Woodruff County news., 1907-11-07
" JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WILL THE
 MEETING BE"
BY WILL GAGE CAREY
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Co)


 The burglar cautiously approached window which stood partly within a shadow, and slipping a steel jim my" under the lower sill, pried first gently, then with all the strength of his hardened muscles Again and again he brought his strength and weight to bear upon the slender steel; the win dow refused to yield.
 Slowly and carefully he climbed up until he could reach the middle sill. When he had gained a secure foot hold, he took from the pocket of his tightly buttoned coat a small roll of putty which he pressed against the glass in tiny circle just opposite the catch holding the window on the in- side. This much accomplished deftly and silently, he produced small glass-cutter from the same capacious pocket, and pressing it heavily against the glass within the ring of putty, soon sent that portion of the pane tinkling softly to the ground. Quick ly inserting his hand, he turned the catch, raised the window, and climbed in.
 A clock in a nearby tower struck the hour, the tones pealing out full and clear on the still night air.
 Nine o'clock he muttered, 'rath- CT early for gentleman of my pro- fessional standing and ability to begin operations, but if l get the sparklers, now is the time!"
 Once safely inside, there was no special need of caution. He knew the diamond necklace was in the house; that the colonel and his wife were spending the evening with married daughter and would not return home for several hours yet, at least. The servants had taken advantage of cir cumstances, and were having little social gathering back in the rear; he knew all these things, because it was his business to know them, because he had spent several months studying conditions and waiting for just such an opportunity as now presented it. self
 Quickly he made his way along the hallway; he felt elated, hilarious even; a twenty thousand diamond necklace right within his grasp.
 Had it been the opera tonight, he mumbled to himself, she would have worn the sparklers; but not to just little family gathering.
 Guided by a slender gleam from his lantern he headed straight for the sumptuous sleeping apartments, where stood the little hardwood case in which the jewels were kept. Reaching the spacious room he threw the Ian terms yellow gleam hither and thither on all sides the little case was not in it's accustomed place; no matter, he would find it.
 Silently and swiftly he passed from one part of the room to another, care fully examining every nook and cor ner; now he was humming a little tune as he. worked, tune he had not heard or thought of before since childhood He chucKled softly as he thought how aptly the words of the tune fitted in with the search for the 
 Joyful, joyful win the meeting bel"
 He couldn't think of the words to the next line; but he didn't mind; those same words were good enough for any one, and surely they were appropriate, so he sang them softly OCT and OCT as he searched.
 Suddenly the lanterns gleam fell upon the polished surface of the jew el-case.
 He sprang forward eagerly and opened it. there it lay, sparkling, scin- tillating, in all it's beauty-the dia- mond necklace.
 A moment he gazed at them covet- ously, gloatingly, then secreted the precious gems beneath his coat and turned to leave. At that instant door behind him suddenly opened and the electric lights flashed on.
 With the snarl of a wounded beast at bay, he turned quickly, he grasped his revolver. and look of determina-