Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-07
MOLLIE'S BURGLAR
BY JACK LAYTON.

hair for the night. Just n month
ago all had been "1ove m roses"
At least that had been Mollie's roseate
vision Of life. And tonight Shadows
and darkness seemed everywhere. Ike
the shaded corners of the garden.
And all because of Douglas. What
a vast difference "the man" can make
In ones life.
Douglas had come, and seen, and
conquered-as far as Mollie was con-
cerned. She met him in her home city
at a party given by the son Of his
employer.
Douglas was @ favorite with his en-
ployer; Douglas was, It seemed, a IA
vorite with everybody. So 1t was not
strange that even little, elusive Mollls
should capitulate to his charm. His
wooing was prompt and successful.
Mother admired Douglas. Father
thought well Of him. Molie's be-
trothal was a time of jubilation. And
then-Douglas urged this visit to moth
er. He was very fond Of his tender
little mother. Mollie knew. and anx-
ious that she in turn, should become
fond Of the girl chosen Of his heart.
So Mollie went with Douglas, out on
an afternoon train to a dear old.
queer old house, In the country.
Gorgeous flowers framed the door
ways, and inside there were mysteri-
u halls. with steps descending une1-
pectedly here and there. Mollie's room
led from a branching upstairs hall;
at the opposite end was the room Doug
las had occupied in his childhood,
and which was kept unchanged for
his frequent visits. Three steps to
the right was Faithful's room-and
Faithful was the girl who had, inno-
Gently enough, brought this new heart
ache to Mollie. Douglas mother had
introduced Faith l%aughingly, that first
day of Mollie's arrival, as an old
sweetheart of his. And though Doug
las later p~ainstakingly explained that
the sweethearting had been a joke
of pinafore days, the insinuation ran
killed.. Jealousy, heretofore an un-
known experience with the carefree
Mollie, held her now bafied In its pow
err. For while Mollie In secret derided
herself for her foolishness, and made
firm resolve to pay no attention to
the comradeshlp of Faith and Douglas
no sooner did she come upon the
two talking together than MOllie inn
mediately became frigid in demeanor
toward her lover, inflcting upon him
perplexing hours Of u%nhappiness.
This unfortunate state Of affairs
had eliminated in the present quarrel.
Holly had the new tempestuous Mollie
accused her 1ance of unfaithfulness,
while ne, suffering under this injus-
tice, had taken back silently his ring.
Pride raised between these two an
insurmountable barrier. As Mollie
turned from the window, she noticed
beneath it a mans moving figure and
recognized the shutting outline as a
tramp whom Douglas mother had
helped on his way with a warm sup
per.
People were almost too trusting In
the country. Mollie thought, as her
weary head pressed the pillow. 1t
was In the dead Of night that she sat
up suddenly In bed, every nerve a.
tremble at the ~strangness of her wax
ing. The stealthy sound which had
reused her came from he direction OF
the clothes closet, whose small win
dow opened on a sloping roof. And as
Mollie watched, plainly discernible in
the moonlight. the white knob of the
closet door moved slowly, then was
still. She had locked her bedroom
door before retiring, and as Mollie
stared fascinated, the closet door ham
die turned again, this time distinctly.
With one bound the girl sprang to the
door and turned the key. Then, with
her heart pounding. Mollie sank to
the floor. 1t was the skulking tramp.
she was sure, who had sought en-
trance through the roof window.
When she could summon her shaking
voice, Mollie asked weakly. "Who IL
there?"
The twice repeated question was
answered merely by a renewed and
now aggressive rafting Of the door
handle. The man would force the door
presently in defiant strength, she fear
ed. Wildly she reached for an en-
veloping kimono. Mollie's cold lit
tie feet found her slippers, then she
| opened the bedroom door, and fed
| straight to that other door at the op-
posite end of the hall.
Douglas" she sobbed. "Oh, Doug
las"
Coming" he answered with re-
markable promptness. and in a few
moments. still struggling into his coat.
Douglas was at her side.
Burglars" Mollie ~gasped-'in my
closet"
go down to mother" Douglas COM
manded her as he ran.
But Mollie waited. huddled in the
wide, rose kimono just where Douglas
had left her. And when after what
seemed hours to Mollie he found her
there, Douglas gathered the trembling
form close In his arms, while MollIe
chung to him In a most reassurlng
manner.
ut was" Douglas explained, "the
cat, Mollie. She had got shut up In
your closet; she always works a door