Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-14

girl stood ON the threshold. facing
him.
With one small satin aloe thrust
deltcately forward and one hand still
resting on the knob of the door
which she held open her lips parted
In an inarticulate gasp of surprise.
and her great blue eyes wide open In
sheer amaze. she completely justified
Mt that instant her claim TO be con-
siuered Que of the prettest debu-
iantes of the last London season.
The Burglar. AT the very first glance
conceded It, The slight OF annoyance
that had crossed his features uasscd
instantly. as he turned toward her
with little bow.
With your permission" he muir
mered politely. ut the same time
raising The winegIass to his lips.
"Who are your demanded the girl,
her eyes still riveted on his face. as
though in kind OF fascination.
which nevertheless. seemcd singular
ly Tree from any element of terror.
for the accents of the burglar had
Instantly conveyed, by their subtle
tone of culture, n strange and sooth-
Ing sense of security to her soul. with
II vague sense of something. Mt tho
moment elusively. familiar to her
memory-"Who are your" she re-
peatod in rather more peremptory
voice, rs he carefully set down his
empty wineglass on the sideboarn
again.
The Burglar passed cambria hand
kerchief dclicately across his lips.
oh, don't you know he replied.
with an apologize gesture. I'm a
burglar"
She regarded him for moment
with the dawn of an appreciative
smile lowering round the corners OF
her beautiful little mouth.
Nj Tolroy." she said swee,,y. 81
think you would look ever so much
nicer If you took of mat stupid black
mask"
The Burglar gave little resigned
gesture; then he sat up and carefully
removed the bit of black cardboard
from his forehead.
10 think that you should have rec
ognized mel" he murmnred. as lie
placed 1t on the table beside him.
Recognized you!' She uttered n
low musical laugh II recognized
you the moment | shut the door. 10
You think should have come into the
room and talked like this to n burglar
didn't know?"
II certainly would not have been
strictly proper" he admitted; .'but /
imigined my disguise TO be quite per
feet"
He looked at her reproachruily
Surely you don't think | am such
an intolerable Idiot rs TO break into a
persons house at night and run the
fearful risk OF being shot by Sir
eThomas Just for fun. do you? I was
dining tonight with Charlie Craster
and Lord Penhurst. and they bet me
pony wouldn't burgle Sir Thorn
ass house and fetch away n silver
teapot. or something OF the kind
to prove had really got in. you know
ana took the bet. and they are wait :
around at Craster's chambers for me
now"
"But"--she knitted her brows in
pe'plexity-what do you want nony
for, MIR. Tolroy? You've got ont
horse already. haven't your
"A pony" he explained, glanclng
at her severely, lis not an anImal-I
mean not always an animal" he cor
rected himself. 'In this case it is n
sum of ESQ. which should regret
extremely having to hand over to
Penhursl and Craster."
Il think | should. too" she remark
ed penslyely. Both Mr.. Craster and
Lord Penhurst are quite rich enough
as 1t is. whilst yolt-" She paused
and bit her lip.
on said the Burglar, don't mind
finishing the sentence. please. Pm
not rich. I'm only younger son. and
to be quite candid with you'll have
Deen seriously thinking of taking IN
some profession lately. burglary
struck me- as not Improbable one"
You are not fitted 10 be a burglar. /"
she said decisively You must choose
another profession. In which you are
less likely to--be shot by Sir Thorn
as!"
The Burglar sighed heavily.
What does II matter. after all. If |
am Shot" he murmured
ut matters a good DEAL" she ex-
claimed with energy.
TO whom?" he asked in detected
tones.
ITO whom? Well. to-to--''she
paused an instant, TO LOT of people
10 your friends. for instance"
"oh, they wouldn't mind, much"
he assured her cheerily. They'd get
over il in day or two. Treally don [
think anybody would mind much.
There are such heaps of other fellows