestion.
Van Nesten was very we'll satisfied,
then, and sat quite still for few mo-
ments while he contemplated the equity
of things. He removed his coat and hat,
but. finding no place to put them, he held
them for a moment and then flung them
from him He endeavored to consider
the iniquity of his coat and hat-and it
ended by his head falling forward again.
and then he dropped completely over and
went sound asleep on the couch.
Some hours later Mr.. Van Nesten
awoke-a little gradually-in confusion
and with reluctance. But a binding
stream of light was in his eyes and fig
urea grotesque and crouching figure,
with strip of black cloth across it's face
was before him. This he became more
or less vaguely aware of, and then came
against his right temple. He flashed
wide awake in an instant-and perfectly,
perfectly sober.
Don't move" said the burglar. And
Mr.. Van Nesten didn't. The burglar ran
a deft hand over him to detect the pres
ence of possible fire, arms, ard then he
stepped back.
Get up" he said sharply.
Van Nesten stood up. He was young
man, of good physique, and now that
the first shock was over, did not feel
greatly afraid He looked steadfastly at
the eyes which showed through the holes
in the black mask. The burglar regarded
him steadily, his pistol in his hand. He
was taking stock of the situation.
''You belong here ?" he demanded at
last.
II do, said Van Ncsten.
"Then"-the pistol was raised to a
level with the young mans head-'you
open that safe"
Van Nesten WINGED. It's no light mat
ter to look into the muzzle of big re,
, volver, He experienced quick impulse