Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-06-19
CHAPTER III.
"ANoTHER BOLD BURGLARY

"ANOTHER BOLD BURGLARY
We'll, John, it seems l was mis-.
taken" said Mrs. l,add, when at las,
she made match burn and hao
looked all over the yard. But nc
one can tell me l didn't hear youi
father cough"
There are other people who
cough like him perhaps" ventured
Jack.
Not bit of it. That was you,
father, l tell you. And when he does
condescend to come in he'll &c, a
piece of my mind. You see If he
doesn't"
The perturbed lady went back to
the kitchen, where she threw the
bread-knife upon the table. 1t was
seldom that her husband stayed out
so late as this. When he did it was
always on account of the stage per-
formances that were the chief end
and object of the Classic Club.
Thomas Ladd had been one of the
founders Of the organization twenty.
five years earlier. That was before
his marriage. At that time he was
considered the handsomest Juvenile
lead" on the Philadelphia amateur
stage.
His bride was a serious-minded
young woman. She never cared ior
the play. But she liked to see her
good-looking husband. in jack-boots,
slashed silken sleeves, and slouch-
hat with dropping feather, tlourishng
rapier and delivering the heroic
sentiments of the romantic drama.
Even when he was uttering cynic.
isms IN modern plays she used to
think him quite as attractive. He was
man who could wear evening
clothes without finding himself with
too many hands and feet too big for
the scene.
Nowadays he was cast for heavier
parts. His Macbeth and Ingomar
had both been praised, and he could
do gruf, middle-aged Wall Street
king to the life.
Mrs. Ladd still attended perform
ances at the Classic when he ap-
peared. But it was only ou. of the
goodness of her heart. She knew it
would hurt him if she didn't. Per.
haps she was proud of his histrionic
achievements even now. If she was
she carefully hid the sentiment.
We'll, | can't sit up for him any
longer" she announced with a wor.
ried glance at the nickel clock on the
mantelpiece. You'll have to leave
the front door unbolted. He has his
latch-key. Good night"
She went slowly upstairs. Jack
found himself listening for the ex.
plosion that he knew would come
when she found his father III bed.
Il shouldn't care to be in dads
place, he grinned to himself.
And just then the storm broke.
MIR. Ladd was getting a piece of his
wiie's mind
He's getting a good large piece,
too" muttered Jack as his mother s
eloquencc increased. Poor dad!'
Softly he opened the front door
and went out to the porch. He
seated himself on the railing at the
farther end, where he could not hear
The rumble of the domestic tempest
within.
II was very dark. He was the
width ot his own house away from
tie railing which separated II from
23. But with the aid of the distant
s,reet-lamp he could dimly make GU,
the front door of the mysterious
neishbors.
They're queer people," he unused
IL wish knew what business dad
has with them. And mother believes
they are burglars! Pshaw! just be.
cause two men and two women IN
ordinary dark clothing were seen
near house thai was robbed she
Jumps to the conclusion that these
are The people. Why, there are lots
ot men and women that look like
them This Is world Of co,nci.
dences.'
Stretching himself, he decided thai
he would 20 IN To bed. when tht
crcakMg long -disuscd door will
make when II Is opened caused hin
to plas.er himself agalns, the house
The creaknig- was at No. 23
Jack stared hard. A shadow
emerged from next door. THIS wa'
followed by three more.
They're all going out" he mur
mured. There's the whole four o
EN-. What's the gamer"
The little girl M black had beei
the first to emerge. She was follow
ed by the woman who MIS-. Lad,
had decided WAS her mother. = Thei
came the boy. The s,oeky man wa'