The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-03-05

| tlOuSly ne crossed the StOne-paved yard,
He glanced up at the handsome man.
sion looming before him. 1t was dark
and deserted looking. The intruder
fumbled for tool In his pocket, pushed
back door and was within the house.
Burglar Bill Dorsey, if you please
reformed. 1t did not look that way,
but, while the old crafty tricks were
brought into force and professional
skill exerted to the utmost, he was in
nocent as child as to the notion and
purpose In view In thus breaking into
the house Of rich Seth Payne.
Bill CROPPED his way without mis-
step, down corridor and up a flight
of stairs, for he had pursued that
course only 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, pearl necklace, two valuable
rings. He could see a light coming
through keyhole.
'"Thunderp' Bill expressed voiceless-
ly. Then he took another peep. He
could have guffawed, for the man with
in his view, kneeling in front of q safe,
had on the floor beside him hammer,
a chisel and screw driver Bill could
not refrain a chuckle at the sight of
this kit.
"a rival" he muttered-'but an anna
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, young, hand
some man Of perhaps twenty-five,
made dive for a coat pocket. Bill
put up the hand of vigorous remon-
STRANGE.
Don't draw gun, pardner," he sub
mitted, ''Pm yegg, too"
'But I am not" declared the other
"What are you doing here, them"
Intercepted Bill pointedly.
II am trying to get into that safe"
II see-but you won't, with those
carpenters TOOLS"
"Can you" pressed the other.
Rather" asserted Bill promptly.
That's nothing but cheap old box.
can open it on the combination alone"
do it and will pay you any price
you ask" urged the young man.
do you belong here?" asked Bill,
"Not at ALL"
Broke in, like myself?
"Yes-there was an open window, so
you might say that"
Sorry" said Bill, shaking his head
slowly, "but, as 1 told you, I've re-
formed. I've promised Kate, the
sweetest girl In the world, to never
turn trick again and I mean to keep
my promise"
"Then what are you doing here
now?" amaZedly inquired the other,
who was Arthur Rdgely, and a re-
spectacle member of society, and an
honest man, and free from guile as a
child, but he did not tell Bill this-yet
''Well," exclaimed Bill bluntly, 81
came here to return what took away
a week ago." and he exhibited the
packet. 1T was my last raid. Kate
said she'd never marry me unless
put it back where found 1t, we'll say
as evidence of my good faith in re-
forming"
II see, / see," murmured young
Ridgely slowly, as if struck by the
oddly of the situation. "You are a
good man and l see the hand of des-
tiny in my thus meeting you. 1 came
here like thief in the night, made
myself amenable to the penalty for
housebreaking, but Influenced by a
pure and holy motive"
II hope so,' said Bill obviously.
"Can you prove itT'
yes, / can. If you will open that
safe, in the left-hand pigeonhole of
the upper row you will find q green
envelope. 1t is of no value, but i'm
mensely harmful to innocent, suffer
ing victims. To get that paper means
the freedom, perhaps the life of rep
utable citizen the happiness of an in
nocent beautiful girl just budding into
womanhood. Man, glorify the refor-
nation you boast of, by doing a deed
that will bring you blessings your
whole life through
''Why, you talk like a story book"
said Bill. "Say, I'm interested. A
regular romance"
"And tragedy-unless 1 get that
paper"
"All right" nodded Bill definitely,
after moment of thought. 'T'll help
you out. Here's the bargain. I open
that safe. l 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-
lope for good purpose before I part
with it," .
"Agreed-oh, gladlyl gladly!'' spoke
the young man with eagerness.
"Stand aside and keep quiet" and
] Bill got on his knees before the safe.
The other watched him with mingled
4 anxiety and admiration. Bill, expert
that he was, focused his acute senses
of touch and hearing upon the combi-
nation disk. Click the tumblers
grated, the steel door moved, Bill
i pulled it open. There was bold, bank
notes, bulky securities IN view, bit
both passed them by as dross. Bill
! located the pigeon hole indicated and
pulled it open.
as that it?" he questioned, drawing
out green envelope.
"Yes, it must be-" said Arthur
Ridgely.
"Gather up your truck, then, and let
us get out of here while the getting is
good" observed Bill tersely. He
closed and relocked the safe. He
placed the restored fruits of his former
visit in the cabinet where he had origi-
nally found them. Bill led his compan-
ion from the place and left no traces
of the double nightly visitation behind
them.
"Now, then, for confab,s he OBJ
served, as they finally reached the
street.
'Where shall we go7"
ooh, some quiet restaurant" said
Bill, anywhere except q drinking
joint. Those are the traps that led
me to become what was. Now, then
let's have the DOPE" he added ten min
utes later, as he and the strange new
friend he had made were seated in q
secluded corner of an eating room.
ST am Arthur Ridgely." spoke Bill's
companion promptly. reasonably well
off and engaged to marry beautiful
young lady. The man whose house we
visited tonight admired her, demanded
her hand in marriage. Her father was
an old business associate. The Other