Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 290, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1910 — Penelope and a Burglar [ARTICLE]

Penelope and a Burglar

By CLARISSA MACKIE

(Copyright,, 1910, by Associated Literary Press.)

Ab the church clock struck one, Penelope sat up In bed with a wildly fluttering heart For the first time in her life she was face to face with a deadly fear. Some one was stepping to and fro in the adjoining room and under the crack of the door there was a line of light. With awful distinctness came the recollection that Bridget was spending the night in Jersey City with a sick relative. Her father could not have returned from Chicago, for she had talked with him over the telephone at nine o’clock. She was all alone in the apartment and quite defenseless against the intruder in the next room. At almost any Instant he might open the door; it was unlocked. She slipped noiseles&ly to the floor and peered through the keyhole into the lighted sitting room. In a line with the keyhole was her writing desk and before the desk sat a man trying first one and then another key in the lock. Penelope saw a broad back, a line of white collar and bronzed neck and close-cropped black hair, and made a quick deduction of character. “A desperate ruffian—just out of prison—probably has several murders to his credit!” She breathed sharply as the man’s key grated in the lock and the desk lid swung down into place. “My diary!” gasped Penelope, indignantly. “No—he hasn’t touched it — he’s probably looking for money. Oh dear! What shall I do?” She arose and looked frqm the window in the vain hope that she might attract some policeman or owlish householder; but the uptown cross street was quiet as befitted its elegant neighborhood. The electric light on the comer sputtered and sank into momentary gloom. ' - Penelope shuddered as she heard a movement in the next room'. The burglar was opening the drawers of the desk leisurely. There were two modes of egress from the room; one Into the narrow corridor and the other leading to the"' sitting room where the burglar sat. A daring thought came to PenelLpe Farnum and she put it into immediate action. It was plain that she could hot call for help or leave the apartment without detection; the telephone was in the sitting room and the door that led from her bed chamber into the Corridor squeaked dismall/r With resolution born of the emergency, Penelope thrust her ffeet into slippers, shrugged herself into her big fur motor coat, buttoning it closely over her hanging golden braids. Over her head she pulled a cloth traveling cap, and this, with the addition of the huge motor goggles, completed a disguise that was intended to intimidate the marauder. The only available weapon was one of her Indian clubs, and, grasping this firmly In her right hand, Penelope softly opened the door into the sitting room. , The burglar was engaged in touching a lighted match to a cigarette, and Penelope started at the stem, handsome profile outlined against the dark background of the desk. He? heart stood still as the man turned quickly and tossed the burned match into a brass tray on the table. For an Instant they stared at each other, Penelope at the slowly rising figure of the man, his fine gray eyes wide open in surprise, one hand holding the cigarette.' In turn, he stared at the slight little'figure, enveloped in fur coat, cap and goggles, with a pair of ridiculous red Turkish slippers on her feet and wisps of golden hair straggling from under the cap. The man opened his mouth to speak, but Penelope’s indignation had got the better of her fright She swung the club menacingly. “Whatever you say will be used against you!” she cried, excitedly, and then, conscious that she had said something quite absurd, a delicious wave of pink spread over her eheeks. His involuntary smile restored her self-possession.

“What are you doing here?" she demanded, coldly. “I was about to ask you that question.” He leaned carelessly against the desk, watching her with curious eyes. “You are—a female brtrgl&r— I presume, madam?” “I—a burglar!” gasped Penelope “The insolence! Leave this apartment at once.” She stamped her foot with such energy that one little red slipper sailed airily toward the intruder. With a quick gesture be bent and caught it on one hand. “This will serve as clew,” he said regarding it thoughfuliy. A clew to what?” Penelope curled one rosy foot under the fur eoat; her cheeks were crimson now with mingled anger and embarrassment, and, recklessly, she tore off the obscuring goggles. _ “To—your identity,” said the man, somewhat lamely. He was staring at Penelope with thoughtfully knitted, brows. “Where have I seen you fore?" he burst forth, suddenly. ■ln the rogues* gallery, I suppose,” retorted Penelope. "Now, toy good man, I do not care to listen to your nonsense any longer; if you do not leave this place immediately, I shall —I shall —serwn for assistance.”

The man looked thoughtfully at the red slipper and then at Penelope gazing sternly at him. “I really thought you were a lady Raffles,” he said, with a note of doubt in his voice. “If you have any right here I shall be glad to hear your explanation. Mrs. Bradly gave me to understand the apartment was quite vacant.” “Mrs. Bradly!” gasped Penelope "Do you mean to say that Mrs. Leander Bradley told you our apartment would be vacant?” “Mrs. Bradley said her. apartment would be vacant,” he corrected, mildly; “I happen to’ be Mrs. Bradly’s brother and she sent me here to secure a small package from seer writing desk, but —” > Penelope’s brown eyes were dancing now and her uplifted hand halted the words on her lips. “This isn’t Mrs. Bradly’s apartment,” she said, sweetly. “It’s on the floor below—underneath this one!” He stared incredulously at her. “Why—l couldn’t have made such a mistake,” he said, helplessly. “Have you ever bee’jr to Mrs. Bradly’s apartment?” asked Penelope. “No—she described it to me and gave me and as the elevator was not running I walked up. We’re all staying down at Breezehurst, and we motored up for the theater —the rest of the crowd are down at the door in the car! By Jove—(how cvivld I make such a mistake?” He glanced apprehensively at Penelope and then at the writing desk, littered with letters and packages from the pigeonholes. ‘‘You’re awfully untidy,” complained Penelope, as she crossed the desk and tucked the letters back in their places. One envelope she held toward him; he read the address and gave it back. It was now his turn to redden. “I don’t know what to say, Miss Farnum," he murmured, contritely. “You must think me silly to break into your rooms here and ransack your desk and then accuse you of being a burglar! I—l really didn’t know what a fool I could make of myself till this nlghtlf? J - 2. “You should feel enpguraged," said Penelope, wickedly. “You're really doing very well, indeed!” An automobile horn brayed impatiently in the street below. “I must go—they are waiting for me, Miss Farnum. I’d like to bring my sister upstairs to assure you that it is all a mistake, you know." “But I do believe you, Mr. —— Penelope floundered helplessly. “Drayton—Jack Drayton,” he said. “I suppose you know my sister Peggy well?” “Yes, Indeed—Peggy and 1 are great friends —in fact I was going down to Breezehurst for the weekend.” “Was?” he repeated, anxiously. "I am going,” corrected Penelope, demurely. “Then I can make my apologies all over—it’s awfully funny, but I know I’ve seen you before. Miss Farnum." “Peggy has my picture—we wereroommates at college." “The little violin girl," he said, dreamily; and then his face colored 1 and he laughed boyishly. “I alwaysliked that picture—but I- didn’t recognize you in that disguise!” All Peggy said was a simple “Good night,” but as he rattled down the stairs to the floor below he whistled softly to hlmso-f. And Penelope locked the door and went back to bed; but she slept never a wink the whole night through. Morning found her propped among her pillows with dreamy brown eyes. “I shall take the pink evening gown—it's the most becoming frock I’ve got. How foolish of me to havethought he looked like a burglar. Why, he’s splendid!"