The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-31
EVENING STORY
The Burglar.
BY GERALD ST. ETIENNE

1t was exactly ten-thirty. For three
hours Katherine Jeffrey had been
working without a stop at her type
writer. Not once had she raised her
eyes from her notes. AZ she finished |
the last letter she put 1t with the 9TH
ers and placed 1t on the managers
desk ready for his signature in the
morning. She looked at her wrist
watch and discovered that she had
finished sooner than spe~had expected.
She sat down at her desk again and
fingered the keys of her machine. she
was tired but it seemed good to feel
their touch again after being away
from them for so long. She would
find them monotonous again soon,
tho, she reflected. This new position
she had was going to give her all the
work she desired, If the two days she
had held it were anything to judge
from.
Night work the second day was
record for her. The salary was large
one, however. and it would not hurt
her to do a little extra work after the
three months vacation she had had.
The thought of the vacation was a
pleasant one. For eight years she had
worked and saved for that one winter
vacation at Long Beach. 1t would
| have been worth while to have saved
twenty eight years, she told herseif, as
she thought of the glorious time she
had had. It had been exciting from
the start, but the real pleasure had not
come until after she had met Oliver
Law. 1t seemed now that she had
known him all her life. OF course. she
| didn't really know, very much about,
| him, except that he was a cookbook
| ing, amiabIe young man, with the
| kindest voice and the most charming
| personality. She would learn more
about him later on. for he had prom
/ ised to write to her and call on her
when he came back to the city. 1t
was odd that she had never met him
| before, but still 1t was not when she
| considered how large the city was. In
just month he would be back home,
and then it wouldn't be long before
she would give UP office work for
! ever, she felt sure of it.
The gloomy stiffness of the office
| brought Katherine back to earth. She
| had been building castles for half an
| hour. The realization that she was
| the only person in that vast office
| building was rather a chilling one.
Two of the other ste--ographers had
J promised to come back but had not
done SO. Apparently they preferred to
| have the work pile up. Katherine had
not minded working alone. She had
| key to the office. The thought of the
| dark corridor she had to pass thru
on her way out, at that late hour.
| caused her to put the cover on her
machine and hasten into her coat. She
was just slipping on her rubbers when
she heard a sound outside in the cor
ridor Her heart gave a jump and
she caught her breath. A slight
cough told her that someone was
there A.sLuffle' of feet told her that
it was man. In an instant she tip
/ toed over to the cashiers desk. There
was no revolver here. She waited
| breathlessly. "A key was inserted in
the lock and the, door opened sudden
1xy xryft1 1a%
his eyes, entered the room, taking off
| his coat as he walked.
| well" Katherine said as coolly as
! she could. II lave my hand on the
! telephone"
THE man faced her IN surprise.
Katherine" he cried. what are
you doing nere?"
"OliverH" There was surprise md
horror in Katherine's tone. You a
| burglar!"
But my dear" he began.
stop! Not another word! Don't
dare call m your dear How dare
you come here to rob this Officer"
He laughed. The laugh seemed to
kinde spark of primitive rage in
Katherine
laugh," she cried. "Don.t you speak
another word. I will not listen to you.
The sound of your voice will make me
/. feel nothing but repulsion for you. To
think that I cared for a crook like
you. To think that I thought I loved
YOU and you allowed me to think it!
| You are q bui glar. common burglar,
whoscam: here to rob this office. You
are criminal. I will call the police
at once" She took the receiver from
the hook
IF you call the police you will i'm
plicate yourself" he said with a smile
that almost maddencd her. There
are number of people who have seer
us together at Long Beach end il
would be easy for me to make it APP
pear that you were my cc,mp1ice."
"Ypu cad" she fairly Kissed. ST oh
IT would not really do such a thing
he said. 81 was only testing you.
love you. Katherine. no matter what
: your opinion is of me-
Love me? Then why have you
done this?" Her tone had changed
t her anger almost disappeared.
Perhaps I was driven to it," he
suggested. This is my first offense.'
Driven to it," she asked tremuIous-
J ~. Surely man does not have tc
| be dishonest. oh, Oliver. were you
too extravagant this winter? Why
didn't I think of that? You spent 8
: lot of money on me and allowed you
.. to do 1t because 1 thought you were
I rich"
TT would be awful to spend a tern
in prison." he muttered wistfully. 90
could, never get a start in life again
1t would mean the loss of all m,
friends. Perhaps they would dea
lightly with me because of my no.
having served a term. You have pre-
vented me doing any damage here
II will not call the police" Sh,
pushed the telephone away from her
Promise me this will be your last at
tempt at burglary"
II II promise he declared, earnestly
Can see you homer"
H Il am too nervous to go thru tn,
corridor" she said, doubtfully. "Yo,
can see me safely that far
II He did not leave her until the,