Evening star., 1925-05-31

the fact that he was burg
lar. Her idea of a burglal
49, had always been a heavy
thick-Set man with a re
volver, mask and a huge unshavel
chin. The slim, ferret-faced creature
who turned at her entrance and leapeC
as lightly as a faun to the door be
hind her was not her conception o.
the part.
She was not thinking about burg
lars. Ordinarily, if she had found
herself alone downstairs in the grea
stone house at 4 o'clock in the morn
ing, her first thought would have beer
of something hostile and unknown
ghosts or murders; but tonight, after
she had let herself in with the latch
key almost forcibly taken away from
her maid and had stolen through the
heavy grilled doors and over the thick
soundlesS carpets, her mind had beer
so full of Bryan and her engagement
of her own daring in letting him bring
her home alone, and the uncomforta
BILE possibility that her grandfather
might still be awake, that she had
no attention left for commonplace
fears
When she saw a dim light shining
from the library, she was sure that
Mr.. Broughton had caught Ellen slip
ping in without her and was now
waiting up to reprove her for such
irregular conduct. She knew she had
made no sound, and she might be
able to slip past that open door un.
seen, and thus put off the dreaded
interview until the next morning. The
respite tempted her. for she was afraid
of her grandfather; but taking coun
sci of dignity and courage, she de
cided to lace him at once; and so she
Strengthened herself and entered the
room. She had almost begun her
speech: "Grandpapa. L sent Ellen
away and allowed Bryan to bring me
home, because Bryan is always going
to bring me home" Then she saw
that the figure standing at the desk
was not her grandfather, but a
stranger
Don't scream he said. Il won't
hurt you if you keep still
She felt no impulse 10 scream
surprise was her dominating emotion.
1t seemed incredible that fifteen min
utes before she had been dancing at
a crowded party with the handsomest
man in the room. And now here she
was-the same girl-locked in a room
with a burglar. Locked in a room
with a burglar. The phrase, more
alarming than the fact, made her
heart skip its beat.
x K *
lie was not from any point of view
an alarming tigure-small. red
haired, with ears that stood away
from his head and pale, rapidly NOV
ing eyes looking out from his ferret
like face.
You're a burglar she said Won
deringly.
"Oh, WELL" he answered, I'm no
common burglar-something little
different-that's my motto. | have
an idea-absolutely new" Having
locked the door, he now moved back
TO the desk with a staggering motion
about his head and hips as he walked.
He was arranging little packages
which he had evidently taken from
one of the inner drawers which Diana
had seen all her life and never
dreamed of opening. You see" he
went on, there's always room for
brains. Those pearls of yours, for in
stance-I wouldn't touch them"
Her hand went to her throat. They
were my Mothers" she said.
That wouldn't matter any to me, >
said the burglar. I'm not soft
hearted. I'm pretty hard-boiled but
then, you can't be anything else ir
my profession" He gave a smile
almost a smirk.
No" the burglar continued. Il
wouldn't care who the pearls belonged
to- or how much you bawled, if
wanted them-but l don't. That's my
idea. If you take something valuable
what happens? You pawn it or sell
it, and the fence gets the cream of
II. and you take the chance. But
there is always something TO steal
that you can get a fancy price for and
no questions asked. 1 guess you get
the idea"
No" said Diana, sorry to be
stupid, I'm afraid l don't
Compromising stuff - something
they're ashamed Of answered the
burglar. Then you don't get caught
for every one is just as anxious to
have you make your getaway as you
are yourself. Suppose you identify me
tomorrow never wear a mask
you'd know me anXWhere-what diff
ference does it make? Nothing in this
house has been taken-nothing, that
Is" and his slyness became intense
that any one will acknowledge ever
existed. I'm protected. That's the
plan. Find a rich man with some
thing that he's ashamed of. Believe
me, they are not hard to find"
The experience had been coming to
Diana in layers-surprise, fear and
now anger. II seemed to her imperti
nent, what this man was doing. She
said coldly: I'm afraid you've come
to the wrong house. this time"
Don't kid yourself said the bur
glar with a giggle.
II don't believe" said Diana, that
my grandfather ever did anything ir
all his life which he believed was
wrong
She phrased this creed with some
care, for as she grew older she haC
become aware that the stern, rigorous
self-denying old man whom she ha6
been brought up to respect as the
wisest and best of men was not uni