The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1930-05-30
Easy Pickings for
the Burglar
BY NELLIE r. GATES
THE Livingston Smiths living roor


4 was their pride and JOY, being the
only perfect example of modernism In
the Radnor Park apartments. It had
been done by a decorator and the
space composition was such that If
one moved single thing one inch to
right or left the whose scheme was
ruined.
The Livingston-S Smiths were spend
ing this evening at the country club
and the apartment was in darkness.
suddenly scraping noise bit into the
silence and long ray of light swept
the room as typical movie" bur
glar swung in through the window
The fiashlight picked out each article
OF furniture, the raspberry and jade.
green velvet davenport and chairs, the
strange ornaments of glass and metal
perched here and there on the weird
shaped cabinets and tables and finally
on chaotic block print In every color
of the rainbow hanging over the
mantle.
"Hully gee" gasped the burglar.
What kind of joint have | gotten
into?" But before he had time to find
out, a key ratified and the door burst
open. He had hardly time to lower
himself behind the davenport in the
corner before flood of brilliant light
burst from the geometrically shaped
side lights.
Hurry, hurry, Tom, please" and
Charlotte Livingston-Smith threw off
her hat and reaching up over the man
tie tore down the block print that the
burglar had just been looking at. 1T
certainly is fortunate for us that
Bridget phoned that message. Aunt
Jane would never forgive US ii she
got here and found we had never hung
up her wedding present Get 1t,
quick"
Tom went into the next room, re
turning at once with an oil painting
in deep gold frame. Here's the old
dame, big as life and twice as nat
ural"
You would joke Aunt Jane will
be here any minute. Get a hammer"
Hammer? Hammer, did you say2
Since when did this establishment
boast hammer"
well, run down to Wilmots and
get one. And for goodness sake
don't stand talking golf with Ed VIII
mot am about frantic now"
Gosh, girl! They'll think we are
crazy, this time of night"
"Oh, never mind what they think.
Just hurry"
AS the door slammed behind
Tom, Charlotte found herself looking
straight into a short black gun In
the hands of the man behind the da-
yenport. ITS all right, lady, don't
get excited. l am just going" has
tening towards the window.
Charlotte sank into one of the
crushed raspberry chairs. "Who are
you? What do you want?'
u am the prince of Wales. Just
dropped Ia for a cup o. tea, but as
you are engaged I'll come some other
time" and he swung up onto the sill,
putting the automatic into his coat
pocket Charlottes fear vanished
with the gun.
"Wait second prince hate to
see you going without some loot.
That's what you call it?"
"Loots right, lady, but honest to
God, amt seen~a thing here I'd both
er to carry down the 'seape."
Charlotte picked up the wedding
picture and thrust it into his arms.
Just a souvenir Of your visit, prince
We don't often entertain royalty"
AS the astonished man disappeared
over the sill, the phone rang sharply.
Charlotte tipped over a table and
chair before she took the receiver
from the hook. Yes, Ella" she an
swered. Its my aunt. | am expect
ing her; send her right up"
When Aunt Jane came into the room
her young niece threw herself into her
arms. 'Oh, Aunt Jane, / am so glad
you've come. We've just been robbed.
And the mean old burglar took the pic
ture you gave us for a wedding pres
ent." Just here Tommy burst into the
room, hammer in one hand and a
length of wire in the other. "a bur
glar Tommy" Charlotte explained be-
fore he could get his mouth open
"And he took Aunt James picture"
Tom rose to the situation magnih.
Gently. Charlotte was proud of him.
"Not that lovely thing over the man
tel" looking at the faded spot on the
wall where the print had hung.
81 am not surprised" said Aunt
Jane, taking off her bonnet. He prob
ably knew all about it,"
"All about it?' This from Char
lotte
Crooks always keep tabs on such
things. You'd better notify the police.
although l can't see New York po-
liceman getting excited over genu
inc Mibrant."
"a genuine Milbrant"
"A genuine Milbrant" Tom echoed
her words.
Gracious goodness, did you think
it was copy? 1t was the most valu-
able thing / owned. Came to me from
your Uncle Toms family In England"
She patted first Charlotte's shoulder,
then Toms. Now, don't worry the
authorities will be able TO trace 1t,