The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-03-20
The BURGLAR
=
BY GERALD ST. ETIENNE.

l
eyes from her notes. As she finished
the last letter she put II with the 9TH
! crs and placed Il on the managers
desk. ready for his signature In the
morning. She looked ut her wrist
watch, and discovered that she had
finished sooner than she had expected.
She sat down Mt her desk again and
fingered the keys Of her machine. She
was tired, but II seemed good to feel
their touch again after being away
from them 50 long.
Night work the second day was
record for her. The salary was large
one. however. and IL would not hurt
her TO do 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. II would have
been worth while to have saved TWEEN
ty-elght years. she told herself. as she
thought Of the glorious time she had
had. II had been exciting from the
start hut the real pleasure had not
come until after she had met Oliver
Law. II seemed now That she had
known him all her life In Just
month he would be back home. and
then II wouldn't he long before she
would give up Office woN forever. she
f,li sure Of H.
The gloomy stiffness Of the ofiicS
brought kntherin. back 20 earth. she\
had been building castles for half an
. ~. ~,
only person In that vast office building
was rather a chilling one. The thought
Of the dark corridor she had to pass
I through ON her way out. nj that late
hour, caused her 20 put the cover on
her machine and hasten into her coat.
She WINS Just slipping ON her ruhbcrs
when she heard n sound outside In the
corridor. Her heart gave jump and
she caught her breath \ sieh, cough
+ told her that someone was there. A
shuttle ~ feet told her that Il was
man. tn" door opened suddenly
Well" katherine said Ms coolly as
she could Il have my hand on the
telephone"
The man faced her ia surprise.
Katherine" he cried. what are you
doing hcrcf"
oliver" There was surprise and
horror IN katherlnc's tone. "You
burglar"
But. my dear" he began.
stop Not another word Don't
dare call me your dear. How dare
you come here 10 rob this ofiicrT
lie laughed. The laugh seemed to
Eiudlc a spark Of primitive rn.r in
Katherine
You wretch Don't You dare lnugh'"
she cried. Don't you speak another
word. viii not listen To YOU Tn.
sound ~ your voice viii make mo feel
nothing but rrpulslon for you To
think that | cared Tor a crook Ike YOU.
To think that | thought | loved YOU
and you allowed me 10 think ~ You
are burglar, n common burglar. who
came her 10 rob this Office.
II would not really DO such a thing"
he said. Il was only testing you.
love you. Katherine. no matter what
your opinion Is ~ me"
Love me7 Then why hay. you done
thisT Her tone had changed. her an
ger almost disappeared.
Perhaps | was driven 10 H." he
suggested. This Is my first off,nse."
Driven 10 it, she asked trrmulnus-
ly. Surely u man does not have to be
dishonest oh. oliver, were You too
extravngant this wlnteri why dldn',
! think Of thatf You spent lot Of
money on me, aud allowed you To do
II because ! thought you were rich"
1T would be awful To spend term
In prison. he muttered wistfully.
81 viii not call the police" She
pushed the telephone away from her.
Promise me this will be your last AZ.
tempt nj burglary"
Il PROMISE" he declared, earnestly.
"Can ] see you homer"
II am too nervous 10 10 through the
corridor" she said, douhtfully "You
can see me safely that far"
He did not leave her until they
had reached her boarding house. She
would not allow him To Kiss her In
parting.
There were traces Of the trying
night In Katherine's face the next
morning She was dazed when she
arrived at the Office but MS she start
cd her work she banlshed the feeling
with an effort shortly after ten she
heard the outer door open and no
ticed the other members OF the stafr
glanclng In the direction o. the person
who had entered. As she faced around
Katherine could not hold back her
cry Of surprise, "Ollverl" lie was
coming toward her, but the manager
intercepted him.
when did you get back, Mr. LawT
she heard the manager ask, as in
dream.
Last night | dropped into the
Office on my way TO see II there We're
any letters that had not been for
wnrded TO me-" Oliver said, as he
pushed his way past.
II know now" she said before heI
could speak. "You are the Junior part
ner. Oh. Oliver. what an idiot you
must think me. l must have been