The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-03-24
PENELOPE AND
A BURGLAR
By cLARlssA MAcKlE

As the church clock struck one.
Penelope sat up in bed with a wildly
h~uttering heart. For the first time In
her life she was face to face with a
headly fear. Some one vas stepping
b and fro in the adjoining oom and
under the crack of the door there was
D line of light.
With awful distinctness came the
recollection that Bridget was spend'
Ing the night in Jersey City with a
sick relative. Her father could not
hAve returned from Chicago. for she
had talked with him over the tele.
phone at nine o'clock. She was all
llone in the apartment and quite de-
fenseless against the intruder in the
next room.
At almost any instant he might
open the door; 1t was unlocked. She
slipped noiselessiy to the floor and
peered through the keyhole into the
lighted sitting room.
In a line with the keyhole was her
writing desk and before the desk sat
Q man trying first one and then an
other key in the lock. Penelope saw
Q broad back, q line of white collar
and bronzed neck and ~close-cropped
black hair, and made a quick deduc.
ton of character.
"A desperate rufian-just out Of
prison-probably has several murders
70 his credit" She breathed sharply
a. the mans key grated in the lock
and the desk lid swung down into
place.
my daryl" gasped Penelope, indis.
nantly. "No-he hasn't touched it
he's probably looking for money. Oh.
dear! What shall l do"
She arose and looked from the win.
dow in the vain hope that she might
attract some policeman or owlish
Householder; but the uptown eros:
street was quiet as beftted its elegant
neighborhood. The electric light On
the corner sputtered and sank into
momentary gloom.
Penelope shuddered az she heard a
movement in the next room. TIE
burglar was opening the drawers Of
the desk leisurely.
There were two modes of egress
from the room; one into the narrow
corridor and the other leading to the
sitting room where the burglar sat. A
daring thought came to Penelope Far.
mum and she put 1t into immediate
action.
It was plain that she could not ca'l
for help or leave the apartment with,
out detection; the telephone was in
the sitting Dom and the door that led
from her bed chamber into the corr:
dor squeaked dismally.
With resolution born of the amer
gency, Penelope thrust her feet int1
slippers, shrugged herself into her
big fur motor coat, buttoning 1t close
ly over her hanging golden braids.
Over her head she pulled a cloth trav,
cling cap, and this, with the addition
Of the huge motor goggles, completed
a disguise that was intended to in
timidate the marauder.
The only available weapon was ona
of her Indian clubs. and, g%rasping this
firmly in her right hand, Penelope
softly opened the door into the sitting
room.
The burglar was engaged in touch
ing q lighted match to a cigarette, and
Penelope started at the stern, hand
some profile outlined against the dark
background of the desk. Her heart
stood still as the man turned quickly
and tossed the burned match into 9
brass tray on the table.
For an instant they stared at each
other, Penelope at the slowly rising
figure of the man, his fine gray eyes
wide open in surprise, u hand hold
ing the cigarette. In turn. he stared
at the slight little figure, enveloped in
fur coat. cap and goggles. with a pair
of ridiculous red Turkish slippers or
her feet and wisps of golden hail
struggling from under the cap.
The man opened his mouth to
speak. but Penelope's indignation had
got the better Of her fright. Shl
swung the club menacingly.
whatever you say will be uset
against you!" she cried, excitedly, ant
then, conscious that she had sal,
something quite absurd. a delicious
wave of pink spread over her cheeks
His involuntary smile restored he
self-possession.
what are you doing here?" she de
manded, coldly.
II was about to ask you that que'
ton" He leaned carelessly agains
the desk, watching her with curiou
eyes. "You area female burglar
I presume, madam"
ia burglar!" gasped Penelop'
1.-THE insolence! Leave this apar
ment at once" She stamped her FOO
with such energy that one little re
slipper sailed airily toward the intr'
der. With a quick gesture he bel
and caught 1t on one hand.
"This will serve as clew," he sal
regarding it thoughfully.
"A clew-to what?" Penelol
curled one rosy foot under the t,
oo.t. her cheeks were crimson no