The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-26
By Ruth Alden Hayes

@'ANANNAAg III MAJ VIZ a bIhN NAAS
opened the gate of Il rear court, eau
tiously he crossed the stone-paved yard.
He glanced up at the handsome man
sion looming before him. 1t was dark
aud deserted looking. The intruder
fUmbled for a tool in his pocket, pushed
back a door and was within the house.
Burglar Bill Dorsey, II you please
reformed. It did not look that way,
hut, while the old crafty tricks were
brought into force and professional
skill exerted to the utmost, he was in
nOcent as n child as to the notion and
purpose in view IN thus breaking into
the house of rich Seth Payne.
Bill groped his way without a mis-
step, down a corridor and up a flight
OF stairs, for he had pursued that
course only n week agone-and had
got away with the swag In his pocket
at the present moment lay that same
plumber, a diamond-jeweled wrist
watch. a pearl necklace, two valuable
rings. He could see a light coming
through a keyhOle.
Thunder Bill expressed voiceless-
ly. Then he took another peep. He
could have guffawed, for the man with
in his view, kneeling in front of a safe,
had on the floor beside him a hammer,
a chisel and Il screw driver. Bill could
refrain a chuckle at the sight of
this kit.
"A rival" he muttered-'but an ANA
teUr. Being sincerely reformed, it is
my duty to lead this novice out of the
downward path. Hello, pail"
With the hearty salutation, Bill
pressed open the door and stepped into
the room. The other, a young, hand
some mar of perhaps twenty-five,
msde a dive for a coat pocket. Bill
put up the hand of vigorous remon-
STRANGE.
Don't draw a gun, pardner," he sub
.mitted, I'm a yegg, too"
"But 1 I'M not" declared the other.
What are you doing here, then?"
Intercepted Bill p%ointedly.
II am trying to get into that safe"
"I see-but you won't, with those
carpenters TOOLS"
Can you?" pressed the other.
Rather" asserted Bill promptly.
'"That's nothing but a cheap, old box. 1
can open it on the combination alone"
do 1t and I will pay you any price
you ask" urged the young man.
"Do you belong here?" asked Bill.
mot at ALL"
Broke in, like myseIf?"
"Yes-there was an open window, so
you might say that"
Sorry" said Bill, shaking his head
slowly, 'but, as I told you, I've re-
formed. I've promised Kate, the
sweetest girl in the world, to never
turn a trick again and I mean to keep
my promise
"Fhen what are you doing here
now" amazedly inquired the other,
who was Arthur Ridgely, and q re-
spectacle member of society, and an
honest man, and free from guile as a
child, but he did not tell Bill this-yet.
I well" exclaimed Bill bluntly, 81
came here to return what I took away
n week ago" and he exhibited the
pnckef. sit was my last raid. Kate
said she'd never marry me unless I
OUT it back where 1 found it. we'll say
M evidence of my good faith in re-
forming"
. 81 see, I see," murmured young
Ridgeiy slowly, as If struck by the
oddly of the situation. "You are q
good man and I see the hand of des-
tiny in my thus meeting you. I came
here like a thief in the night, I made
myself amenable to the penalty for
h0usebreaking. but influenced by a
pure and holy motive"
III hope So" said Bill obviously.
"Can you prove it?"
Yes, | can. If you will oDen that
safe, in the left-hand pigeOnhole of
the upper row you will find a green
envelope. 1t is of nc value. but i'm
mensely harmful to innocent, suffer-
ing victims. To get that paper means
the freedom, perhaps the life of a rep
utabie citizen, the happiness Of an in
nocent, beautiful girl just budding into
w~omanhOOd. Man, glorify the refor-
nation you boast of, by doing a deed
that will bring you blessings your
whole life through I"
why you talk like a story book"
said Bill. "Say, I'm interested. A
regular romance"
"And a tragedy-unless I get that
paper"
"AIl right" nodded Bill definitely,
after a moment of thought. SRI help
you out. Here's the bargain. I open
that safe. I take out a green envelope,
nothing more You are not to touch a
single thing. We leave here and you
convince me that you need that enve-
!ope for a good purpose before 1 part
with it,"
"Agreed-oh, gladly! gIadlyw spoke
the young man with eagerness.
"stspd aside and keep quiet" and
Bill got on his knees before the safe.