Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-05-18
BURGLAR IN BOHEMIA

There were four studios on the top
f1oor-double studios in the front and
at the back, single studios in between.
The middle studios had skylights and
no windows. In the first was the
Spaniard. In the second was the bur
glar
At least that was what they called
him-the burglar. Nobody knew who
he was or where he came from. so the
other tenants concluded that that was
what he was
He had had the studio for months.
A few had had peeps into it when it
was being cleaned, for he was rather
a neat burglar and insisted upon
cleanliness. They were astonished at
the luxury of 1t, at the hangings, the
tapestries-there we're even tapestries.
1t was astonishing to see a burglar
with so much taste
"He must have about $500 worth
of stuff in there" whispered the Span
lard in awe, his studio being very
plain.
"He stole it, I reckon" said the
artist who occupied the studio In the
back. I'VE might decorate ours in
the same way If we would" he added,
with some moroseness.
1t seemed rather interesting, having
burglar under the same roof. The
woman artist in the front studio lis
tened eagerly to tales Of this mysteri-
Gus person told In whispers in the twi-
light or the candlelight and hid her
diamonds in a different place every
night She double locked her doors
and felt her hair rise slowly at each
footstep. 1t was lovely, she told her
friends.
Il have never seen him. said the
Spaniard, but / hear him come in
every night at about three in the
morning"
Sure enough, several nights at about
that hour the woman was wakened by
the stealthy tread Of cautious feet.
THE BURGLAR" she whispered.
II have never seen him." said the
artist in the back room, but I have
heard him cough. He sleeps all day,
I think. He never goes out until after
dark"
OF course you couldn't expect any
thing else of a real burglar. Yet it
seemed strange that he should care
lessly give away his whereabouts by
cough. Still, the woman artist con-
cluded that, climbing over tin roofs
and up and down fire escapes. a bur
glar was as liable to colds as any
body, and let it go at that.
And then one night after four weeks
or SO of living under the same roof
she came upon him.
It happened in this wise. She was
often invited out to little parties
where they whooped 1t up and stayed
until all hours. She had dressed her
self in her prettiest and gone to one
of these. 1t was nearly three a. m.
when she got home.
1t was always too late for anybody
to gaze upon her when she came home
in a cab. she reflected modify as her
escort tremendously helped her out.
Never in her society existence in New
York when she had been brought home
in cab or devil wagon had there been
a soul to stand admiringly to see her
alight.
She let herself in at the front door
and began to ascend the half dark
stairway. She had climbed up to the
second landing when she heard an
other night latchkey insert itself in
the front door.
THE burglar" she painted, hand to
heart.
She fell ON the top step, picked her
self up and hurried along the hall al
in her white dress and slippers.
Footsteps sounded back of her
stealthy footsteps that she seemed to
know.
HE is our own special burglar" she
thought to herself. Maybe he won
rob a woman who lives on the same
floor with him"
Nevertheless she clasped her han(
to her only sunburst, and was very
glad that her gloves were on, so hi
couldn't see her rings.
The last flight of stairs. The foot
steps following following! COMING
nearer and nearer and nearer!
The last hall!
She took to running along this hall
She inserted the key in her door ant
looked wildly back over her shoulde
as she was about to open it.
She forgot to open it, looking bacl
over her shoulder. She stood perfect
ly still, her hand on the key, for Their
coming quietly up the last stairs ant
5 advancing into the last hall was
: man in evening dress who wore whit
5 gloves.
With a small white gloved hand h
: fitted the key in the door to the bur
glars studio. He flashed a broad eX
panse of shirt front for a moment
, then entered.
THAT burglar of yours" she toll
the others disgustedly when mornin
had come lis no burglar at all. He
only society man. IN. Y. Sun.