Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-03-24
Capturing
 A Burglar By Harriet Lammie Smith. Copyright, 1907, by Mary Mckeou.
Copyright. 1907, by Mary Mckcou. VVvVVvvVVvVVVvvvVVVVVvVy
By Harriet Lammie Smith.

L.. |VvvvvvvvvvVvvvvvvvvvvvvvA A Scott sat on the step of the guillhail and famed himself with his hat. Through the open door came the SOUP ] of feminine voices. animated and caGer The young mans eyes scanned (. landscape with something of wistfui ness ill their depths. He had noticed one or two pretty girls ill the thron- of older women who were engineering the church supper, but apparently they were all too busy for conversational advances He reflected with d sense of injury that his visit was opcuin:, tamely.
 Chester" It was his aunt's brisk voice, and Scott rose with alacrity EN ergetic Aunt Anne liked to see people busy. Tn her summons he read q prom ise of occupation and welcomed it re 7 gardless of it's nature Nor was he destined to be disappointed
 'tThis is my nephew, MT. Scott" said Aunt Anne, addressing a group of Ia dies. who acknowledged the introduc tion by a collective smile. And he'll be delighted to do any little errands for us," she added generously. "Now, Mrs. Anderson, tell him about your spoons"
 Mrs Anderson bcamed gratefully on the young man. "I'm sure it's awfully kind of you, Mir. Scott You see, we're short of spoons, and want to send you for mine. Do you know Fayette street? Yes, it crosses Main at right angles, and my house Is q yellow cottage on the right, with woodbine over the porch. You'll find the key under the mat. Go straight through the hall into the dining room, and the spoons are in the left hand drawer of the side board It's just lovely of you to help us out. MT. Scott.''
 The other ladies murmured assent. and one or two of the younger flashed appreciatve glances in his direction. Scott's spirits rose. He promised speedy return and started on his CT rand, ref1ecting as he went on the re freshing confidence of community which left it's keys under the door mats and permitted strangers to have access to its homes
 He had no difficulty in finding the yellow cottage. and the key was in its place He made his way through the silent hall into the dining room, and here he encountered his first check. The spoons were not in the drawers of the sideboard. In fact, they were not in the sideboard at all, though he ransacked 1t thoroughly to make sure. Opening the closet door, he was re warded by the sight of well stocked silver chest, and he possessed himself of the spoons, promising himself laugh at the expense of the owner of the silver whose memory was so un reliable.
 Hold up your hands!
 The request came in tones whose determination could not be mistaken. and Scott spun on his heel to find him. self facing revolver Back of the revolver was q girl. She was rather tall girl with very white cheeks and absurdly long lashes She wore q gar den hat, beneath which little tendril like curls festooned themselves about her forehead. Under other circum stances Scott would have voted her charming.
 Hold up your hands!' said the girl again, and Scott obeyed, reflecting thai it was better to humor her first ana explain afterward. The spoons ill his pocket seemed to weigh ton He felt hot and ridiculous.
 "Your mother asked me- he began.
 The girl interrupted him. 'I have no mother. Your excuses will only make bad matter worse."
 Scott bit his lip. Absurd as tue sit uation was, it had a serious side. He spoke with as much dignity as WAS consistent with standing before beau tiful girl with his hands on level with his ears. II was requested to come here by the lady of the house. he insisted.
 .Oh, indeed! Then perhaps you will tell me her name."
 Scott racked his brain. In the dis traction of that general introduction Mrs. Anderson's name had failed to imprint itself on his memory.
 .I don't know her name,' he ac- knowledged, "but she is q dark haired woman about forty five, I should say, with good deal of color" He would have gone further with hi. .lescrip- tion, but the young woman checked him by gesture not to be misunder stood.
 ''I prefer to know no moro of your preposterous fiction," she said withec- tngly. Evidently you are net as shrewd as you think yourself It hap pens that am the lady of th. house and am going to keep you ri:slt here until my uncle comes."