Show I THE GARDENDALE GARDEN DALE BURGLAR BURG LAR CURE CURL BY E J RATH ATH When the home was bed Gardendale simply folded Its hands and sighed The Fanshawe dom domicile domIcile icile idle was wac equipped with all sorts of burglarproof things an electric alarm mysterious window catches a noisy dog two pistols one shotgun a colicky baby and Mr insomnia t In spite of such model safeguards th burglars made a very pretty Job OI It j Therefore Gardendale was be beyond beyond yond ond the point of speech Sir S1 e the burglar age began the town police pollee had not captured a single house housebreaker housebreaker breaker The Citizens Protective as association association and its two watchmen also had a zero score The individual citi citizens citizens citizens zens bond ond firing stray shots blow blowing blowIng blowing ing whistles and tooting tin horns at unseasonable hours hurs h were In the same state of Impotence Several of the men folk tolk Fore vore the distinction of having seeri seen burglars a few of having shot at them but nobody except Mr McIvor ever claimed to have hit one and he be could not produce the target The park section of Gardendale con contained contained tamed a transplanted colony of city folk who settled there because it was carefully restricted Tou You had to have hava so BO many feet of land to build on your house must not have a flat fiat roof it must not be a tenement a store or a dwelling In ln short It had to comply with so many exact rules Tules and prohibitions that the Park was wag highly I select and ostentatiously proud of it itself itself self But It was not restricted against bur burglars lars larg Since the coming comine of the first carly a year ago Gardendale passed Its nights in a state of excitement and suspense The Brace and Bit Gang began bean It They had a villainous way of boring a circle of holes around the lock of a door and then removing the lock Half a dozen front and back dorrs were neatly bored b bl fore the Brace and Bit Gang became compassionate and amI quit quitA A month had not elapsed before un unpretentious unpretentious unpretentious pretentious yet effective Jimmy wield wielders ers em came to spend their evenings They The made a specialty of splintering window sashes and they were workmanlike about it The second story men who followed them occasioned less alarm because they worked during the fam family ill ily 11 dinner hour and an 1 did not give ve people horrors In the middle of the night However they They godless go less lessof of the Parks but more of Its Jewelry But the coming of the holdup brigade was really a very se serious serious rious matter Three e respected citizens rf who had been detained In town until f the last train were further detained ln in n their walks walles from the railroad sta station station station tion by b insistent wayfarers failure to catch or anni annl annihilate ann hll e a burglar was not due to 10 lack of effort After the first affair at Mr Ir Gates house the men bought revolvers When they had demonstrated their in inability Inability ability to hit live targets tar ets at unknown distances on dark nights they the bought There was the tha small noisy and andt c t dog the alert and pugnacious d g and the large silent and morose dog each householder buying accord accordIng accordIng Ing judgment Some of or the dogs barked when their own owners owners owners ers came home nome late and then slept the rest of the night Mr Brittons bull showed promise because one dark night as Mr Ir Britton Britten set foot on his own porch the dog og quite un unexpectedly unexpectedly expectedly began to chew his leg But ButIr Mr Ir Britton got his pistol and ungratefully ungratefully ungratefully fully shot the only really good dog dogIn dogIn dogIn In the Park This seemed to discourage discourage age ag the other dogs do s who thereafter gave their time to fighting g among them themselves themselves themselves selves killing cats and rooting up flow flower flower er Cr beds f Electric burglar alarms went off with and without burglars so impartially that after a while the Gardendale cit citizen citizen citIzen I izen would merely turn off oft the switch cuss the gong and go back to bed Mr Finch Invented a scheme of Ms Fis own The central Idea was to welcome bur burglars burglars burglars with uncanny hospitality and dis disarm disarm disarm arm them through their own astonish astonishment astonishment astonishment ment At night he hung a sign on the front door Dont a brace and bit bitor bitor bitor or a Jimmy The dining room window is unlocked If they should venture Inside after this they would find little I placards telling where to seek booty and howe hoW to get It without damaging the furniture or waking the family One morning Mr Finch found that the front door had been Jimmied remorse remorselessly remorselessly lessly essly the drawers in the sideboard ard de do defaced defaced faced pictures cut out of their frames Oriental rugs stained with some of his choicest claret and everything in gen general general eral oral Ina state of wreck He understand It until he found this note on the dining room table Mi partner Bill done this Bill done the work while I staid on the walk and andI I nt come In til he had it all ll packed up Then I seen them sines and Ime sorry about the damage Bill Bm cant reed or rite It 1 t was Mr ir Hotchkiss who devised a brilliant plan to give Gardendale a rep reputation reputatIon for thief killing such a desper desperate ate name that no burglar would even venture