The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-05-29

His burglarious appearance having
been approved by the party, he and
Wardlaw took the latter's motorcar
and went to the scene Of the proposed
depreciation, or, rather, to a corner
near the house. Nevins got out, and
Wardlaw rejoined the party who had
remained in Nevins' rooms
The house to be burglarized stood
apart from other houses, giving the
burglar access to several points of en-
trance. Nevins chose to remove a pane
of glass, since he believed he could do
SO making only a minimum noise. He
succeeded in making the removal and,
putting in his arm, unlocked the win
dow, raised it stealthily and passed
through it into the kitchen.
So far so good. 1t was to be sup
posed that the dining room was near
the kitchen, and If he could reach the
former doubtless he could find a fork
or spoon which he could take away
with him to prove that he had won the
bet For it had been agreed that he
must secure some article of silver or
virtu not to be found in the kitchen.
Billy flashed an electric lamp he had
with him and thereby made his way
into the dining room. BY the same
light he found a sideboard Opening a
drawer, he came upon a few silver
forks and spoons that had not been
put away for the night He selected a
fork, and the moment he put his hand
on it thrill Of pleasure shot through
him at what he considered sure pros
pect of getting safely away with it and
winning his bet
But suddenly another thrill of diff
ferent kind shot through him. The room
In which he stood was instantaneously
Illuminated. He stood, not knowing
what was to happen next, but fearing
to be dropped by a bullet. Not sound
broke the stiffness. There was some.
thing terrible In the uncertainty, and
the uncertainty was Of long duration.
Billy neither saw nor heard any one
for more than minute by the watch.
But he did not need a watch, for the
humping of his heart sufflced.
What was taking place near the but.
ton in the hall where the electric lights
had been turned on? The door Of the
dining room by which Billy had en-
tered stood ajar, and through the open
ing between the hinges girl stood
peering at the burglar. Careful as he
had been he had made sufficient sound
for her to hear since she was lying
awake. She got out of bed, thrust her
feet into pair of slippers, put on
wrapper and stole downstairs. Hear
ing something stirring In the dining
room, she went to the door and, per
ceiving that she could look into the
room through the crack, took the pre-
caution to determine whether or no
any one was In the room. Had she
suspected a burglar instead Of the cat
she would not have dared even to do
this nor to switch on the lights.
The burglar stood facing her, and
she had good look at his face illumi-
mated by four electric lights that hung
over the dinner table.
The girl was as much surprised on
seeing Billy as he was at being nlumi-
mated. Her first setback was at seeing
a man instead Of cat, but it was I'M
mediately followed by seeing a face
that she had seen once before and be-
longing to man who had made an i'm
preston on her.
One evening a gentleman had been
introduced to her at a bail He had
danced with her, and the memory Of
that dance had haunted her ever since.
Her partner seemed to float on air In
stead of moving himself on pair Of
legs. Besides, there was something
about his personality that especially ap-
pealed to her. His features were cam
go, his lips were exquisitely carved,
his eyes were large and especially TT
ted for looking love.
And yet the features of this burglar,
standing out clear In the voluminous
light, were the same as those Of the
man who had floated her in voluptu-
Gus circles to enhancing music. Was
he the same? She could not believe
that he was, and yet there could not be
two men in the world so near alike.
OF one thing she was sure. The bur-
glar was gentleman. And as gen
tleman how could he be burglar2
While these things were passing
through the girls brain Billy was In
an agony of suspense. She was not
as long about it as has been required
to tell it, but she was some time. All
fear deserted her. She pushed open
the door and stepped into the room.
She said nothing for awhile, waiting
TO see If she would be recognized. If
so. that would be proof that she had
not been mistaken in the burglars
identity.
If Billy recognized her he showed no
sign of recognition. As soon as he
could recover his eQuanimity, he said:
II am at your mercy. Speak the
word, and 1 go to prison for a long
term of years. 1 prefer that you would
put bullet into my heart"
If there had been any doubt in the
girls mind that the burglar was the
man who had given her that entranc-
ing dance, Billy's organ toned voice
would have convinced her.
"You are not a burglar" she said.
Anyway, you are gentleman"
"a gentleman
Eyes; you may be a gentleman VINO
has gone to the bad, one Of those men
we sometimes read about in the papers