Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-06-30
MANS BURGLAR
BY GLADYS p. ANDERSON.


and surged the great Atlantic. Tbs
waves floating an occasional fishing
vessel were all that passed before her
windows. Nan was not an old WON
an, somewhere between twenty-eight
and thirty. She lived alone and kept
the old house in good order. Always
on Saturdays she drove to the village
three miles away for groceries; on
Sundays she drove as regularly to
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 ~unfriendly terms for years.
Once the son, Dick Hanson, had paid
attention to Nan and Dicks mother
had interfered and broken or 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 were times as 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 Toes 1t 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
fncf 80 har mood hnA Cha faQrad n
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
that evening listening to the roaring
of the wind and the breaking Of the
waves. At eight o'clock she went up
stairs to bed. It was a long time be-
fore she went to sleep; then she slept
soundly for q few hours. 1t was per
haps four o'clock when she awoke with
q deadly terror.
There was meon in the house.
She lay still, listening fearfully. She
heard movements soft and guarded.
Later on she heard the pump out In
tiC ydt01 WHICH, hdu y PCNAAAAA NACfAhs
Presently the first cold glimmer Of
dawn was in the room and she heard
a door shut below-then everything
was still. She thought Of her mothers
silver teaspoons and the gold watch
had belonged to her father. OF
curse they were gone. But when she
the kitchen she gasped and
A bright fire was burning In the
stove and the room was full of the
of coffee. A pan of warm bis
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
like a little oasis Of warmth
and comfort In the midst of 1t.
Nan tried to think who had done 1t,
but she was entirely at q loss. She
ate suspiciously. almost as II she
the food might be poisoned.
The next night Nan retired early, to
awaken as she had done the night be-
fore, at 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-
to her father. and drew forth
m old rusty revolver, 'It may do to
scare them away" Nan thought. u
she started down stairs. When she
opened the kitchen door, her face was
The fire was burning. and the tea
kettle boiling.
She had only q vision Of q figure
darting swiftly into the pantry. Nan
to the pantry door and drew
the bolt. A cold SILVER ran owe her.
"who are your she finally asked.
There was no response. Then she
spoke again, WHO are your
Cant you guess. NanT came
feeble voice from the pantry.
She hurriedly unbolted the pantry
door.
'In heavens name, what are you
doing hersf" 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 I explain. Mother
Of you over here all alone In
his terrible storm and she couldn't
it / Just came home last night.
I thought you might be In need OF
wood, so I came we early. How
neat everything is here" he went on.
his voice gathering frmness In spite
Of his agitation. which made him
from head to foot
where have you been all these
years, Diekr Nan asked
Gan over the world. Nan. I enlist
ID In the navy when I left home
Dick approached Nan and put his arm
her.
Haven't you been afraid here all
he asked.
ayes. I hare; but I didn't think you
II did," he answered. you're not
going to be left here alone any longer.
Then the door opened and Mrs. Han
looked In. Dicks face showed
over Mans shoulder.
BLESS you. my children" said the
Ia lady her faca henminq with friend