Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-10-10

her sleepy eyes blinking from the
light. She gave one gasp, then
Strengthened herself on the couch, her
feet braced firmly on the floor.
He stood still, his establishment
aided by the silver teapot, giving him
the appearance Of detected guilt.
"Aren't you.-ashamed Of yourselfr
she asked sternly.
II don't seem able to analyze my
feelings" the doctor said doubtfully.
ITO think OF man breaking into a
house and stealing-teapots." she said
accusingly.
81 seem to have only one" he haz-
arded excusingly.
TITS just as bad as a dozen-it's
stealing" her young voice full of
righteous indignation.
The doctor gripped the teapot and
stared wonderingly at her tumbled
hair and flushed face. "It doesn't
seem quite as bad to steal just one;
you seem a little hard on man."
II don't just know what to do with
you" refectively. you see, | never
caught burglar before and don't
know what to do"
Would you mind my sitting down
while you think 1t over? OF course |
don't expect you TO have much sym
| pathy for me-you have never had any
| temptation to take things that didn't
belong to you"
| Her face turned red as she remem-
bered the money she had saved by
using some ones apartment without
permission.
but tonight was tired and hun
cry
II might give you something to eat"
she said hesitatingly, but I'm afraid
to take my finger off this bell"
LET me fix something to eat" he
suggested, with alacrity. you sit
still and watch me and ring the bell
II / begin to do anything suspicious"
He went to cabinet and found some
tea, then started the alcohol lamp.
There are some olives and sardines
and a box Of crackers In the chatting
dish cabinet" he said while he put
the kettle to boil.
You must have ransacked the whole
apartment before l awoke," she said
Indignantly.
"Well--er--I do seem to remember
where to find things-t that's my pro
| fession. you know"
J "Have you put any of the doctors
things In that grip?" She pointed to the
satchel he had left on the floor.
The doctor scorned to tell a lie, even
when he was cornered "Only a few
OF his collars and cuffs" extenuating-
ly. you see. rather needed some
clean things"
II should think you did" Her glance
took In the coal dust sprinkled over
his face, the tweed cap set rakishly
on his head and the loose Norfolk
jacket he had worn to travel In. Even
II you are poor. you might keep your
face clean. wouldn't have blamed
you much II you had taken cake Of
49,, loctor's soap-he uses awfully nice
soaS," reminlscently.
would you-er-take a cup Of tea.
or ara you above eating with u bur
giarf"
Her young eyes were hungry-it had
been hours since Mrs. Jordan's early
dinner. She hesitated. then held out
her hand.
"I'll take the tea" she said finally.
land I'm going to tell you why I'm not
going to turn you over to the police"
The doctor allowed just the proper
amount of surprised Joy to beam In
his face. You are going to let me
go?" he gaspcd.
She nodded her head afIirmatively.
"Yes-because-I'm n thief, too" she
said almost in a whisper.
1t was real emotion that appeared
On the doctors face then. What the
dev-what do you meany' he gaspcd.
"Ch--I didn't take teapots-I took
everything" mlserably.
He forked Furline out OF the box
and settled himself comfortably.
Suppose you tell mo about 1t. Maybe
we could help each other out Of n
hole" His voice was full of kind
ness.
Il took the whole flat." she said for
lornly. and told him how size had
yielded to the temptation to save her
little bit of money.
Little woman. don't you mind. l
don't believe that chump OF a doctor
would mind a bit If he knew. III lie
did. he wouldn't be much of a man
In my opinion. You needn't even
think oft, and you can stay here a
week longer and be safely cleared
out before he gets back to-the Eat"
he finished lamely.
~Do you think mightY' she asked
eagerly.
II know you may" with a convinc-
Ing air. land you haven't done any
thing wrong; you've even done the
man good turn Haven't you kept
me from stealing his silver1 And you
have talked to me like was q hu-
man being. / promise you I'll never
attempt to steal-another teapot a.
long az I live"
III you would stop stealing and ak
yourself respectfully, you would look
really nice-and could get Job" she
encouraged. "You don't look like a
common burglar"
He took the satchel from the door,
trying to hide the fact that he was
choking over the idea of not looking
hopelessly degraded.
Whenever I get respectable shall
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