The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-04-16
THE BURGLAR
BY GERALD ST. ETIENNE.

1t was exactly 1920. For three
hours Katherine Jeffrey had been
working without stop at her type
writer. Not once had she raised her
eyes from her notes. AS she finished
the last letter she put It with the 9th
ers and placed it on the managers
desk. ready for his Signature in tie
morning. She looked at her wrist
watch, and discovered that she had
finished sooner than she 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 so long.
Night work the second day was
record for her. The salary was a large
one, however, and 1t would not hurt
her to do a little extra work after the
three months vacation she had had.
The thought of the vacation was
pleasant one. For eight years she had
worked and saved for that one winter
vacation at Long Beach. 1t would have
been worth while tc have saved twen-
ty-eight years, she told herself, as she
thought of the glorious time she had
had. 1t 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. In just a
month he would be back home, and
then it wouldn't be long before she
would give up office work forever, 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 East Office building
was rather a chilling one. The thought
of the dark corridor she had to pass
through 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
corridor. Her heart gave jump and
she caught her breath. A slight cough
told her that someone was there. A
shuttle of feet told her that it was a
man. The door opened suddenly.
"Well," Katherine said as coclly as
she could. 81 have my hand on the
telephone"
The man faced her in surprise.
Katherine" he cried, what are you
doing here?"
"0liver!" There was surprise and
horror in Katherine's tone. "You a
burglar I"
'But, my dear" he began.
stop Not another word Don't
dare call me your dear. How dare
you come here to rob this Officer"
He laughed The laugh seemed to
kindle a spark of primitive rage in
Katherine.
"YOu wretch Don't you dare laugh r.
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 cared for crook like you.
To think that thought I loved you
and you allowed me to think IT! You
are burglar, common burglar, who
came her to rob this Office.
II would not really do such thing"
he said. II was only testing you. I
love you, Katherine, no matter what
your opinion is of me-"
Love me2 Then why have you done
this?" Her tone had changed, her an
ger almost disappeared.
Perhaps l was driven to it," he
suggested. "This is my first offense."
"Drlven to It," she asked tremulous-
". Surely q man does not have to be
dishonest. Oh, Oliver, were you too
this winter? Why didn't |
think of that? You spent a lot of |
money on me, and I allowed you to do |
It because 1 thought you were rich"
ut would be awful to spend a term
n prison" he muttered wistfully.
81 will not call the police" She |
pushed the telephone away from her. |
Promise me this will be your last at {
empt at burglary"
81 promise" he declared, earnestly.
Can see you home"
81 am too nervous to go through the
CORRIDOR" she said, doubtfully "You
AN see me safely that far"
He did not leave her until they [
lad reached her boarding house She
would not allow him to kiss her in
,arting.
There were traces OF the trying
light In Katherine's face the next
morning She was dazed when she
rrived at the Office, but as she start
d her work she banished the feeling
With an effort. Shortly after ten she
eard the outer door open and no
iced the other members of the staff
dancing in the direction of the person
Who had entered. AS she faced around
could not hold back her
ry Of surprise. "Oliverl" He was
oming toward her, but the manager