The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-03-21
AFFAIR EXCHANGE
.|-
BY DOROTHY D. MUIR.

experienced burglar, made too much
noise. but everybody does agree that
though the burglary. itself, was un-
| successful, the affair turned out In
way that pleased all concerned, and,
much better, to be sure, than had
been expected. The whole thing be-
gan when Bob. awoke with an awful
start to discover that there was sure
ly burglar In his apartment. Now
Bob, having his own ideas on the
management Of burglars, soon had his
very bright. hitherto unused, and, he
feared, unloaded revolver, cooked be-
fore him, and stood ready to draw the
| curtains separating his room from the
small living room adjoining 1t.
"Glad you seem to be enjoying your
self" This from Bob, as he stood,
rather dramatically, between the
drawn portieres, the revolver leveled
at the intruder.
"Ohw A very startled and almost
feminine exclamation from the bur-
glar.
"Ahw A very admiring and ex-
tremely amazed exclamation from
Bob, as the burglar, or perhaps we
should say burgIaress, faced him. Bob
knew how to manage some species of
burglar, or thought he did, but this
particular specimen baffied him.
"Please, I'm sorry!" She raised n
pathetic face to his-an extremely
pretty face, with very large brown
eyes, and very red lips. For mo-
ment the lips trembled and strange to
| say it seemed as. though she was
struggling to suppress laughter rather
| than tears
"Hysterical," concluded Bob, though
1t was hard to explain the odd twinkle
which he felt sure he could detect in
her eyes.
please don't send for the police"
she said.
| "Oh, don't explain. l think / un'
derstand-you were poor and discour-
| aged, and tempted"
Yes! that was the reason. II
was so poor and-tired. But now will
you let me goT"
/
you let me be of assistance to you"
He disappeared into his room, and
when he returned held out TO her a
bill of as large a denomination as he
had felt he could afford.
"Please accept it, and try not to
steal again."
He felt that he was handling the
situation admirably. He possessed no
great amount Of wealth, but what he
did have he would use to help the un-
fortunate, and, incidentally, the beau
tful.
Thank you." replied the fair bur.
s,aress, after a brief moment Of hesi-
taHon, and she took the proffered
gift. "You-are very GOO" The
sentence was left unfinished as she
buried her head in her arms.
Absolutely overcome" thought
Bob, with much sympathy. Some time
later, when she seemed to have recOv-
cred and had promised to lead q
| worthier life, he led her to the door,
and sent her away, then returned to
| his disturbed slumber, inwardly re-
GREETING that girl, with such love
ly face. should be mere thief of the
| slums. All that night, and all the next
day he thought of her. He was dis
gusted with himself for not getting
her address and managing to see more
| of her II only to be Of pencuniary as
sistance-and then the unexpected
/ naft
| Betty was Bob's sister, who lived some
distance away with the rest Of his
family, but who was In the same
town, with friends. at the present
| time, on q visit. As he opened the
| envelop, rather crumpled greenback
fiuttered out Of 1t and as 1t was y
bill Of the same amount that he had
made a gift of the night before, he
hastened to read sister Betty's letter
for an explanation.
Dear Bobbie-it ran, I am return
ing the inclosed, with much praise for
your generosity and many thanks from
my friend, Margaret Allan, perfect
dream of girl, whose acquaintance
you have made under strange clrcum-
stances. They have a perfectly de.
lightful club over here and last night
they Initiated Margaret-U suggested
the Initiation as you probably suspect,
for you remember had key to your
apartments)-and that's why she
played burglar, Bobbie. dear.
"Hope you won't be cross Mar
garet was good sport, anyway, for
II was daring thing to do! And she
carried it Off fine. even IL you did dis
cover her. will tell you that she
wns very favorably impressed. II yo>
won't get too conceited, and, Of course,
can arrange meeting II you wish.
But oh, Bobby, what will happen to
you ifoI introduce you to Margaret
Love. from Betty.y
1t hardly needs to be said that, ut
his eager request, Betty soon arranged
for the meeting, and Margaret, with
her Irresistible smile and altogether
charming manner. was even more
wonderful than he had pictured she
would be.
I The acquaintance ripened into