The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-01-02
THE BURGLAR.
By Eugene Barbour.

Mr.. Brown, Attorney at Law. turned
over uneasily in the bed. He had been
sleeping the sleep of the just until a
few moments before when his dreams
turned to burglars. Even now one
was trying to get in the window and
Mr.. Brown was trying equally hard to
push him out.
His wife had gone away that morn
ing leaving him and the cat in full
possession. He had been quite pleas
ed at the prospect of a weeks bache-
lordom, for home was not always a
perfect haven of delight<when Mrs.
Brown was present. Even the cat had
worn a happier look when Mrs. Brown
departed. This was the second night
of their jurisdiction and thus far il
had been quite peaceful.
Mr.. Brown had just succeeded in
pushing the burglar out and shutting
the window when he was startled by a
loud crash from below. He Jumped
from the bed and glared wildly about
him. Could the burglar have thrown
a brick through the windiw for re-
venge? He put this idea aside imme-
diately as he realized that he had onlv
been dreaming. But what was the
noise he had heard? Could it have
been merely his imagination? He
had almost decided this to be the case.
when he thought of the dire results If
his wife returned and found anything
missing. This determined his course
OF action and, grasping one of his
wlfe's hatpins from the bureau, he
stealthily descended the stairs.
Hearing nothing, he continued his
noiseless advance till he reached the
kitchen. The silent moonlight stream
ed peacefully through the window. At
first he saw nothing to arouse his sus-
plclons. The pantry door was half
open, just as he had left it. But. on
glancing about the room he saw with
alarm that the window in the corner
was over halfway upl
Mr.. Brown, being slightly timid.
drew quickly back into the dining
room to think it owe To be sure
Mrs. Brown might have left it that
way in the morning, but he would
surely have noticed it if this had been
So.
At this moment a second crash rang
through the house, this time coming
undoubtedly from the pantry. For a
second, Mr.. Brown nearly died of
heart failure. A burglar in the PAN
tryl
Rallying his fast oozing courage, he
heroically determined to capture that
insolent burglar. Silently he worked
his way close to the pantry door. A
record dash and the bolts shot in
place! Rebuilding his efforts he
heaped tables, chairs, and even the re-
frigerator against the door. AS he
worked he had visions of his picture
in all of the morning papers with
whole columns devoted to his capture
of the burglar. For once, his wife
would be compelled to admit his supe-
riority.
He allowed himself only a moments
pleasing contemplation, then hurried
quickly to the door in the hope of see
ing a policeman, but, as usual, there
was none around when needed. Has
tening back into the house he took
down the receiver of the telephone.
Number, please" a high soprano
voice demanded.
Gimme the Police Station, in a
hurry" chirped Mr.. Brown.
In a moment the voice of the district
police captain was heard at the other
end. "Hello," he said.
0elu SoHle Vi your men TO SO Vine
Street, quick. I've caught a burglar
and have got him locked in the pan
try!' cried the excited Mr.. Brown as
he jammed the receiver back on the
hook and hurried to the kitchen.
When four policemen, one of whom
was a sergeant, arrived they found lit,
tie Mr.. Brown dancing excitedly up
and down before the pantry door over
which he was still keeping guard with
Mrs. Browns hat-pin and yelling at
the top of his voice.
The patrolmen quieted him down
somewhat and prepared for business
by gathering around the door with
drawn revolvers. Chairs and tables
were pushed aside, bolts drawn back.
and the door thrown open The men
stared into the gloom of the pantry
with drawn faces and tense hands.
There was silence for a moment and
then-out walked the Browns pet catl
THE END.