The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-14
BURGLAR WANTED.
By Mabel Parsons.
Copyright, 1922, by the Wheeler
Syndicate. Inc.)

Copyright, 1922, by the Wheeler
| Syndicate. Inc)
| The social climbing Mrs. Hoge
was heartbroken. The clever sec
ond story worker" who had visited
so many residences of the wealthy
that the list might be that of the
social register had for some rea-
son forgot to call upon the Hogs.
! There wasn't another home in Ty-
lerville that contained so many
costly furnishings. silver and jew
particularly jewelry-and yet
Mrs. Hogg was denied a share of
the liemlight with the aristocracy.
ut isn't as if we amt got moth
ing, Phineas," she sobbed. her many
diamonds flashing in the morning
sun as she poured the coffee.
| There's the Joneses, and
Stop right there" exclaimed Mr..
Hogg irritably Amt l done all
can? Amt l gone all over this
house every night and opened the
windows? Why, last night I even
left the front door half open, and
did any burglar some in? Did he,
l ask you? Mo-" he continued, an
swering his own question.
What else he might have said will
never be known, as the butler en-
tered at that moment, and if there
was anyone of whom he stood in
awe it was Henry. the butler. His
presence affected Mrs. Hogg almost
as deeply. and while he went about
the duties of the breakfast she re-
covered her composure and the re-
mainder of the meal was eaten in
silence.
Success had come to them late in
life, and while Mr.. Hogg was in
clined to lie back and take things
easy, Mrs. Hogg was happy only
when she was among those pres
emit But Phineas was good
sport and under her constant urge
he ran her pretty good second in
their chase for social recognition
He affiliated himself with every
club and every social affair she
suggested, and gave her every
blessed thing she wanted-but
there; pause a moment
There is one thing in which he
had failed. Mrs. Hogg told him, in
that heart touching, sobbing way of
hers, that the Powells and NBentons
had a family tree, and she didn't
have one.
Never mind, Lucy" he said
soothingly, I'VE got money enough +;
to get a front lawn full of them"
So you see, dear reader, his heart !
was in the right place. /
Away from the eyes of Henry, +
they kissed in parting at the door. /
"Cheer up, dear" said Phineas, |
wen be robbed !
yet" And Lucy smiled family in |
hope and partly because Mrs Pow
ell, across the street, was looking !
on. Phineas waved his cane airily
as he entered his motor, for the |
samereasons thta Lucy smiled, and /
he was off
Arriving at his office he immedi-
ately rang for his secretary.
'Mr. Dagget," said he, in his cute
little pompous way, do you know
any good porch climber 1 mean,
are you acquainted with any good
crook? 1 mean-what THAT is
Phineas was confused
Mr.. Dagget doesn't know yet
what his employer meant, but he
was glad to get out of his sight, and
Tor the rest of the day he went
about on tip toe with moist hand
zerchief in his hand, and a CLASSY
ook in his yes. Now, while the
doggs valued the notoriety of
let it be known that there
was about $4,000 worth of jewelry,
which was carefully concealed ev-
Try night, that they had no inten-
ion of losing. That night, while
preparing for bed, just at the mo-
nent that Mrs. Hogg had put all
he jewelry in the case after care I
ul checking. a loud crash sounded :
through the house. and while they I
ooked at each other. first in sur ,
rise and then in joy, that crash I
vas followed by another. Ia
"A burglar. 4 robber!' Mr.. Hogg |