The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-23
THE EVENING STORY
The Intruders.
(By Troy Allison

4 The Intruders
(By Troy Allison.)
The Janitor's wife allowed herself to
hesitate and was lost 'sThere,s an
apartment you might use for a while,
Miss Marjorie. it wouldn't cost any
! thing, and your little mite of money
would last longer"
marjorie kershaw's young face
Drlg nlened. Martha, you always were
a oear, Just like you used to be VIII en-
you and Bob lived on the farm next
to our place.
! Martha Jordan nodded her head. 81
never thought I'd live to see you with
~. relative. coming to work for
your living iE the city, Miss Marjorie -
she said dolefuliy.
| The girls face clouded. Poor old
rather! He never knew how to man
age things, 1 believe it was the
that fastened his DEATH"
Mrs. Jordan took a latch key from
behind the clock. "Dearie, you might
as well use the flat-it won't do any
harm, and it will make your money
know the difference
"But-would it be right?" the girl
hesitated, land suppose he should find
out!'
Not much chance" Martha said
airily. DIR. Ingram has gone to Den
yer to get back his nerve. He left this
key so could water his plants The
doctors crazy over plants, and his
front room looks like a flower gar
den."
The girl reveled in the luxury Of the
apartment. Accustomed to the plain
ness of a rambling old country house
the Turkish rugs and the artistic FUR
nishings seemed the height of magnifi-
cence. She succeeded in securing a
position to teach primary music in a
private school-after much worry and
many letters written by the rector OF
her home church. She was to board
and room at the school. when the term
commenced-and she thought regret
fully of giving up her present artistic
quarters.
Mrs. Jordan received one afternoon
a letter telling her when to have the
rooms ready-and Marjorie Kershaw
sprinkled the doctors plants that
night.
She determined to make some pay
ment for her free lodging-so she took
from the top of the bookcase the old
silver tray with it's tea service-she
would polish the doctors silver and
leave his apartments in good condi-
ton. She probably spent too much
energy on the first piece. for, yawning
in the coming twilight, she leaned back
on the pillows of the couch, the silver
spread around on the floor, and fell
fast asleep.
If old Mrs. Van Lear had not chosen
to get sick and to have refused to al
low any one except her pet physician
to look after her. John Ingram would
opinion, and never have known any
thing about 1t. AS 1t was, he let him
self into his apartments that night
about 9.
Reaching for the electric light, he
stumbled over his silver teapot. and
the girl on the couch sat up suddenly,
her sleepy eyes blinking from the light
She gave one gasp, then Strengthened
herself on the couch. her feet braced
firmly on the floor. M not afraid of
teapot in lis hand, and wondering
what he had already put in the small
grip beside him.
He stood still. his establishment, aid
ed by the silver teapot, giving him the
appearance of detected guilt. ~
Aren't you-ashamed of your
self? ?" she asked sternly.
"I don't seem able to analyZe my
feelings" the doctor said. doubtfully.
ITO think of a man breaking into a
house and stealing-reapots," she
said accusingly.
at only seem to have one" he haz-
arded excusingly.
Its just as bad as a dozen-it's
her young voice full of
righteous indignation.
The doctor gripped the teapot and
stared wonderingly at her tumbled
hair and flushed face. 1T doesn't
you seem a little hard on a man."
Zones enough to get you into trou-
ole," judiciously. Have you ever
been in jail?" she asked with frank |
mo, thank heaven" he responded
'you-you wouldn't send
me to Jail, would your" the doctor
was beginning to enjoy his histrionic |
.alent, and put eloquent pleading in
MS eyes.
inst with
you,"' refiectively. you see, never
caught a burglar before, and don't
know what to do"
would you mind my sitting down
lon't expect you to have much sym
oathy for me-you have never had |
my temptation to take things that
lidn't belong to you- u
Her face turned red as she remem
,ered the money she had saved by US
ng some ones apartment without
but tonight I was tired and hun
IT might give you something to
at" she said hesitatingly, "but I'm
fraid to take my finger off this BELL
Let me fix something to eat" he
uggested with alacrity, you sit still
nd watch me, and ring the bell If I
,egin to do anything suspicious" He
vent to a cabinet and found some tea,
hen started the alcohol lamp. There
re some olives and sardines and
OK of crackers in the chafingdish
abinet," he said while he put the
.ettle to boil.
'You must have ransacked the
yhole apartment before 1 awoke,"
he said Indignantly.
''WeIl-er-I do seem to remem-
er where to find things-that's my
rofession, you know
Have you put any of the doctors
Kings in that grip?" she pointed to the
atcheI he had left on the floor
The doctor scorned to tell lie, even
hen he was cornered. "Only a few