The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-01-03
The

~ =
By A DELAFIELD
%. 1929. western Newspaper Union,

~ Nv 49,
a married, clever. refined, a soldier
Of distinction in the war, Claude Har
vey was naturally in great demand
among the girls. He had all the at
tributes Of the hero Of a popular
novel.
He had piercing blue eyes, and 8
rare smile that went straight to the
heart. But he was cold, ruthless, some
said. No wonder the girls admired
him.
suInptuOuS duplex apartment In the
most fashionable part Of the city that
night. Haro, his Jap valet, was away.
H9ro was at the marriage Of his
brother.
anyway, Claude was alone, and just
about to retire to sleep, after dipping
into Psychology of the Unconscious"
and "a Thousand Facts About Plain
Craftsmanship" two literary treas
ures that were always at his bedside.
When he had read one he read the
other. His mind was curiously bal
anced between the poetical, typified
by "a Thousand Facts" and the prac-
teal, typified by
Oh, yes, Claude heard a slight sound
downstairs in the direction of his IL
brary, giving him the confused, pleas
urable impression that a ton of nitro
glycerin had exploded in the safe in
which he kept a hundred thousand
dollars worth Of bills and negotiable
securities, in addition to a priceless
necklace of antique cats eyes, valued
at nearly three hundred dollars.
Hastily, but without undue emotion,
| Claude arose, donned his dressing
gown of Powered antique satin, which
had been given to him by his maiden
aunt on the occasion of his tenth
birthday, took his automatic and de-
scended the stairs.
AS he went down he was oddly
aware of a certain subconsclous In
-stinct reflected in a peculiar physical
sensation, as if cold water were being
poured down his spine, while, at the
same time, his hair displayed a ten
dency to straighten itself and project
vertically upon his Uranium. and
AS he went down he was conscious
of a fear which he repressed as I'M
worthy of a Harvey. Gripping his au-
tomato closer, he went to the door of
his library.
A tiny CLEAN of light arrested his at
tention. Looking through the crack of
the door he saw a human form out
lined against the massive door of his
safe.
Stepping into the living room, he
quietly got into touch with police head.
quarters, and asked that an officer be
sent up Immediately to arrest a bur-
glar. Then he went back.
From the door he saw the burglar
deliberately folding away his bills and
securities in a large flat case. Too
proud to fight, he just looked on until
the CLEAN of the cat's-eye necklace
arrested his attention.
A low moan escaped his lips. The
burglar leaped to his feet-her feet.
Before him stood a beautiful girl, in
all the glory of her young ~womanhood.
The cat's-eye necklace in her hand
shone like cats eyes.
Covering her with the automatic,
Claude drawled: "Well?"
"Well?' responded the girl coolly.
$50 you have come here, a common
thief, to Steal"
She leveled a finger full of reproach
him. do you talk of stealing"
she retorted, "you whose pockets are
lined with the tribute wrung from the
oppression of your wage ~slaves?"
Harvey hung his head. 81 am the
victim of the capitalist SYSTEM" he
'etorted. 'Does that justify you in
stealing. bursting open my invincible
safe and taking my bills and securi-
les and cat's-eye necklace?'
She advanced scathingly. 81 have
simply taken back what you have
from the proletariat," she re-
urned. "All the proceeds of this will
,e given to the poor. Let me pass,
-ou monsterl"
Overcome by her sincerity, Claude
topped aside. won't you let me keep
he cat's-eyes?" he pleaded. "They
we're a legacy from Aunt Tabitha."
Scornfully the girl flung the neck
ace at him. For a ONE Claude
cit an irresistible impulse to take her
4 his arms. Then, hearing a sound
utside the door, he stepped aside and
pened it for her.
Two officers stood there.
''What's this about a burglary, Mr..
Iarvey?" they demanded.
The girl glanced at him in pireous
ppeal.
"Oh, yes, this is the burglar" In
wered Claude.
"Why, If 1t amt Chicago Mamel"
reclaimed the elder of the two men.
guess we want her pretty bad any
- - I