The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-03-26
Capturing
A Burglar.
By Harriet Lammie Smith.
Copyright. 1907, by Mary 0IcKeon.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

| 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 wistful-
ness in their depths. He had noticed
one or two pretty girls in the. throng
Of older women who were engineering
the church supper, but apparently they
were all too busy for conversational
advances. He reflected with Il sense
Of injury that his visit was opening
| tamely.
| Chester" 1t was his aunts brisk
| voice, and Scott rose with alacrity. En-
ergetic Aunt Anne liked to see people
busy. In her summons he read prom
| lse Of occupation and welcomed it re-
| gardless of its nature. Nor WIS he
destined to be disappointed.
This is my nephew, Mr.. Scott" said
| Aunt Anne, addressing Il group of la
dies, who acknowledged the introduc-
J ton by Il collective smile ''And he'll
| be delighted TO DO any little crrands
for us. she added generously. Now.
| Mrs Anderson, tell him about your
| spoons
Mrs. Anderson beamcd gratefully on
the young man. I'm sure it's awfully
kind Of you. Mr.. Scott. You see, we're
| short Of spoons. and / want to send you
| for mine DO you know Fayette street?
Yes, it crosses Main ut right angles,
and my house is a yellow cottage on
the right. with WoOdbine over the
porch You'll find the key under the
nat. Go straight through the hall into
the dining room, and the spoons are
in the left hand drawer of the side
board. IT, Just lovely of you to help
as out. Mr. Scott"
I The other ladies murmured assent.
! and one or two of the younger flashed
appreci9tive glances in his direction.
SCOTS spirits rose He promised II
speedy return and started on his er-
rand. rejecting as he went on the re-
! freshing confidence Of Il community
which left its keys under the door
mats and permitted strangers to have
access 10 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 i'm the drawers
| Gf the Sileb0arl. III fact. they were
not in the Sideboard ut all, though he
ransackcd it thoroughly 10 make sure.
Opening the closet door, he was re-
! warded by the sight of Il we'll stocked
silver chest. and he possessed himself
Of the spoons, promising himself 4
laugh at the expense of the owner of
the Silvc-, whose memory was SO I'M
reliable.
Hold up your handsr'
Tile 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 Il girl She was Il rather
tall girl with very white cheeks ami
absurdly long laSheS. She wore a gar
den hat. beneath which little tendril-
ike 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
explain afterward The spoons in his
pocket seemed to weigh Il ton. He
felt hot and ridiculous.
Your mother asked me- he began.
The girl Interrupted him. Il have
10 mother Your excuses will only
make Il had matter worse
Scott bit his lip. Absurd as the sit
luatiOn was. it had Il serious side. He
spoke with as much dignity as WIS
consistent with standing before a beau
tiful Girl with his hands on Il level
with his ears. Il was requested TO
come here by the lady Of the house.
ae insisted.
"Oh. indeed, Then perhaps you will
tell ne her name"
Scott rackei his brain. Ia the dis
traction Of that general introduction
Mrs. .Nnderson's name had failed to
imprint itself on his memory.
II don't Know her name" he ac-
Know lcst@CN. "DOt Sl.e Is Il dark ndlreu
woman. ahoat forty five. l should say,
with good deal OF color" He would
have gone further with his descrip-
ton. but the young woman checked
him by gesture not TO be misunder
stood.
II prefer to know no more Of your
preposterous fiction she said wither-
(, ingIy. Evidently you are not as
shrewd as You think yourself. 1t hap
pens that | am the lady Of this house.
and 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 reighborhood kept its
keys under the door mat. He tried to
say something about 4 mistake, but
she would not listen. Keeping her eye
upon him, she seated herself deliber-
ately. please Go not move" she said,
cor / shall be compelled to shoot. and
that would be very disagreeable for
=