Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-08
An Excess Of Talent?
fOriEin.il. I

attend as himself or rather as the pub
lie conceived him, With a coil Of rope
thrown over one shoulder, Il dark lam
tern in one hand, a revolver in the
other (not loaded, of course) and a jim
my sticking out Of his pocket.
On the night Of the ball, having made
himself look as little like the real Do
Ian and as much like Il stage burglar as
possible, he put on Il mask to cap the
costume as we'll as to conceal his unre-
fined features and proceeded to Colonel
Bridges residence. Seeing the colonel
at the front door taking the INT Of
the arriving guests, Patsy withdrew to
the rear, climbed a trellis and effected
an entrance into a closet on the second
floor, from whence he emerged among
a crowd of guests pouring in and out
Of the dressing rooms. Concluding that
for the time being there must be more
people upstairs than downstairs, he de-
scended and entered the main drawing
room, where stood the family waiting
to receive the guests.
what an original idea" exclaimed
Miss Bridges as Patsy sailed into the
room. Gas sure as you live that's Ben
Harker. I'd know him in any costume.
l knew he'd come in something unique.
Why doesn't he come UP to speak to
us? Oh, l forgot; a burglar wouldn't
know enough for that"
AS o o. as Miss Bridges could leave
the position Of hostess she sought out
the burglar. She thought it would be
fun to pretend to mistake him for the
real thing.
what are you doing here, sir?" she
said. Pm going to call a policeman
and hand you owe to him."
If Patsy's face could have been seer
through his mask he would have be-
trayed himself, but it couldn't, and this
gave him time to recover his assurance,
which admolished him to bluff.
"Ye're complimentin' me costume"
he said at a venture.
cts splendid. What's that sticking
out Of your pocket"
"Shure, it's me JIMMY"
you're the best character in the
room. How did you come to think Of
it?"
Patsy drew a sigh Of relief.
"Ben Harker," continued the girl,
"you needn't think you can fool me. I
knew you the moment I saw you.
Come, let's go into the ballroom"
She led the relieved Patsy away and
PNrnnl l;-o %o c%o,,J x-;4I, I1. ~, n
square dance. He had no sooner dis
played his awkwardness than his part
ner burst into a laugh, and every one
in the set was convulsed with mirth at
the blunders Of the burglar. Indeed, it
was not long before nearly every one
in the room was watching him. This
was too much success, and he tried
hard to dance like the rest, but the
harder he tried the worse he failed.
When the dance was finished he told
his partner that he was tired and must
| so upstairs for a rest, but she would
not permit the best character at the
ball to retire for a moment.
"Oh, there's a policeman" she eX-
claimed. How nice it would be for
you two to know each other!!" And
she dragged the unwilling burglar to
the cop.
Here's a burglar for you, Mr.. Po-
liceman. You'd better take him to Jail.
You two are the best made up Of any
in the house. You're both splendid"
"Are you an old offender OF new to
crime!" asked the policeman to keep
up the byplay.
''Oim a yung Bird" replied Patsy.
Ever cracked a crib?"
"Niver a oncet. Dim as innocent as
the day OF first wint to Sunda' school,"
Miss Bridges clapped her hands.
"He beats YOU" she said to the police
man. isn't he a perfect character?'
GAS nea the real thing as any I ever
saw replied the cop in a dry tone that
markable talents for impersonation.
He wants to go upstairs and rest"
said Miss Bridges to the policeman.
do You think the jewelry would be
safe?'
doubt it," replied the cop.
II think I'll take him into the supper
room. I'd like an ice"
watch the spoons if you do"
These ~pleasantries were charming to
the other two, but came rather too near
home for Patsy.
"Oi'm thlnkin'," he said, "Oi'm OBJ
trudin' meself betune two ~frien's, and
the requirements of polite society re-
quires me lawn We. Good %evenin'."
Il don't think it safe to let you travel
about the house alone" said the police
man. You'd better stay by me till the
time to unmask." Then, turning
to the young lady, he added, Don't
you think SOP
"Unmask?' said Patsy. an in con-
cealed alarm in his voice. whats
that?"
II think" the officer went on, that
your presence at the unmaSking would
not help these festivities to pass pleas
antly, and you'd better unmask else
where. Come with me. You're want
ed"
The last five words were not only ia
miliar to Patsy, but were spoken in a
familiar tone. Patsy followed the po-
liceman out of the room, Miss Bridges