Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-07-10

a Burglar.
BY Harriet L.mmie smi.h.
Copyright, 1907, by Mary McKeon.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

=
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
sdvances. He reflected with a sense
aof Injury that his visit was opening
tamely. ~ sRs Ssas Il
Chester" II, was his aunt's brisk
voice, and Scott rose with aIacrity. I'm.
ergetic Aunt Anne liked to see people
busy. In her summons he read a prom.
ise OF occupation and welcomed 1t re-
gardiess or Its nature !, Nor was he
destined to be disappointed. ~
This Is my nephew, Mr.. Scott" said
Aunt Anne. addressing group Of la
dies. who acknowledged the introduc.
tion by q collective smile "And .he'll
be delighted to do any little errands
for u.s." she added generously. Now,
Mrs. Anderson. tell him about your
spoons"
Mrs. Anderson beamed gratefully on
the young man. "I'm sure It's awfully
kind Of you, Mr.. Scott. You see, we're
short of spoons, and Iwant to send you
for mine. Do you know Fayette street?,
Yes, 1T crosses Main at right angles,
and my house is yellow cottage on
the right, with woodbine ovcr the
porch. You'll find the key unde, 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 Mr.. Scott" s,
s The other ladies murmured assent.
and one or two Of the younger flashed
appreciative glances In his direction.
Scott's spirits rose. He promised a
speedy return and started on his err
rand. rejecting as he went on the re-
freshlng confidence Of 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 its
place. lie made bis 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
9ransacked 1t thoroughly to make sure.
Opening the closet door, he was re-
warded by the sight OF we'll stocked
silver chest, and he possessed himself
Eof the spoons, promising himself
laugh at the expense Of the owner of
the silver, whose memory was 80 9un- 4
reliable. s.--a 'a
Hold up your handsr'a IS /
& 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 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 tendrii-
like curls festooned themselves about
her forehead, Under other circum-
stances Scott would have voted her
charming.
"Hoid up your handst' said the girl
again, and Scott obeyed, rejecting that
it was better to humor her frst and
explain afterward. The, spoons IN his
pocket seemed to weigh O ton. BE
felt hot and ridiculous. &
"Your mother asked me- he began.
The girl interrupted him. II have
no mother, Your excuses will only
make bad matter worse"
= Scott bit his lip. Absurd as the sit
uation was, 1t had 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. 81 was requested to
come here by the lady Of the house."
he insisted.
"oh, indeed! Then perhaps you will
tell me her name" e& ~ SasH
Scott racked his brain. In the dis
traction of that general introduction
Mrs. Anderson's name had failed to
imprint itself on his memory. -
II don't know her name," he ac-
"but she is dark haired
-s%oman, about forty-fve, 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,
IT 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 I 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,
cor shall be compelled to shoot, and
that would be very disagreeable for