Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1921-12-23
A SILVER THIEF
BY DOROTHY KNIGHT.
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q, 1871. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
John Stanley was In love! The real.
izatlon swept over him like the rush
Of a mighty wave. But no, 1t was not
possible. 1t could not be. How could
practical man, nay, hardened
cynic, m he was, In Affairs Of the
heart, be in love with q girl he had
never scent
And yet. the allure OF that picture
the calm, sweet expression OF the wide
set eyes, with just vague suggestion
Of rouglshness. the smiling mouth, the
But, what was the user He did
not even know who or what she was
and how could he find out1 A stray
picture torn from an old newspaper |!
What was her plea to fame-the sea
sons most popular debutante. q foot.
light favorIte. perchance, = brldef But
no, not that. Her brown eyes (surely
they must be brown; they were very
dark. anyway haunted him. He could
not sleep.
He lay awake and reviewed the
events Of the day. That morning on
arriving In Boston he had met his old
friend, Norton, who, with his wife
WIS going away on a trip. Norton
had given him the keys and offered
him the use of the Norton apartment
for the week he was to be In town.
SO, Instead Of being In q dreary hotel,
he WAS sleeping-or trying to sleep--in
q luxurious bed In daintily furnished
apartment.
He dozed of, still with the fair face
before his eyes.
A faint sound reached his ears as II
someone were moving around the
apartment
A girl was moving quietly across the
room In her stockinged feet. Her back
was toward the door. She went dl.
rectly to the sideboard and opened the
top drawer. An almost imperceptible
exclamation came from her as she
took out piece after piece of silver
examining 1t carefully. She seemed
entirely engrossed by lt-fascinated.
What are you doing here2" John de-
manded In stern tone.
She turned like startled doe, at the
same time graspng the silver more
firmly. The color fed from her face
But almost Immediately she gained at
least a semblance Of self-control as
she said, In voice that only trembled
slightly: what are you doing herer
But alas for John! In proportion as
the girl had gained her eQuanlmity he
had lost his. 1t was the girl Of his
dreams, walking and, alas, sleeping
too he feared. He knew her the mo-
ment she turned around.
what are you doing herer she re-
peated. She seemed entirely master Of
the situation, while poor John
writhed In the knowledge that the girl
he loved was 4 thief.
II live here, OF course, and your
with a rising infection.
For the fraction Of 4 second she
looked around helplessly, as II seeking
a way out Of her difficulty, and then,
as If accepting the inevitable, she said
banteringly, as II trying to gain
time: These do not look like bach.
elor apartments"
How do you know I am a bach
elort"
"Oh." sweetly, a girl can generally
tell" As she spoke she edged toward
the door.
Anticipating her, John placed him
self in the doorway.
do you know. II that were my sill
yer, should be almost tempted to
give 1t to your But since 1t belongs
to my friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Norton,
whose apartment l am occupying for a
few days. will have to ask you to
return It."
"Oh." she gasped. and the swift color
dyed her face. "Then you are not-a-
a" Embarrassed she paused.
Another thief" finished John. mo,
I'm not, but perhaps II l loved antique
silver as passionately as you seem to.
and II 1t were my sole desire to pos.
sess 1t"
How do you spell that 'soulr" she
interrupted.
Before he could frame reply her
expression changed from flppancy to
seriousness, rs she begged: But you
will not have me arrested, will your
You will let me got I will never,
never do such thing again"
Quickly she replaced the silver.
stepped deity into her tiny pumps,
ind before the astonished John knew
what was happening she was gone.
Gone, too. Was his peace of mind.
Gone was his heart. His thoughts
were In riot.
He picked up book carelessly, but
what he saw made him gasp and rub
his eyes to see II he were really awake.
II was tho girl. and her name was
signed. or all the unexpected things
1t was Norton's slster. What must
she think Of him. taking her for a
theft
Two days later an animated couple
were enjoying tea, and, incidentally,
each other, In deserted corner Of an
out-Of-the-way ten room.