The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-10
The Euening Story
The Burglar.

bred man to throw up deliberately a
good business and settle down to the
monotony of cultivating small
twenty-acre plot in old Pennsylvania
But that is exactly what George Cass-
Ter did, a student, athlete and all
around fine fellow.
He possessed good health and a
splendid physique and maintained that
only fresh air, and plenty of it, would
preserve these This preference for
the rural sounded well, but, on the
side, it was not the simple life, but a
desire to work out some pet agricul-
turaI ideas that lured him away from
the city and fired him with such a
craving for fresh air.
Fortunately, he had a fat bank ac-
count. so he would not be reduced to
the dire necessity of having to live
upon what he might producer fail
to produce.
After looking over several farms,
he finally bought a. small tract abound
ing and abutting on that portion of
land known as the Sanderson place
a well-kept little farm wherein dwelt
the widow of Sanderson and her
daughter, Myrna. a very attractive
young woman of 22-just eight years
Casters junior.
On the surface, it looks as though
little more remained to be published
OF course, the two young people fell
in love, or at least easier did. If
Myrna also became a victim of Dan
Cupid S wiles no one was aware of
the fact.
Not many weeks passed before Cass-
Ter declared himself, and as he and
Myrna had become good chums he
was not a little surprised when his
proposal was gently, but enL hatically,
turned down.
quite enough of married life. 1 like
you and 1 want to be friends, but both
my mother and sister were unfortu-
pate in their marriages, and Lam not
going to take any chances along that
line. am happy now and don't pur-
pose to run the risk of being wretched
for the rest of my life. Perhaps some
day 1 may change my mind, but
doubt it,
For several weeks thereafter Cass-
Ter undertook to persuade her that
she had changed her mind, but she
after while, waxed a bit angry at
his persistence.
He finally ceased calling and be-
came engroSsed in his agricultural ex d.
per1ments This, however, did not
prevent him from letting the weeds
sprout while he gazed longingly across
the big field to the Sanderson home,
where occasionally he could see
Myrna moving industriously about the
yard.
The next few weeks were filled with
gloom, romantic dreams and mini
mum of scientific research. Then
something happened
One night in August, Myrna was
awakened about midnight by stealtby
sounds on the back porch. she lis
tened intently. Some one was un-
mistakably trying to force open the
door.
Did you hear that?" gasped her
mother, who was also awake "And
me laid up with a sprained ankle Oh,
dear, what shall we do? I told you,
Myrna, you ought to put that money
in the bank. Can't you hide it some
where? You haven't even a club UP
here either, have you?'
mo, 1 haven't" And, springing out
of bed, Myrna rushed to the open
window, leaned far out and screamed
for help at the top of her voice.
Almost instantly a faint "Hello!'
answered her from Casters house,
which was only about 500 feet distant
To the girl standing there trying to
peer through the night it seemed
hours before the stalwart form of
Cassler emerged from the darkness
beneath her window.
Whats the matter up there?" he
called, rather sleepi1y
"Oh, George!-Mr. Cassler-they
are trying to get in through the back
door. 1 thought they'd go when 1
called, but they're there yet
George started around the house on
run. There was a wild scramble, a
shot and then silence. A moment
! later, he reappeared at the front
mo catching that fellow he said.
The rascal ran like whitehead
when he saw me. I fired to give him
a good scare. Where is your hired
MANI"
He went away yesterday and won't
be back until tomorrow
'Is your mother there?"
| Yes but she has sprained ankle
and can't get up
"Whew! You are in bad way. It's
lucky a sick horse was keeping me up
or never would have heard you, for
sleep like a log. You are safe enough
now, 1 guess, so I'll 60
/ NO! no! mol" broke in Myrna wild
| ly. "Mother and 1 can't stay here
| alone. We are scared almost to death
as it is. You can sleep on the couch
downstairs. Wait a minute and I'll
| let you in.''
The speed with which Myrna per-
formed her toilet must have establish
ed record, for George had hardly
settled himself on the stoop for a long
wait before a light flickered through
the kitchen window. Then the door
swung open and he stepped inside.
NvTpa 3hrew bs seconds a nesitat1 ON
neck in a desperate clutch that nearly
tipped him over, big as he was.
"Oh, Georgei Georgei" she sobbed
into his coat collar Don't you ever
lever leave me alone again. 1 do
| love you've always loved you, but ]
didn't like to say SO. I'd marry you
| this minute if / could. Whatever
/ would we have doua fauipht without