The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-11-16
Skleft Stnrp.
MOLLIE'S BURGLAR

then she went to the city to visit her
brother and found its attractions so allur-
ing that six months slipped away and the
time of her return to country life was, as
yet, indefinitely postponed. For two
months previous to her visit her country
friends had We'd with each other in telling
tales of the cunning, of the wickedness,
the subtility of city sharpers, pickpockets
and burglars, until the idea became firmly
fixed in her mind that she was going into
den Of thieves; but as yet, she had met
| with no adventure worthy of note, and
was fast reaching the conclusion that city
people were no worse than their country
neighbors, when something occurred which
caused her, for short time at least, to
change her mind. But of this, more anon.
She was still heart whole, although she
had been sought by several very eligible
suitors since her arrival in the city, for she
was pretty girl, very desirable for her
own sweet sake, but still more so as Mary
Wilson, sister of the wealthy and infuen-
tial Lawyer Wilson, and this was how
matters stood, when one Sabbath she
CHANGED to see stranger in the pew ad-
| joining her brother s, and could not help
seeing that the stranger was regarding her
with admiring eyes, and they were beau
tiful brown eyes, too, but she tried to dis
miss all thought of him and them, as she
had done of others on similar occasions,
but found it impossible. Those dark eyes
presented themselves to her mental vision
with persistency with which she could
not account.
On Monday evening her brother brought
tickets and invited his wife and sister to
attend lecture, and Miss Mollie caught
herself wondering, as she donned her cloak
and hat, if the dark eyed gentleman would
be there, and if he would look for her.
She found the lecture insufferably dull,
and concluded, after a time, to return
home. She whispered this intention to
her brother, who saw her to his carriage,
and giving instructions to the coachman tc
return for them, he went back to his wife,
while Miss Mollie was driven rapidly home
ward. Arriving there, she left her hat
and cloak in the hall and ran lightly up the
stairs to her room. The door was partly
open, although she was sure she had closed
it. The gas was turned low as she had
left it, and in the half light she saw, before
she reached the doorway, man in the
room. His back was toward her, and he
was walking toward closet at the other
side of the apartment. He opened the
door and stepped inside; one glance told
her that the key was in the lock; she ran
swiftly across the room, her feet, making
little or no sound on the thick carpet.
"Confound it" she heard him mutter,
"why can't they leave things where fel.
low can find them?'' eyes" she thought,
"her first surmise was correct; it was a
burglar. Like flash she threw herself
against the door and turned the key. She
was terribly frightened, and felt sure that
she should faint, but as her prisoner made
no demonstrations beyond trying the door
gently, this feeling soon wore off. She
turned on the gas, drew chair in front Of
the closet door, whore she sat down to con,
slider what was best to do. If she called
the servants they would be frightened
there would be noise and confusion. and
perhaps he would get away. If she went
down after policeman, he might get out
while she was gone. No, she would stay
where she was and keep guard until he1
brother should return. She had surely
caught him, and did it very neatly, too;
and the more she thought of it the bravel
and more jubilant she grew. She wished
he would speak; she was anxious to know
how he felt about the situation. Present
ly he did speak; he had very pleasant
voice; he tried the door again and asked
"Who locked that door,
And she answered promptly, 81 did. u
What for?''
"Why, to lock you in there, of course
and I don't intend that you shall gel
away, either"
There was silence for a minute or two
then the prisoner remarked: "Don't you
think this joke has gone about far enough
Mollie, dear? Now let me out, There
darling
"Oh! you wretch, You villain How
dare your
"How dare I what?''
"Why call me that
"Thought it was my sister, By Jover
he exclaimed in lower tone. Then h
bent down and looked through the key
hole This is what he saw: A g1acefu
girlish figure, robed in some soft, clingin.
material; bright, self-reliant face, framed
by masses of fluffy brown hair. 1t tool
him sometime to make these observations
for the key-hole was so small that he coul'
see but part of the pretty picture at once
Then he remarked, ''I think, miss, tina
there is some mistake
"Oh! yes l suppose So" sarcastieally
81 think came into the wrong house. ;
~ think you did,"
"Isn't this No. 4?''
s'No, indeed, it is No. 81
"Well, stop at No. 4; came there Sat
urday to visit my sister, Mollie Brown
The houses must be just alike. 1 went
the lecture and found it dull, SO cam
home, or thought I did,
.'Humphl likely story"
81 hope you may find it acceptable,
remarked the young man. who occasional
ly dabbled in literature. Then the comi
cal side of the affair forced itself upon him
and he laughed, actually laughed; sh
heard him.
s'You seem to enjoy the situation, I" sh
said somewhat spitefully, thinking it proc
of his fot,l donrovitv