Smyrna times., 1923-02-14
BURGLAR WANTED
BY MABEL PARSONS

dences OF the wealthy that the list
might be that Of the social register had
for some reason forgot to call upon
the HOggs. There wasn't another home
in Tylerville that contained SO many
costly furnishings, silver and jewelry-
particularly jewelry--and yet Mrs.
Hogg was denied share of the lime
light with the aristOcracy.
ut amt as if we amt got nothing, |
Phineas," she sObbed, her many dia-
monds flashing in the morning sun as
she poured the coffee. There's the |
JOneses, and
stop right there" exclaimed Mr.
HOgg irritably. "Ain't l done all l
can? Amt gone all over this house
every night and opened the windOwsf
Why, last night ! even left the front
door half open. and did any burglar
come in? Did he ask you? Mo- he
continued, answering his own question.
What else he might have said will
never be known, as the butler entered
at that moment, and if there was any
one of whom he stood in awe il was
Henry the butler.
Success had come to the HOggs 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 present" But
Phineas was good sport and under
her constant urge he ran her pretty
good second In their chase for social
tHs1s 1t cole lie ,,
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 BentOns had a
family tree, and she didn't have one.
Never mind. Lucy" he said sOOth-
ingIy, 1--WE 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 en-
cOuragingly. well be robbed yet" And
Lucy smiled family in hope and partly
because Mrs. Powell, across the street
was looking on. Phineas waved his
cane airily as he catered his motor
for the same reasons that Lucy smiled
and he was Off.
Arriving at his office he immediate
IL rang for his secretary.
Mr.. Dagget," said he, in his cut
little pom9Ous way, do you know an!
good porch climber? l mean, are yol
acquainted with any good crook?
mean-what THAT is" Plainly
Phineas was confused.
Mr. Dagget doesn't know yet wha
his employer meant. but he was gla
To get out of his sight. and for th'
, rest of the day he went about on ii
toe with a moist handkerchief in hi
hand and a CLASSY look in his eyes
Now, while the HOggs valued the nC
toriety Of a burglary, let it be know
that there was about $4,000 worth c
jewelry, which was carefully cOnceale
every night that they had no inter
ti0n of losing. That night while pr'
pairing for bed, just at the momer
i, that Mrs. Hogg had put all the jewelr
in the case after a careful checking,
: loud crash sounded through the houS
and while they looked at each Othe
!, first i'm surprise and then in joy. N;
:, crash was followed by another.
"A burglar! A robber!" Mr.. Hos
el,,,,t.I ..ptbueio ctioulIV rt1cbipU a
into the hall, Mrs. Hogg close in Ii
wake.
: Swapping on the lights in deSceT
they arrived upon the scene at Il
moment the policeman had subdu
his prisoner Subdued doesn't cow
- the picture at all he was worse thu
J" that, and as he stood there in the ligl
/, It is no wonder recognition was d
VI layed. Mr.. HOgg was the first to wa
up.
. why, it's Henry" he exclaimed
amazement.
He was right. He was the butt
n 1t seems that Henry was not rt
burglar-nothing like that-qute
m defer at it, in fact 1t was simply
manifestation of his interest in
employers. He knew how ankle
they were to be robbed, and as
oy made him nervous to sleep in a hot
as that was open to the world, he had
tic solved to the end the suspense
er both. Steal nothing, you understar
Just make noise to arouse the hou
I'D hold. That done, the collected artiC
ms. on the floor would lead to the bel
)n- that the burglar had been frightel
he away. Thus his employers could h
ur- up their heads among the aristOcri
Of Of Tylerville.
ut. As l said before, Phineas was
re- good sport and after Henry had WI
II pered this explanation, he swallow
.ag his disappointment and gave the wat
at. ful, waiting patrOlman a sign indie
rs ing that his services would not
ow needed further.