The daily Alaskan., 1909-07-23
An Amateur Burglary.
Ry RosALlE THURTEE

By ROSALlE HUN GE' [Copyright, 1909. by American Press Asso-
 ciaton.l
 70 heayens!"
 "What's the matter?'
 -The key. Mother told me to be sure and take 1t. forgot it."
 "WenT
 'sMother has gone out to spend the evening with Mrs. Tomkins, father Is at the club and the maid was called away yesterday to her sick mother" "That means that there Is no one to let us in and we must walt on the steps till some one comes home"
 "I am afraid so."
 This is the houseT'
 "Yes; fourth from the end of the block. I wonder If 1t is third or fourth fourth, I'm sure."
 What made you hesitate? A Don't you know We only moved in last week."
 "0h, yes; forgot"
 They sit down on the stone step and talk of a small party they have attend ed. The step Is cold; so Is the wind. What kind are the window catch esT' he asked.
 "Old fashioned. These houses are all old fashioned"
 q wonder If l can turn one of them with my knife bladeT
 He steps to balcony on which the front windows open, inserts his knife blade and tries to move the catch. He fails. He rattles the sash. It is very loose. He puts both hands in po- sition to act as levers on the sash and pushes. Something gives way, and the sash goes up. Watching him from the stoop, she sees him disappear in the window.
 "why Is he so long? He must have gone in to light up and open the door for me-"
 She waits for him at the door, but since he doesn't come she climbs over the rail on to the balcony and stands at the window. Seeing or hearing nothing she calls:
 "where are your?
 Here inside"
 What are you doing?"
 Sitting on some one"
 Good gracious! What do you meani"
 "As soon as the window went up felt myself seized by some one-a man, suppose-who dragged me in through the window. Iput my arm around him and downed him"
 "oh, my goody gracious"
 "I wonder If we've got In the wrong house."
 "why don't you ask hlm?"
 "I have asked him who he is and what he meant by grappling me, but all can get out of him is Nix fur stay He must be German. Any way, he doesn't seem to understand How provoking! What in the world are we going to doY'
 Lucky he doesn't holler. We'd be caught red handed in an act of bur glary. The house can't be yours"
 "Oh, dear! Did I say the fourth house from the end of the row? Come to think of 1t, it's the fifth"
 Maybe it's the fftieth." This in a dissatisfied tope.
 That's positively cruel. How can be expected to know the position of house I've not lived In week"
 "How long am to sit on this man" "Pll call the police"
 If you do I'll spend the time set apart for our honeymoon in jail"
 Cant you leave him, jump out Of the window and run for it?'
 And have him yelling Stop thief! and run Into cops arms? That's brilliant idea"
 "Gott in hImmcl! Ugh! Um" from the man underneath, struggling.
 "Shut upT'
 What In the world will be the end of this? We'll be arrested, and the least we can expect is that 1t will all be in the papers tomorrow morning." from the girl.
 If knew the inside of this house ] could lock him up somewhere" from the young man.
 "Hans! Vas istf" This comes from upstairs. ....
 The young burglar claps his hand over Hans mouth.
 A light is coming and the sound Of steps on the staircase. A young wo- man in night robe peeps cautiously over the banlster and gives shriek. "For heavens sake keep quiet. Do you speak English" cried the burglar in anguish.
 "Yah. Vot's a. matter|
 ''Tell this man in German, if he un- derstands German and isn't a deaf mute, that got in here by mistake. I'll let him up if he'll let me out of 1t peaceably."
 "It was all my mistake" called the girl outside "I live In this block, the fourth or fifth house from the end-I don't remember. Oh, do please tell him. Is he your husband"
 My $usband! Nein! You think l am old yOmanw