Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

dinner r''--''rhis fellow IL overcome by
some recollection of his former life
"see II that isn't 1t back there, Frank"
-"Sympnthize with him and play upon
his feelings and he will go without the
money"--"oh, good, l thought 1t was
there"
The drink was mixed.
The burglar drank his quickly, nerv-
ousy.
"Thank you, lady" he snid. 81 once
had home OF my own. Just like this, and
my own whlskey and soda. aud my own
kids, and our Christmases, and
His voice broke and he buried his face
deeper in the muffler concealing his fea-
lures He seemed to be sobbing quietly.
"Oh, you poor man." Mrs. Nelson con-
soed with a meaning glance at her hus-
band aside, 'you poor man. am so
sorry for you. Tell us about 1t. why are
you a-why haven't you got 1t nowr'
The burglar glanced UP furtlyely.
Its an old story, lady" he replied, 'nn
old story. | haven't thought about II for
year. It's a hard business I'm In,
ma am hard one. and we have no time
for thoughts OF things as they used 10 be.
It's no heart and all strong arm and big
fist"
Tell rs about IT, please" Nelly soothcd,
elevating her eyebrows slightly. slgni1-
cantly, at her husband and receiving n
veiled nod Of understanding In return.
The burglar started suddenly from his
deep reyerie and sighed ptiably.
"You see LADY," he began, sit was like
this: | was once in n bank--a receiving
teller. No matter where the bank is-it
isn't in this city. | was married 10 tho
sweetest woman God ever put on thls
earth-Heien was her name. She had
hair rs black ms the fog over the river at
night--a wealth Of lt--a fortune in Itself
And her eyes-dark and big nnd-but
that's foolish Cut IT! Well. as ! was
saying, we were married. Aud we had
the most comfortable little Hat ever. |
wasn't making much at the bank md ii
was mighty tight squeeze, I can tell you.
, But Helen was 4 good manager and the
kids, somehow, made everything worth
while, often. when II seemed that |
couldn't hold out n day longer, the feel OF
those kids arms around my neck and the
long evenings at home romping and play
/ Ing with them on the floor and Helen sew
ing by the table and-shucks! I'm getting
woozy and batty ln the head! But you
understand don't youi"
Yes, | understand-and I'm sorry"
Nelly consoled.
"And. then-Chrsfmas timesl what
happy Christmases we did havel We
didn't have much money for presents. but
spend so II would make everything seem
Christmasy, you know. From the hrst
we always had tree. even II II was only
a little broken one that the market men
were almost willing 10 give away. And
on Christmas Eve Helen and ! would
work like beavers getting things ready
for the kids I'm the morning. i always
liked to trim the Christmas tree. Weeks
before Helen would begin making little
tree ~ornameuts ont OF tinseled paper
and then we would buy as many as we
could afford. Christmas was always the
biggest day in the year for US. It's the
kids that make Christmas and without
them-I haven't had a Christmas for so
long that ! didn't even know this Is
! Christmas Eve until | came in here to-
night | came to rob you-but those kids
of yours and the Christmas talk has just
about finished me-"
"'The past?" Nelson murmured. "Is II
so black, then?"
"Blaek7 BlaCk?" the burglar reitera ted.
II should say II Isl The only thing !
haven't done Is to commit murder. When
] think OF, what l used TO be and what