The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-13

him angry There is chocolate cake
III the pantry" I said, land bread in
| the bread box. You Will find cold
ham and butter in the refrigerator"
l helped him get the things and set
| them on the table. He ate with the
manners of a gentleman, glancing at
me now and then with an expression
/ could not understand. When he had
sliced the ham he passed the dish to
me.
I refused haughtily. but weakened
at his offer of chocolate cake. 1 have
always loved sweets.
As l took it, however. I felt that
the time had come to tell him what
thought of him, and 1 did it in plain
| terms.
MY dear lady he said, when 1
had finished, and it seemed to me that
his eyes twinkled, shall tell you who
brought me to this sad end2
when 1 was a small boy" he con-
tinued, I was contented to play with
innocent things. to dig in my garden,
to fly my kite, to white boats out of
bits of wood and to sail them on the
pend. But one day there came from
the city little girl with dark eyes and
hair. She was not a pretty little girl.
but there was promise in her of beau
tiful womanhood." He glanced at me
and went on "A promise which has
been think fulfilled. After she came
found that I had known nothing of
the romance of life. She spurned my
simple plays and taught me new ones.
The game she liked more than any
other was what we called the Pirate
game. The little ships we sailed on
the pond We're pursued by a sinister
craft With flag made from black pa
per, and which sported a skull and
cross-bones. How we scuttled those
ships and made the dolls which formed
the small crew walk the plank Then
we grabbed the booty and sailed away
with our gains to shore"
sat up suddenly and looked at him
why, I used to play those games. Are
yoU-are you Bruce Burns?"
he nodded, but before he could say
another word we heard a voice from
above. Bruce, DEAR it murmured,
can you find anything to eat?"
1 fitted to the foot Of the stairway.
Aunt Serena" L asked severely, did
you know he was coming over?"
MY dear" she asked, in astonish-
ment, "are you down there? '
Yes, [ thought it was a burglar
should have explained" she said.
that Bruce keeps up his little boy
habit of coming over here to eat. I al
ways Put something where he can find
It, for his mother does not believe in
midnight suppers. He does so much
around the place that this is the only
way in which I can repay him"
Il help keep away the burglars"
Bruce said, but there was a wicked
smile in his eye. And now and then
I an taken for one
Naturally" my voice was icy, land
now that I have discovered the name
OF the intruder, L will say good
night
I made my retreat in a dignifed
fashion. but when 1 was once more in
peu, thought of the charm of his
smile
It was a year later that I married
Bruce Burns. For a wedding present
he gave me a chest of silver On the
chest was carved skull and cross
bones. Beneath the lock was a silver
plate and on it was engraved, ITO a
Dear Pirate and Her Burglar"
Aunt Serena game me her diamond
pin. 1T viii make one thing less to
worry about" she protested.
SUI she IS no longer afraid of burg
lars, for Bruce and 1 live with her. or
rather she lives with us, in a house
protected by electric alarms and safety
devices from all intruders-(CoDv-
Tlsht, 1911, by Associated Literary
Press.)