Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-04-29
A Gentlemanly
Burglar
By EUN1cE BLAKE !.


sharply:
whats that?"
Her husband having been awakened
listened for q few moments. then asked
impatiently:
We'll, what is it?"
Burglars"
"NOnSenSe!"
Ppm certain of il"
There was another sound. which was
this time heard by Mr.. Ingersoll. He
got out of bed and, putting on his trou-
sers. opened the door, went out into the
hall and turned on an electric light, IL
Illuminating the figure of Il man. The
fellow put Ills finger to his lips. at the
same time throwing open his coat and
displaying Il policeman's badge. Step
ping up to lngersoll, he whispered:
Turn out that light quick"
Ingersoll turned the button. He did
not need any explanation. for it was
plain that there was something wrong
on the premises and cop was at work
with u view 10 righting it. Nevertha-
less he asked in a whisper:
Whats the matter?'
I'VE got wind today that Handy
Andy. this crook who is going about
getting into houses and leaving polite
notes after taking the valuables. was
intending 10 do you tonight and we've
! laid Il trap for him.
You'd better look out I've read
lot in the papers about that fellow
-, +,
! in a trap
Never fear for that I've got the
house surrounded"
81 don't hear anything below said
! the owner of the premises after listen
+, ing few moments.
True enough: he's laying low. It's
too bad you turned ON that light. He
may have been frightened. But 1t
| makes no great difference, for as soon
as he leaves the house he will step into
! the arms OF one of my men. would
advise YOU 20 go back to your room. to
/ bed for that matter. I'm Inspector
| Haynes. Perhaps you've heard of me.
, | much prefer to handle this matter
without any interference.
"Oh. yes. I've heard Of Inspector
Haynes. Every one knows about him"
! By this time Inspector Haynes had
! gently pushed Ingersoll to the door
through which he had come from his
bedroom and. opening 1t, urged him in.
/ AS soon as this was accomplished he
shut the door.
i what is it?" asked Mrs lngersoll
nervously.
"Hush!'
! Ingersoll went to the bed. treading
softly. and sat down on it; then. put
ting his lips near his wife's ear, he
whispered:
Handy Andy is in the housev'
"Oh, heavens!'
But this will be his last burglary.
He won't be leaving any more notes
pinned to ladies' pincushions. Who do
you suppose found in the hall?"
i "Who?''
Inspector Haynes"
inspector Haynes! How came he
in the house?'
Got wind Of Handy Andy's intended
raid and has laid trap for him"
You don't mean it! hope he'll es-
cape-that is, without any of the silver
or my jewels"
What do you meanY
| why. Judging by what has appeared
in the papers this Handy Andy is per-
fectly fascinating. Some say that he's
a real gentleman"
"a gentleman. Hov can burglar
be gentleman?"
why. don't you know that some of
the highwaymen in England couple
Of hundred years ago were gentlemen7
I've read lot about them. They say
Handy Andy writes beautiful poetry"
At that moment there was sound
below. which the imagination Of Mr..
Ingersoll interpreted to mean scuffle.
They're getting him. he said.
Poor fellow" exclaimed Mrs. Inger
soil sympathetically.
There was tread as of man leav
ing the house and walking across the
front porch: then the footsteps dice
away in the distance.
MY jewels are locked in the toy
bureau drawer in the guest ROOM
said Mrs. Ingersoll. I'm going to see
If they're all right"
''I'll go with you," said her husband
They went to the guest room anG
turned on light. The drawer in ques
ton stood open, and the jewels Were
gone. On the lace cover Of the dresser
was a bit Of paper on which was
scrawled in pencil:
My Dear Reconsideration me for dis
turbing you during the night. 1t grieves
me to have awakened any lady there may
be on the premises. All Is vanity. THAI
the wearer of these Jewels may be nc
longer vain will take them away with
me. So long. HANDY ANDY
(Alias Inspector Haynes).
"Oh. my goodness graciousr' exclaim
ed Mrs. Ingersoll
"Stung. by thunder!' cried her hus
bald.
Mr.. Ingersoll went downstairs, wher
he found that what silver had beef
left on the sideboard for daily use hat
| hpen taknp md a nolita pofo LOFT 70