Smyrna times., 1912-03-27
Ex-Burglar'S
~ Confession
BY AMY WILLIS.

commiseration. This l admit is
owing to the fact that I was once a
professional burglar myself.
My career as such was brief and |
without mishap. was led to it
l believe by the death of my mother.
She was my only near relative and
the friendship between US was very |
dear and close. Therefore when at |
the age of 18 she was taken from
me ! followed life too full of ex-
citement to allow me to brood over
my sorrow. So it was not for gain
but for the love of my adventure
became a criminal.
One day in the late spring about
the time when the cottages at the
summer resorts were opening was
particularly interested in the Van
Loon mansion. Mr.. VanLoon l as
certained had sent his silver to the
house and was expecting to arrive
himself later in the day. The cot
tage for five hours after the silver
arrived was to be unoccupied.
Therefore 1 became seriously antici-
pant.
About noon 1 entered the man.
sion. After a hasty search of the
first floor 1 assembled to the second
but failed to find the silver until l
had reached the chamber presumably
that of the lady of the house. There
l discovered it packed away among
the linens and was on the point of
passing some of it into my tool
bag when l heard a clear, distinct
tap-tap-tsp with a preciseness
that sent chill down my spinal
column.
Judging the sound to come from
the farther window l crawled eel
like across the floor and cautiously
raised my head. In the window of
an adjoining house leaned a young
girl with the most beautiful face /
had ever seen. 1t seemed as if |
stopped breathing as 1 watched the
vision before me.
Between the two windows hung a
wire, and on the farther end a
basket swayed, into which the girl
dropped white paper. Leaning up
against each window was an iron
Taper with which signals were
given and which had caused me such
trepidation.
Whatever bewilderment l had
felt soon passed off and my vulgar
nature cursed the advent of the
young invalid. "Thinks the Van
Looms have returned. If no one
answers she will set the alarm and
/ will be roped in. Mine for liber-
ty." l wiggled away from the
window just as The basket swung
across the wire. Hastily l seized
what silver was on hand and started
to leave the room, psusing at the
window. The girl had gone, prob
ably to arouse the neighbors, but the
spirit of recklessness in me was
awake. opened the window anG
snatched the paper. 1t was moi
curiosity which led to me open the
note, but merely the childish daring
which seemed to pervade all my
actions at that time.
unfolded it, and to my surpris,
read the following:
Mr.. Buglar-Kindly leave the
silver. l shall net let anyone know
you are in the house; only pleas,
be honorable enough to leave thing,
as they are. Sincerely,
EMILY TANNING.
Not in the least sentimental, tn,
note did not at the moment appea
to me. l grabbed my bag and hur
ried away. ''Does she think be
lieve herr" / grumbled. ''I'm n,
- fool. That night 1 laid out m,
a supply of silver or the bed. 1t wa
: a grand haul, and at any other tim
: should have been we'll satisfier
= with it. but che girls letter seemed
: to burn into my soul, and although
! tried to shake off all thoughts o
2 the incident I could not. For almos
: the first time began to think o
Z my mother, and visions of the girl
: face changing into my mothers ant
< back to her own haunted me.
z 1t was a strange unexplainable
: phenomenon which had caused m
3 for three years to be deaf to con
2 science, friends and respect an
: which had so suddenly opened m
Z eyes to the disgusting life l wa
2 leading. Unhappily / did not Civ
: up the thieving life Immediately bu
Z followed my career in desultor
= fashion, despondently wishing, bu
Z not daring, to turn over a new leaf
z For year / continued thus, til
: the second good influence came int
< my life. 1t was an offer to acceI
9 a position in a bank from lon
: forgotten uncle. At first the lette
< only amused me. "Me in bank