Smyrna times., 1919-04-30
THE BURGLAR
sy GERALD ST. ETlENNE.

III
sours Katherine Jeffery had been
wor,ing without a stop at her type
.,;ter Not once had she raised her
.ves from her notes. AS she finished
tbe last letter she put it with the 9TH
arc and placed it on the managers
desk. ready for his signature in the
rorning. She looked at her wrist
catch. and discovered that she had
Auished sooner than she had expected
Che sat down at her desk again and
6nqered the keys of her machine She
gas tired. but it seemed good to feel
their touch again after being away
from them so long.
Night work the second day was a
record for her. The salary was large
one. however and it would not hurt
her to do a little extra work after the
three months vacation she had had.
The thought of the vacation was a
pleasant one. For eight years she had
worked and saved for that one winter
vacation at Long Beach, 1t would have
heen 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 1t 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
mad been building castles for half an
hour. The realization that she was the
only person in that vast 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 sound outside in the
corridor Her heart gave a jump and
she caught her breath. 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 cOOlly as
she could. 81 have my hand on the
telephone"
The man faced her in surprise.
Katherine" he cried. ''what are you
doing here?"
"Oliverr' There was surprise and
\hOrrOr in Katherine's tone. "YOu q
burglar!"
But, my dear" he began.
stop! Not another wOrd DOM
dare call me your dear. How dare
you come here to rob this Officer"
He laughed. The laugh seemed Il
kindle a spark of primitive rage il
Katherine.
"YOu wretch! Don't you dare laugh =
she cried. Don't you speak anOthe
word. l will not listen to you. TIL,
sound of your voice will make me fee
nothing but repulsiOn for you. T.
think that cared for a crook like you
To think that l thought l loved yOl
and you allowed me to think it YO1
are burglar. a common burglar, VIII
came her to rob this office.
"I would not really do such a thing,
he said. II was only testing you.
love you, Katherine, no matter wha
your opinion is of me-"
Love me? Then why have you don
this?" Her tone had changed, her al
ger almost disappeared.
Perhaps I was driven to it," h
suggested. "This is my first Offense
Driven to it," she asked tremulOu
ly. Surely a man does not have to b
dishonest. Oh, Oliver, were yOn to
extravagant this winter? Why didn
I think Of that? You spent lot {
money on me, and allowed you to q
it because thought you were rich"
"It would be awful to spend a ter
in prison." he muttered wistfully.
Il will not call the police" ST
pushed the telephone away from he
Promise me this will be your last
tempt at burglary"
81 promise" he declared, earnestl
"'Can l see you home"
81 am too nervous to go through II
corridor" she said. dOubtfully. "Y'
can see me safely that far"
He did not leave her until th'
had reached her boarding house. 81
would not allow him to kiss her
parting.
There were traces of the tryil
night in Katherine's face the ne
morning. She was dazed when 81
arrived at the office, but as she stal
ed her work she banished the feelil
with an effort. Shortly after ten s
heard the outer door open and n
ticed the other members of the sta
gIancing in the direction of the pers
who had entereds AS she faced arou
Katherine could not hold back b
cry Of surprise. "Oliverw He W
coming toward her. but the manas
intercepted him.
when did you get back, Mr.. Law
she heard the manager ask, as in
dream.
Last night. dropped into
office on my way to see If there We
any letters that had not been I
yVardod %o mo ~ Oliver said as