The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-06-04
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Terry's Burglar.
Dy JANE OSBORN.
JANE OoPSNN'
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate

the Harrington Arms apart.
molt house she described herself as
. business woman" by which she
meant 10 indicate that she used her
apartment for little more than a com.
oTlable roosting place, place 70 eat
breakfast and 70 keep her clothes.
Sho did not take the trouble 70 ind.'
hate % the real estate agent that she
IVES not a business woman in the
oonGO that she earned her own DALI
bread. Her business was that OF
drinking in as much Of city life in one
short year as she Could-gOing 70 as
many concerts and theaters, attending
~ many exhibitions and as many
SHOWS" Of varicgs sorts 'unching az
g many Interesting places and IN
general seeing as many OF the sights
% the city az she conveniently could
without knowing many persons in the
city or wishing N know more. She
seldom went about in the evening
Sho felt somehow that her security
a living alone N her age--i9r Terry.
though adequate 20 the task OF takIrI
care Of herself in almost an" c,rcru-
stances, was only twentyfour-
0eDonded in measure on her not
being seen out after dark The even
lngB IN her little apartment she spent
either in mending and "p0ttering'
over the clothes that she wore IN the
day time or in reading accounts OF
things that we're 10 he seen or books
a description Of the great city.
ToFFy's life IN the small southern
town where she was brought mp had
been decidedly CircumsCribed She
had gradually slipped into the position
% being housewife for her older
brother. in the old homestead. and ne
only reason she was excused from
those duties now was because Of her
tgother's years volunteer work in
Washington.
Terry kept no maid but, like the
other business women in the apart
mont, she was taken care Of BY Mrs
Cray, who had the KEY 10 the apart.
ments in her care and with lightning.
like Tapidity tidied them and washed
the breakfast dishes and made them
ready for the return Of their tenants.
Terry had met Mrs. Gray tho day she
negotiated with her for her services,
ana she needed 70 furthur guarantee
% her perfect honesty than her small,
pale face. She knew. too. that she
called dust the daintes Of her bric-d-
bsac and wash the fimicst OF laces
that she left for that purpore in her
apartment when she went out in the
morning hecau-c IL was quite clear 10
aayonc who saw Mr.. Cray that she
Gcs a woman who, had circumstances
been different from what they ac,u.
ally were, might have been wearing
the dainty lccaa and trcgl.ng tho most
delicate OF Oriental rugs herself
5r:oly Terry trusted har-tha, Is
mil the day she came home urcX-
poctedly az noon in ogGcr 10 set some
matinee tickets that ghe had forgotten
20 take with her in the morning. On
thct day ste CHANGED 70 be looking up
toward tho windows Of her own rooms
when she saw there in her own bed.
room. not the figure OF Mrs Gray, but
The figure OF mcn. Terry was no.
Verified at the idea OF having a.
burglar in her house, but she did not
relish the idea OF entering that apart.
ment when she might encounter him.
Her first thought was to report the
Incident to the nearest policeman, and
~ was with this idea in mind that she
turned about ard started around the
block IN search OF such a dignitary.
She thought better OF her idea and
decided 70 60 alone 20 her apartment
but By the time she reached home the
burglar was gone. The apartment
had apparently been visited by Mrs.
Cray earlier in the day, for It was
immaculate and there was q fresh
scent Of soap and water about and the
floor looked as il the oil had just been
wiped up from it.
Terry made a thorough search Of
her possessions. she counted her silver
spoons and knives and forks and she
counted the butter spreaders, but ap-
parently nothing was taken, nor did
she miss anything as time went on,
She looked under her bed and lounge
| and IN each Of the closets, but no one
did she find. A strange burglar, in.
deed, that would take nothing with
him.
Then came the day when she &C.
maily ran into the strange young man
when she was coming Unexpectedly
20 change her hat because what gave
promise Of being rainy day had turn.
"a out 20 be fair. She let herself in
with her latch key and there really
was no way for him to escape save
ont the front door. Being at bay the
young man looked as II nothing at
all extraordinary had happened and
his excuse was believable enough.
u came in to examine the radl.
atoTs," he said. "That-that's my
specially" and then going to get his
hat and q couple Of books that lay
with e from q chair in the living room
he made hasty exit. In the apart.
ment that day there was the same
very fresh smell Of soap and water
and e seemed to Terry that the young
mans hands had looked water soaked
when she encountered him. Again she
examined the silver and counted the
spoons and knives and butter spread.
ers. Nothing was missing.
one day she crept in stealthily and
encountered the young man on his
hands and knees scrubbing the
kitchen floor.
thought you we're a business
woman" he confronted her, standing
~ 9TH hPinninO hands ana rovao1iro