Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-17

I against the wall, and he stepped to it and
! opened the top drawer.
| Suddenly his heart gave a leap and then
| stood still. A partially masked face was
| thrust from behind a nearby portiere, and
| a grun voice said. Hello. pal"'
"A burglar!'' gasped Bell
We'll, I'll be blowedr calculated the
man in the mask. advancing and discover
| ing In his hand q pistol and dark lantern.
We'll, III be-y
Bell got a better grasp of the painful sit
uatson- He was standing face to face with
| an armed burglar.
What's your lay?"
'Lay?" queried the poet
Yes Sparkies or papers?'
Bells jaw dropped. The burglar had mis-
| taken him for a fellow-thief Should he
protest? He might get Shot for his
| pains. 1t came to him like a part in a
| play, all written out He would play burg
lar and try to trap the other.
You're on. Papers. What's yours?"
'SParklers and CONT
The poet looked around. There should
| be a closet to his left. There was and the
! key was on the outside Pointing to this
| closet he said: The goods are in there"
If only he could get the burglar in the
| closet then turn the key on him.
mo! / looked. So you We been here be-
| fore" Bell all but blushed at this fatter-
| Ing lnsinuation. We'll so have l."
| The poet g2sped. Then he recalled the
/ import of his visit
Say. did you see any milk lying around? p
| MILK
Yes. I've got a kid below ana I want
/ t. feed him to keep him quiet"
"KldI
| "Surer' Going to kidnap him"
| Bell was amazed at his own resources.
Got the kid, but haven't got the papers
! yet" The burglar nodded pleasantly. An
| right-I'll fix YOU if you'n help me-
Hep you! HOWE
I'm going through the apartments be
| low for sparllers, and | want you to keep
watch. Wait, I'll get the milk. There's
| bottle out here
1t took the poet the length of several
| thoughts to sound the bottom OF his dllem-
| ma. The burglar had respectfully requested
! that he should stand on guard While ms
| own property was being stolen. He looked
! about Yes; the apartment had been ran
| sacked; but time pressed. He tore open
| his coat and took out several old letters
| and when the burglar returned with a quart
| bottle of milk, he waved them triumphan'y'
i've got EN-! Now for the kid.
The two went below. Bell with the bottle
of milk and the burglar following with his
revolver In one hand and his dark lantern:
now extingulshed. in the other AT sight OF
the two men the baby was hushed INTO
wide-eyed wonder. Then it saw the milk
| bottle and, rolling off the pillow. reached
out it's hands and began to bounce It's BODY
impatiently.
The poet got a wine glass, and pouring
out some of the milk. was about to give Il
10 the child. when the burly hand Of the
burglar closed on his wrist.
Hold on. you duffer! DO you want to
give the kid collie? Warm the stuff first.
Bell glared. What do you know about
habies?"
The burglar poked the child with the bar
rel of his revolver. Shut up, and warm
the milk! I'll feed the kid"
Bell did as he was commanded, warming
the milk over his students lamp. and hen
stood by while the baby was fed Suddenly
he took a headache powder from his pocket
and attempted to put pinch OF the stun
into the milk.
What is that for" demanded the bur-
Klar.
Dope, to keep the kid quiet" explained
Bell. wishing to carry out more artisticany
his part kidnaper.
The burglar knocked the powder from his
hand. None o that! The kids too young
The poet was about to retort that he
didn't wish any advice from a burglar, but
thought better OF 1t in time to save apollo
gies.
When the baby was satisfied the burglar
laid II back on it's pillow. II stuck its
thumb into its mouth and contemplated tho