Middletown transcript., 1909-05-15
WHEN MONEY WAS TIGHT

through JIG hAVSASI
ting d hole in the glass pane, IN
serting his arm and turning the
key.
AS he passed on through the
kitchen, buffers pantry, dining
room and hall he carefully left
each door wide open. so that IN
case of necessity he would have q
clear run for it.
AS he passed the sideboard in
the dining room he looked itover
critically. His sharp eye de-
tected instantly that the articles
were all plate, with the excep-
tions of two salt cellars. These
looked like gold. He caught
them up, looked them over care
fully and slid them into his
pocket. They we're gold.
He had a reasonably large can
vas bag in his left hand, which
had been folded neatly and putin
his left hand pocket. This he
unfolded as he leisurely made his
way upstairs, tucking one end in
his trousers pocket and letting
the rest Of the bag hang out. In
going up the stairs be carefully
stepped on the sides, putting his
rubber-soled shoes down, eau
tiously. He knew if he stepped
in the middle the stairs might
creak. Once a mistake like that
had caused him to waste whole
evening.
AS he paused an instant half
way up the stairs his eye caught
in the reflected light of the street
lamp, lying carelessly where it
had been thrown on the window
seat, the outlines of a magnificent
party wrap with its sable collar
cite. The young lady, tired out
with her revening's entertainment,
had left it there as she came in.
AS a matter of fact, the pres
enee of this party wrap was sim
ply a confirmation of the burg
lars plan in selecting this partic-
ular evening, for there had been
a ball, and for this purpose she
had visited the safe deposit vault
during the day and taken out the
magnificent jewel, a large soil
taire diamond pendant, worth
some $4,000.
The burglar had timed the
whole affair very well, although,
to be quite candid, he had not
come upon his midnight venture
by chance. 1t was all done by a
system. He was in his way an
artist. He always worked alone.
He never went on a job that was
not a big one, and he employed
one or two "agents" to tell him
where he could make good haul,
giving them later certain per-
centage of the profits.
He was in reality an admirable,
methodical specimen of burg
lar. One of the great secrets Of
his success was that he never
hurried. He had a theory when
he entered ahouse that he should
place himself mentally en- rapport
with the atmosphere. He robbed
so to speak just as if he were a
member Of the family. This was
his attitude.
When he reached the upper
ball he did not hesitate an in
slant, but walked straight to the
rear and paused in front of the
door on the right. A gas jet had
been left burning low. This he
did not disturb. Its light en-
abled him to see at a glance that
the door was ajar. He opened it
softly and slipped into the room,
as he did so drawing forth from
his pocket a diminutive electric
fiashlight.
The window was open top and
bottom and the cold air was fioW-
ing through the room. A large
screen around the foot of the bed
protected its occupant.
He went over to the dressing
table. There were several Jewels
scattered over its top, but not the
one he wanted. He picked up
the odd rings one by one, SO that
they would not jingle each other.
Then he slowly opened drawer
after drawer.
In one drawer was jewel case.
He opened it. A medley of gold
and silver ornaments on the up.
per tray revealed themselves un-
der his intermittant light, but
not the pendant. He lifted out
the tray. Underneath was sim
liar mass Of ornaments and a
9 folded letter. He was about to
toss it aside when, obeying his
self-composed, leisurely instinct,
hequietly openedit. 1t was from