The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-04
THE EVENING STORY
Fay's Burglar.
(By lola Forester

| dyy WEdppGu Hastily III IL shy DlOS
Chinese morning Jacket, her fluffy
blond hair falling recklessly over ner
shoulders confronted the breakfast
room group. Benny went on placid.y
breaking off California grapes and eat
ing them. Elliston head his morning
paper. But the others were instantly
aroused and excited. Mrs. Flanders
looked grieved and anxious. 1t was her
house party. Fay was her guest. No
| really we'll governed and conducted
house party has burglars entering
guests bedrooms.
Dear child, aren't you nervous?
Have some eat and toast
"Oh, but I don't want tea or toast,
Mrs. Flanders. You can see the I'M
print of his boots right in the window
boxes, truly. Come and see. No, not
you men. I'm not altogether clothed
and in my right mind" she laughed,
and hurried upstairs, followed by six
| of the women.
Elliston looked up cautiously as the
last disappeared. Where are your
| boots, Benz
! Upstairs" Ben did not raise his
head.
| Il don't see how the deuce"
| Got mixed up on the compass. |
Thought is was the south side of the
| house and it was the west"
| What time was it,
| About two-thirty. We made the i
run out from New York in twenty |
| minutes. I didn't have a key, and
| Flanders told me not to waken up
| the house, for then Mrs. T. would ask |
where he was. He came along about /
an hour later. 1 managed the veran- |
da ali right, did the second story act, |
went along the roof to what thought |
was my window, and we'll, it WASN'T |
How did you find out it wasn't ?'
Il stepped over the window sill, and |
somebody caught me around the |
neck"
MY word. Benjyr' Elliston laughed
his round, deep British laugh.
And I bolted. of course. not ex-
pecting it. That's ALL
Fay never told that part, did
she?'' |
oh cut it." growled Benny. Shes
mighty sweet girl. It's new treat
ment for a burglar but after all, you
presence of mind. Maybe she didn't |
intend to embrace me. Maybe she |
was just Selling me, pinionins my
arms so to speak"
Cant you tell the difference be-
tween a strange hold and a fond
embrace?'
well, if it was a fond embrace. who
did she mean it for? Not for me. I
didn't dare look her in the eye a
minute ago. It wasn't very fond I
know that. 1t was a frantic grip
Where's Flanders?"
He lift on the early train: ducked, |
think, for L told him about it when
heard him come in. I was afraid
of an alarm
He stopped and returned to the !
grapes as Fay came softly into the !
room. She was dressed, and rather
white.
Mr. Elliston. I'm sure you won't
mind my disturbing you. but must
speak to Mr.. Ballister at once and !
alone"
Benny gave the Britisher one last
helpless look as he bowed and left them
together. Fay stood by the table, her
hands resting lightly on its edge her
face determined, her eyes bright With
what one might have termed plain
temper
Ben Ballister. Will you stand up and
turn around?''
He obeyed wretchedly.
You did not wear that coat last
night"
Mo-
There are marks of powder
tinted powder, on the coat of the man
who entered that room. He was seen
to creep along the veranda roof, and
the person who saw him deliberately
put white powder on her hands and
marked him for future reference"
Did she, indeed?" He flared up
suddenly and looked down at her
swapping hazel eyes. Then he stands
mean to climb over your window
boxes. L got mixed on which was my
room. I wish 1 had taken you in my
arms and carried you out with me
and run off with you for trying to !
II didn't she flushed hotly.
You did,
Fay suddenly began to laugh. peal
of ripping, mischievous mirth. And
down the winding stairs there came
trooping the women guests with Mrs.
Flanders. Mrs. Flanders was sup 6
porting a 1anguid figure draped in
silk.
Boys. a chair for poor Miss Her !
rington," said Mrs. Flanders. solicit
tously. My dear. I shall never for j,
give myself. never, that this could
have occurred in my home. A stool. .
Benny, for Miss Herrington's feet"
Ben obeyed mechanically, then he !
stood staring at Miss Adelaide Her |
rington, the famous miniature paint ,
had managed to capture for this !
Weekend He knew all about her
from Kerry Flanders himself Kerry
hated this jungle hunting of his wife's {
after big game, but he was patient.
Fay had turned grave and solemn
ReSolutely she refused to meet his {
eye. Miss Harrington spoke family.
1T is nothing, slight shock, moth
ing more, Stella If ii had not been 5
for Miss Dittmar's courage and kind
ness 1 should have died the instant J
caught sight of that creeping figur-. :
But L knew she had the room next to | +
mine. I rose from my bed, my hands
sprinkled plentifully with POWDER
face powder, of course, and when tho {
burglar stepped over the sill 1 seized f
him and called for help, but he shook g
say, he did not leave willingly. He t
tried to see my face in the darkness. q
Dear, you make romance of this
tragedy" soothed Mrs. Flanders. "I s
shall telephone to Kerry and have S
some detectives sent out at once. e
There is the print Of the shoe plainly 7