Smyrna times., 1919-06-04
AFFAIR EXCHANGE
-%-
BY DOROTHY D. MUIR.


whether Bob was wakeful that night
or whether the burglar, being an in
experienced burglar, made too much
noise, but everybody does agree that
though the burglary, itself, was un-
successful, the affair turned out in a
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 it.
"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.
"Oh" 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 burglaress, 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 a
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
it 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. 1 think INun'
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 gO?"
"Of course, in a moment, but won't
you let me be of assistance to yOup
He disappeared into his room, and
when he returned held out to her a
bill of as large 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 I'M
fortunate, and, incidentally, the beau
tiful.
"Thank yOu," replied the fair bur-
glaress, after a brief moment of hesi-
tation, 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 t0@the door,
and sent her away, then returned to
his disturbed slumber, inwardly re
GREETING that a girl, with such love
ly face, should be a 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 if only to be of pencuniary as
sistance-and then the unexpected
happened. A letter came from Betty
Betty was BOb's sister, who lived some
distance away with the rest of hi
= family, but who was in the sam'
town, with friends, at the presen
q time. on visit. AS he opened thu
Z envelop, a rather crumpled greenbacl
huttered out of it and as it was {
E bill of the same amount that he haC
made a gift of the night before, h
fastened to read sister Betty's lette
9 for an explanation.
Dear Bobbie-it ran, 1 am return
ing the inclOsed, with much praise TO
Z your generosity and many thanks frOn
E my friend, Margaret Allan, a perfeC
8 dream of a girl, whose acquaintanc
YOU have made under strange circum
E stances. They have a perfectly d'
g lightful club over here and last nigh
& they initiated Margaret-Q suggeste
the initiation as you probably suspec
for you remember had key to you
e apartments)-and that's why sh
3 played burglar, BObbie. dear.
Z "Hope you won't be cross MAJ
Z garet was a good sport, anyway, fo
It was a daring thing to do! And sh
carried it off fine, even If you did di
cover her. 1 will tell you that sh
was very favorably impressed, if 20
Z won't get too conceited, and, of cOurs
rS I can arrange a meeting if you wisl
But oh, Bobby, what will happen
: Won If introduce you to Margaret