Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-02-05
EDNA'S BURGLAR WAS
NOT A REAL R0BBER
BY MOLLY McMASTER.


heart was beating with almost breath.
less rapidity from having been
awaked from sound sleep. 1t was the
third time during the night that she
sat up to listen, and as she sank back
at this hour of three in the morning
she told herself it was only the
strangeness of an unfamiliar room
that kept her so keenly alive to
sounds.
She closed her eyes but opened
them again. Surely some one was
just outside her window! The sound
came from below as if the intruder
were attempting to climb up the great
vine that covered the side Of the
house.
Edna became strangely calm. She
stepped from her bed, and in the
darkness slipped on her pink silk hose
and satin slippers that she had left
carelessly lying after an evening Of
dancing. Then she drew on her dain-
" pink tea gown.
Edna went cautiously toward the
window and peeped through the mass
of vines that clustered about the win
dow frame. Her heart fluttered. A
man was making his way slowly and
by painful stages to her window.
She paused a moment wondering
whether to wait until he reached the
top and fell him with a chair or to
throw something weighty down on his
unsuspecting head.
Edna chose the latter method. She
turned in the dark and by light of a
pale moonbeam caught sight Of the
great water jug on the stand.
"That would certainly kill him."
she told herself with shudder; Il
can not possibly do that" She would
empty the contents Of the jug on that
ascending head.
The man was several yards from
the ground; for second Edna hesi-
tated. Perhaps even then the fall
might prove fatal.
But I can not be murdered in my
bed" She shuddered again and with
burst of courage leaned far out Of
the window and spilled the water
with sure aim on the burglars head.
She heard a muttered remark, a
heavy thud and the pitcher dropped
from her nerveless fingers. Her cour-
age completely gone. Edna did her
first feminine act Of her escapade;
she dropped in heap just within the
window.
The man, suddenly foiled in his as.
cent, picked himself up with many
short and terse words falling from his
lips. He shook himself like shaggy
terrier, but he was drenched to the
skin.
Looking up to see the cause Of his
downfall the man gasped. Lying
across the window sill like pale
wedge of moonbeam was the arm Of a
woman.
With almost superhuman strength
he sprang toward the vine and climb
ed to the window ledge.
He drew himself within the room
and picked up the girl tenderly.
Being without resources Of his own
and knowing not what to do, he rush
ed out in the darkened hall and made
his way down the stairs with his pre-
cious bundle.
Cropping his way toward door he
hammered with his feet lest he drop
the unconscious girl from his arms.
The door in the hall opened and a
very frightened girl in blue kimono
peeped out.
"Jack Danvers," she screamed,
have you lost your mind!' She
glanced with frightened eyes at her
brother. His clothes we're dripping,
and his face white and stern.
"No! But switch on the light and
look at what I found in my ROOM"
He followed her into the room and
laid the girl on the couch. 1t seemed
to Edna the action was reluctant. She
began gradually to regain conscious
ness and opened her eyes. They lit
first upon the stalwart big man whom
she had taken for burglar, and
from him to the girl in the blue XII
mono
The latter rushed to Edna's side
and gathered her into her arms.
Edna darling" she asked tenderly.
what in the world have they been
doing to you? And why Is my broth
er Jack all soaked and tearing madly
through the pitch dark house with
you?"
II took-your brother for burglar
and emptied the contents of the
water jug on him. l am so sorry"
she said prettily.
"It is all my faul' he told her
quickly. 81 was silly chump to come
out to the country at this time Of
night when the family would all be in
bed, but somehow l Just wanted to