Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-05-18
A JUSTIFIED BURGLAR.
By Harry h.;ne..


BY Harry Haines.
Copyright, 1901. by w. r. Hearst.)
Arnold Todd must have become ac-
customed to 1t. for periodically burglars
relieved him of all his pocket money.
diamonds and other personal bric-a-
brac without ever being caught in the
act or leaving any clue to their discov-
cry. Nothing was rel taken belonging
to Mrs. Todd, but, as the woman pa.
t~hetfcally said. h had nothing they
% take except her wedding ring,
which was on her finger. or her clothes,
which would not have repaid the effort.
hold drudge. Her husband had houses
n lands. as well as money in several
banks. but he never gave her any of
his wealth. and she had to beg for
enough money to buy shoes n stock
ings for the children. Their clothes she
made over from her own and their
fathers worn out garments. and in
making Mr.. Todd's trousers into jack
cts for the little Todds she always nan
aged to work the knees that bagged
n the unde side of elbows.
The burglaries did not worry Mr..
TOdd-if the truth were told-as much
as they did Mrs. Todd. He usually
waited until the stolen goods could not
be recovered. then he purchased a new
outfit and. after hiding them carefully
every night for q few months he would
grow careless and the burglars would
give him another call. Mrs. Todd con-
sistently promised to be awake and.
watch. but h declared she must have
been chloroformed, otherwise she would
never have closed an eye.
II should think, Mary" her husband
complained. that your anxiety about.
h children would keep you awake
Think what an effect it would have on
them to see a burglar" in their room!"
But the burglars never go there"
said Mrs. Todd family. Children new
er have any valuables-at least ours
don't" she added with unconscious sar-
casm. !.
One night the unexpected happened.
1t was the turning point in MI. Todd's
destiny. At that hour when he should
have been sleeping the soundest he
suddenly awakened n saw by the dim
night light a strange figure in his room.
that of a man muffied In a black cloak
with a SLOUGH hat drawn v his face,
and a silk mufler round his neck and
chin. He was rifing Mr.. Todd's pock-.
cts. MIR. Todd did not own a revolver.
He would not have killed a man to save
all his wealth, much as he loved it. He
lay still for a moment, thinking how to
surprise the burglar. then. having made
up his mind to a plan, he put it into
immediate execution. He leaped from
SANS OS0 y OOuIu tuaI LOOK MIN
into the middle of the room and pin
toned n burglar from behind. A
terrific scream rent the air. Todd held.
In a mighty grasp a limp, trembling
form from which he tore the Disgusting
cloak. revealing III partner of his joys
and sorrows. Mrs. Todd.
Mary" he gasped; Mary, you?"
faced him. "Oh. yol needn't be sur
prised. Where did you suppose 1 got
any money II I didn't either steal it or
beg 1t. seeing that you never gave me
any,. If l wanted a penny to put in
the contribution o on Sunday l had
to ask for 1t, and explain what I was
going to do with it. You never gave
me q sovereign in your life without ex-
pecting nineteen shillings back in
change"
Mary
Its the truth. and you know it,
Arnold. Instead of making me a regu-
lar allowance. as any husband ought.
to. you make me save and scrimp and
go without everything but food. Many
a timeAI've left my empty purse lying
about hoping you would take the hint
and fill it. And you never did. And all
the time you carried gold. silver and
notes in your pocket-and bought what
you wanted"
You might have taken 1t without
ulsBuiSluS youfSeII as a urgla
Mary"
You would have suspected me, and
how long could I have kept the money?
No. the burglar was more welcome to it
han I would have been. But 1 never
dreamed that you would wake. l meant
to jump out Of the window il you did
see me. Now. I do not care for myse..l
Il am only sorry for you. The man
who can drive a woman to such straits
is to be pitied. ] have as good a right
to the money as you have-I helped to
make it. and there is no law to con-
Wet a wife for stealing from her own
husband"
Mr.. Todd was seeing things past and
present. and in those few moments of
time as the dying do-clearly and with
out prejudice. He took his wife in his
arms.
You are nervous and tired, DEAR he
said. Lie down and compose yourself
to rest. I see. Mary. that 1 am the
real burglar-I have robbed you OF
your earnings and your lawful dues.
Before l sleep you shall nave a bank
account in your own name. n / will
never ask what you do with the money.
And o can give up being a burglar
for good and ALL"
Very Cool.