The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-01-11
THE HOUSEBREAKEF
How Willy Marjorie Detained
Him Until Help Came..........
W. R. ROSE. In Cleveland Plain Doalor.

The young man paused for mo-
ment at the foot of the steps and
gave quick glance at the house
Then he assembled to the porch and
tried to open the door Something
prevented him - the key he carried
didn't fit. or the door was bolted.
He hesitated moment as If un-
decided. Then he went around the
house and tried the side door. and
the rear door. Neither yielded to his
efforts. Evidently determined to
enter he went to the rear of the
garage and brought forth a ladder.
Placing this against the porch he as
cended to the roof and moment
later had disappeared through a rear
window.
And Marjorie Lane saw all this
from the house next door. Marjorie
was alone in the house. Her mother
was away on 4 visit, the maid was
taking her afternoon out, and her
father was at his Office Marjorie had
been reading in the little reception
hall, when the mans footsteps on
the porch next door aroused her. She
looked out and saw him.
The house next door had been I'M
tenanted for several weeks. The
Stetsons had gone to New York on
visit. 1t was rumored they would
stay. But their furnishings were
still in the house. They were fine
furnishings, too, as Marjorie knew
And here was a stranger, in mid-af-
ternoon, feloniously endeavoring to
enter the deserted home.
Marjorie ran back when the
stranger went round the house. and
from kitchen widow hidden be-
hind the shade, saw him bring up the
ladder and enter the window.
The girl turned pale. This was the
sort Of felony that had become so
common. The stranger had found
that the house was untenanted and
had chosen the most quiet time OF the
| day for his nefarious work. No doubt
he was in there now, picking over
Mrs. Stetson's choicest treasures and
selecting only the most valuable for
his bundle of loot
What should she do7
With shock she remembered that
the telephone was out of order. II
had suddenly ceased to do duty at
luncheon time. Her father, who had
come home to please Marjorie. had
tried to call his Office and failed.
The phone is out of order" he
told her. az will call them I'D from
the Office and report it,"
Marjorie gave another little start
when she remembered this. 1t was
entirely probable that the daring
housebreaker next door had deliber-
ately cut off the service to serve his
nefarious ends. a shipped wire
would do It. A bad man who took
such chances would know how to
| surround himself with safeguards.
The house on the other side OF the
Lane home was empty, too. The
| Emmets were all away on a vaca-
ton trip-Mr Emmet's vacation.
She could give no alarm there Nor
was II probable any outcry she
| raised in the street would bear prac-
| teal results. She was quite sure
that the only man within hearing dis
( lance would prove to be that very
bad individual who even now presum-
ably was sampling Mrs. stetson's
choicest household treasures.
Marjorie hesitated and wrung her
! hands. There wasn't a weapon I'm
the house, not even a stove poker
stove pokers being unknown I'm
! homes heated by natural gas.
Besides, what would al entire ar
senal avail her in the present di-
! lemma? The man would presently
emerge with his bundle OF plumber
and hurry away. He might go over
! the back fence. or the sido fence. OF
across the roofs. To pursue him
with firearms seemed out Of the ques-
tlon-more especially IS there were
| no firearms available.
Having no other recourse Marjorie
! determined to wait.
She looked at the library clock. II
| was AIS. At 5 o'clock her father had
| promised to be home. They were 80.
ing out TO dinner. If the maraudei
would be sufficiently deliberate mex
door st was possible her father would
] return i'm time
She was sure he would know JUS
what TO do. lie father was that sort
/ or man. III She could only call hin
and she looked pothetlcally at IN,
useless phone.
Then % stem sounded on the mex
! door porch Marjorie ran back TO On,
I hall The man was letting hlmgel
out OF the stetson door
He closed the door carefully an,
crossed the porch. He was carryin,
something a heavy suit case.
As ne went down the steps Mar
! iorie's heart futtered wildly sht
mustn't let him get away like this.
She opened the screen door an,
ran ont on the porch The man ne,
passed the house going toward th
avenue. She hurried after him.
"Sir!" she cried
Flo turned arouLd suddenly
something in the suit case softl
jingled
Marjorie shrank back
The man looked little startled
did you call me?" he asked.