Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-12-13

Ahe burglar cautiously approached
window which stood partly within
shadow. and slipping a steel sim
my" under the lower sill, priea 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
low 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 deity
and silently, he produced a 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
linking softly to the ground. Quick
ly inserting his hand, Turned the
catch, raised the window, and climbed
In.
"A clock in nearby tower struck
the hour, the tones pealing out full
and clear on the still night air.
Mine O'clock" he muttered. "rath.
er early for a gentleman of my pro-
fessional standing and ability to begin
operations, but If 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 1t 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 CLEAN 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 CLEAN hither and thither
on all sides; the little case was not
in its accustomed place; no matter,
he would find it. Efs
. Silently ana swiftly he passed from
one part of the room to another, care
fully examining every nook and cor
ner; now he was humminC a little
tune as he worked. a 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
.--.* "a.
Joyful. joyful will the meeting be-"
He couldn't think OF the words to
the next line: but he didn't mind;
those sane words were good enough
for any one, and surely they were
appropriate, so he sang them softly
DER and DER as he searched.
Suddenly the lanterns CLEAN fell
upon the polished surface Of the jew
el-case.
He sprang forward eagerly and
opened it. there 1t lay, sparkling. scin-
tillating, in all its beauty-the dia'
lnond necklace.
"A moment he gazed at them covet-
ously, gloatingly, then secreted the
precious gems beneath his coat a2d
turned to leave. At that instant a
door behini him suddenly opened and
the electric lights flashed on.
With the snarl of wounded beast |
at bay, he turned quickly, he grasped
his revolver. and look Of determina-
ton to kill, If necessary, o'erspread |
his evil countenance. Then gradually |
is features relaxed, and the hand |
that grasped the weapon fell to his |
eide.
A slender girl Of IL was standing
In the doorway. her blue eyes wide
,nen In establishment.
In all his carefully laid plans he
ba. failed to take into consideration
this youngest child of the family; but
he knew that she must ii 'r-tirely |
alone, and he felt quite at ease again. !
At length she recovered herself
stuff ciently to speak to the intruder
What are you doing here?' she
demanded.
why, you see it's this way. l just
iropped in for little social call, an
hat butler must have neglected to
bring I'D my card; very careless OF
the butler. must speak to your pa
"a abont him tomorrow; think we
will have to let him CO." .r
She resented his haunting tone and