The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-31
THE EVENING SToR Y
Capturing q Burglar.


hall and famed himself with his hat.
Through the open door came the
sound of feminine voices, animated
and eager. The young mans eyes
| scanned the landscape with something
| OF wistfulness in their Aepths. He had
noticed one or two pretty girls in the
throng of older women who were en-
glneering the church supper, but APP
parently they We're all too busy for
conversational p ivances. He reflected
with sense of injury that his visit
was opening tamely.
Chester! 1t was his aunts brisk
voice and Scott rose with alacrity. En-
pie busy. In her summons he read a
promise of occupation and welcomed
it regardless of its nature. Nor was he
destined to be disappointed,
This is my nephew, Mr.. Scott" said
Aunt Anne, addressing a group of Ia
dies. who acknowledged the introduc-
ton by a collective smile. ssAnd, he'll
be delighted to do any little errands
for u.s." she added GENEROUSLY. Now.
S MIS-, anderson tel him aPoqt youf
Mrs. Anderson beamed gratefully on
the young man. Pm sure it's awfully
kind OF you, Mr.. Scott. You see were
short of spoons and 1 want to send for
mine. Do you know Fayette street?
Yes, it crosses Main at right angles
and my house is yellow cottage on
the right, with woodbine over the
porch. You'll find the key under the
mat. Go straight through the hall in
to 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, Mr.. Scott
The other ladies murmured assent,
and one or two of the younger flashed
appreciattve glances in his direction.
SCOTS spirits rose. He promised a
speedy return and started on his err
ror n v-464 L.
freshing confidence of a community
which left its 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 it's
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 side board. In fact, they were not
in the sideboard al all. though he ran
sacked it thoroughly to make sure
Opening the closet door he was re-
warded by the sight of a we'll stocked
silver chest and he possessed himself
or the spoons, promising himself a
laugh at the expense of the owner Of
the silver, whose memory was so I'M
reliable
Hold up your hands"
The request came in tones. whose
determination could not be mistaken,
and Scott spun on his heel to find
himself facing a revolver. Back of the
revolver was a girl. She was a rather
tall girl with very white cheeks and
absurdly long lashes. She wore a 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, rejecting that
it was better to humor her first and
lot raf f<zv-r IL
pocket seemed to weigh a ton. Hel
felt hot and ridiculous. Us +.t--,. 4
Your mother asked me- he be-
The girl interrupted him. .'I have
no mother. Your excuses will only |
make a bad matter worse
Scott bit his lip. Absurd as the
situation was. 1t had a serious side. He !
consistent with standing before a !
beautiful girl with his hands on a |
level with his ears. 81 was requested |
to come here by the lady of the
80 indeed. Then perhaps you will
tell me her name"
Scott racked hiE brain. In the dis /
traction of that general Introduction, |
Mrs. Anderson's name had failed to
imprint itself on his memory.
81 don't know her name" he ac-
knowledged, but she is a dark-haired |
woman, about As, I should say, with |
have gone further with his descrip-
ton, but the young woman checked
him by a gesture not to be misunder-
stood.
81 prefer to know no more of your
preposterous fiction" she said wither-
ingly. Evidently you are not as
shrewd as you think yourself. 1t hap
pens that 1 am the lady of this house
and I am going to keep you right here
until my uncle comes.
Scott cursed his folly. Doubtless
there were yellow cottages on every
block. and all the neighborhood kept
it's keys under the door mat. He tried
to say something about mistake, but
she would not listen. Keeping her eye
upon him she seated herself deliber-
ately. please do not move" she said.
''or 1 shall be compelled to shoot and
that would be very disagreeable for
me- and considerably worse for YOU"
In the position he was compelled to /
assume, Scott had an excellent oppor-
tunity for studying his captor. She was
certainly a remarkable pretty girl. The
stern determination of her eyes could
not hide their depth and lustre. The
pallor of her cheeks failed to disguise
their exquisite curves. The hand that
held the revolver was a very shapely
one. 1t panied him to notice that the
girl was gradually growing nervous.
Her hand trembled. Her bosom rose
and fell as If sobs were struggling to
escape. once or twice her eyes seemd
almost to waver before his own. stop
looking at me like that" she suddenly
commanded. 49,.
= II beg your pardon said Scott
humbly and looked at the floor. Now
that he no longer had her face to dis
tract him, he realized that the unac-
customed position of his arms was a
most uncomfortable one. A twinge of
pain contracted his face and he sighed.
Does it hurt?'' asked the holder of
the revolver. with grim pleasure in
the situation.
at does" Scott acknowledged feel
ipClx