The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-10-10
MANS BURGLAR
BY GLADYS p. ANDERSON.

waves floating an occasional fishing
vessel were all that passed before her
windows. Nan was not an old wom-
an, somewhere between twenty-eight
and thirty. She lived alone and kept
the old house in good order. Always
on Saturdays she drove 10 the village
three miles away for groceries; on
Sundays she drove as regularly 10
church. These simple excursions
were all that Frightened her life.
There was only one other house
near hers, the Hansons', and they had
been on u~nfriendly terms for years.
Once the son, Dick Hanson, had paid
attention to Nan and Dicks mother
had interfered and broken off the en-
gagement.
There wasn't a prettier girl at
Rocky Coast than Nan Gray still she
had never married since Dick Hanson
left town.
There we're times 9s the years went
on that she longed for him to come
again. She was often afraid alone In
her house, especially in the winter
time. She confessed her fears to no
one, hardly to herself.
"What good does it do to be afraid!
I've got to live alone and there's no
way out Of It," she said.
Nan had heaped her stove with the
last of her wood, but she feared IL
would burn out before morning. There
was no water in the house and no
path to the well. A sense Of utter
loneliness smOte her as she sat alone
hat evening listening to the roaring
of the wind and the breaking OF the
waves. AT eight o'clock she went up
stairs to bed. 1t was a long time be-
fore she went to sleep then she slept
sOundly for a few hours. 1t was per-
haps four o'clock when she awoke with
a deadly terror.
There was someone in the house.
She lay still, listening fearfully. She
heard movements soft and guarded.
Later on she heard the pump out In
the yard, which had a peculiar crenk.
Presently the first cold glimmer of
dawn was In the room and she heard
d door shut below-then everything
was still. She thought Of her mothers
silver teaspoons and the gold watch
which had belonged to her father. OF
course they were gone. But when she
reached the kitchen she gasped and
stared.
A bright fire was burning In the
stove and the room was full Of the
aroma of coffee. A pan of warm bis
cults sat on the stove.
In the frying pan was a bit of beef
steak all ready to cook.
The water pail was full Of fresh
water, and the woodbox was piled
high with dry wood. Outside the
storm was raging, but the kitchen
seemed like a little oasis Of warmth
and comfort in the midst of 1t.
Nan tried TO think who had done II.
but she was entirely at a loss. She
ate susplciously, almost as IL she
thought the food might be poisoned.
The next night Nan retired early, TO
awaken as she had done the night be-
fore. ne sounds below. She got out OF
bed, and throwing her kimono hastily
about her, she CROPPED her way to an
old-fashioned chest which had be-
longed TO her father, and drew forth
an old rusty revolver. 1T may do to
scare them away Nan thought. As
she started down stairs. When she
opened the kitchen door, her face was
CHASTITY.
The fire was burning, and the tea
kettle boiling.
She had only a vision Of a figure
darling swiftly into the pantry. Nan
sprang to the pantry door and drew
the bolt. A cold SILVER ran over her.
"Who are your" she finally asked.
There was no response. Then she
spoke again, "Who are your
Cant you guess. Nan?' came a
feeble voice from the pantry.
She hurriedly unbolted the pantry
door.
"In heavens name, what are you
| doing here?" she demanded, dropping
the revolver to the floor.
Dick Hanson, emerging from the
pantry, looked at once shame-faced
and self-assertive.
"Wait Nan, until / explain. Mother
thought Of you over here all alone in
this terrible storm and she couldn't
stand 1t. / just came home last night.
/ thought you might be In need OF
wood, so / came over early. How
neat everything is here" he went on.
his voice gathering firmness In spite
Of his agitation, which made him
| tremble from head to foot.
where have you been all these
| years, DickY" Nan asked.
"All over the world. Nan. / enlist
ed In the navy when / left home"
| Dick approached Nan and put his arm
around her.
Haven't you been afraid here all
alone?" he asked.
"Yes. / have; but I didn't think you
cared" /,
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