Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-07-25
Betty Caught
the Burglar
BY Frank v. Rathman.

Macarthur paused at the newly paint.
ed gates Of the cottage, with a com.
Portable sense of having solved a prob
lem, and reached his journeys end.
His coming had been matter of pure
impulse. His eye had fallen on Jack
Dudleys invitation, lying under a
months dust in the letter rack. And
Paul had written telegram, packed
his things, and caught an opportune
train from Union station the same
morning.
1t was three months since they had
met, but Paul had no doubt o, his
welcome as he advanced to the door
and knocked A flurried middle aged
servant opened it.
rs Mr.. Dudley in?"
No, sorr. There's no one at home at
present; but he'll be back in an hour
or So"
Il see. Well, I'll bring in my things
and wait. He is expecting me-"
The woman looked at him doubt
fully, but raised no objection as Paul
stepped into the hall.
The young man glanced about him
In some surprise as he hung up his
coat and hat. Most of the furniture
he recognized; but there was a
strange clock in the corner, and two
or three carved chairs obviously were
newcomers.
Been having some alterations
lately, haven't your" he remarked.
'Indade we have" she said resent
fully. "An' sight O. work it's made
for me. TIL parlor's on y'r left"
Without further speech she turned
and hurried in the direction of the
kitchen. Paul. left to himself. de-
cided it would be well to dispose Of
his luggage, and accordingly made his
way, bag in hand, to the room he had
occupied on each previous visit.
Jacks coming on he thought, as
fresh Improvements met his eye on
every side. And then a new and hor-
rible suspicion crossed his mind Jack
had got married! John James Dudley,
confirmed woman halter, had succumb-
ed to the wiles Of girl, and had been
ashamed to write and say so,
Filled with this new dread, Paul
stole guilty to his chum's room, and
stood aghast at the immediate corfir-
nation of his suspicious. A faint
breath of lavender greeted his nostrils.
The dressing table-itseIf an intruder
was Uttered with a multitude of sill
yer odds and ends. A flowery dress
ing gown, Enthusiastically feminine,
dropped gracefully from the foot of
the bed.
Paul turned, sick at heart, into his
own apartment, and that, like every
other in the house, appeared to be
in the decorators hands. Only a few
odd pieces of the old familiar furni-
ture were there to tell him that he
had not lost his way.
With sigh he unpacked and dom
ned a pair of old slippers, and pro-
ceeded to have a good wash His
opinion of the unknown Mrs. Dudley
rose as he realized that every pos
sible preparation for the comfort of a
visitor had been made.
The Ginning of an ormoru clock on
the mantelpiece reminded him that it
would be well to prepare for dinner
he was approximately half dressed
when a pair of small, pointed shoes
projecting from beneath the bed, ar
rested his attention.
Paul possessed courage, and his
brain acted quickly. He realized that
in some way an essential pair of
shoes had been left in his room, and
that they probably would be required
at once. 1t was obviously his duty
to put them outside with the least
possible delay. and then to secure the
door.
Fighting his way through the en-
. Engagements OF stiff shirt, Paul
stopped, and made gingerly examina-
ton. While the problem was still
occupying his mind there was the
sound Of light footsteps in the passage
outside, and instantly he remembered
that he had neglected to fasten the
door,
The steps advanced rapidly-so
rdpidly, indeed, that II was impossible
to do anything further in the way OF
dressing before meeting the attack
Paul hastily snatched at a second
shoe, and scuffled across the room
He reached the door just as the handle
was turned from without. dextercusly
flung them out, and slamed the door
again with a hasty apology.
He heard the thud OF leather soc
certainly not against linoleum-and
a short. stified shrek
Goodness. believe | bit the
missus, Where's that COMPOUNDED
kcy,"
II was missing, nor was there any
other satisfactory fastening inside.