within its precincts again He wrote to the city papers a thrilling sto story ry 17 of the killing of a burglar buglar He lie said when the burglars read that story they would let Gardendale alone It was such a n good story that the papers sent reporters out to Gardendale to work it up with pictures The reporters wrote some fine stories but not the kind that Gardendale expected Mr Hotchkiss popularity fell fen so rapidly that it could be heard to through the air and some of the Park people changed their newspapers and talked about libel suits It was no wonder therefore when Mr Fanshawe tol the news of his rob bery ber to his fellow members at the Greenlawn Golf club that they fell into a state of despondency the use of trying to keep em out said Mr Gates disgustedly Dogs babies watchmen guns alarms they arent worth a the lot lotof lotof lotof of em emI emI emI I have h h ve an Idea said Mr Jack Jackson Jackson Jackson son that we got the right kind of or alarms Hotchkiss had an Idea too growled Mr Fanshawe and it made asses out of Now No usNo us you listen to my Idea said Mr Jackson Ive been about It to Wilson and hes helped to work It out It was a long and earnest session that the club held Late in June Mrs Wilson was away on a visit to her mother and Mr Wil Wilson Wilson Wilson son was living all by b himself and get getting getting getting ting his meals at the club It was mid midnight midnight midnight night when he awoke surprised to find finda a gas Jet burning dimly He was won wondering wondering wondering dering sleepily about It when a slight tinkle attracted his attention and he twisted his head in the direction of the dresser There was a man stat star staring stating ing in front of it It his back turned to toward toward toward ward the bed and he seemed to be rummaging In the top drawer Mr Wilson regarded him quietly for a few ew seconds and then his head stole across the bed under the spread until it reached the edge where It rested care carelessly carelessly lessly lessy The man continued to rum rummage rummage rummage mage for a minute longer loer and then glanced toward the bed Mr Wilson smiled at him pleasantly and said If Just turn up the light you youcan y u can see better belter The man d fin anT tion caught up a revolver from the top of the dresser and said sharply You shut up and dont I promise not to wiggle said Mr Wilson The ight was turned up cautiously and the man mn still kept his pistol point pointed ed toward the bed Have you found what you want asked Mr 11 Wilson Theres much in the house Im sorry to say Oh Ive got a few things said the burglar In a puzzled sort s rt of way wa He was not a bad looking young fellow rather well dressed for a burglar Mr Wilson thought Arent you afraid to burgle around this place pace continued Mr Wilson Vilson Its considered a dangerous town for bur burglars burglars burglars The burglar laughed It is hey he said Why its got ot the rep of be being beIng beIng ing the easiest place around New York Tork But there aint much to It It if it this house is I a sample I guess Ive got all aU worth taking here so Ill be going Dont be in a hurry burry said Mr Wil Wilson Wilson Wilson son I never go till Im ready mister but Im ready now said the burglar making a step toward tow rd the door You Just stay tight under the covers for five minutes Understand T But I want to tell you about the burglar we caught here said Mr Wilson First I ever heard of it said the burglar with a short laugh When was that Tonight said Mr Wilson Who was he asked the tha burglar r curiously You said Mr Wilson WIson smiling amia amiably amiably amiably bly Again the burglar laughed Youre a Joking sort of a guy he said So SoI I i cant oblige you by staging sta ing But yo 11 have to stay my friend You cant boNo bo ho hoNo No o Just stay in your little bed and keep quiet mister all aU youve got to do But if you go out likely as not get shot a few times said Mr Wilson What do you mean asked the burglar roughly approaching the bed again Why just this said Mr Wilson Our newly patented burglar alarm has been working ever since I woke up and saw you No funny business now said the theman theman theman man sharply What burglar alarm Its a new kind that I helped h to In Invent invent Invent vent said Mr Wilson a note of pride In his voice This burglar alarm I ring in your own house at all It rings in the other fellows houses See this little switch here Mr Wil VH Wilson son lifted the covers covets and disclosed a asmaH small contrivance fastened to the framework fr of the bed Well when I first saw you I turned that switch and it started to ring gongs in twenty different houses around here When my friends woke up and looked at their indicators they saw that No 9 had dropped my number Then they get their revolvers rev and shotguns and dogs and came around to call At least I hope so You might look and amI see eec seeThe The burglar sprang to a window and looked out into the moonlight He drew back with an oath and ran to another window that overlooked the back hack of the house Then he ho swore again and fingered his pistol nervous nervously ly I thought it would work sId said s Id Mr Wilson happily Look said aid the burglar men menacingly menacingly its Us up to you to get me out ut of this He poked his revolver into Mr Wilsons face My 1 ly dear man said Mr Wilson I get set you out of it if I tried There ringing the doorbell now The burglar stood irresolute If Id known you were we working a game on me Id you he murmured Of course you would said Mr Wil Wilson Wilson Wilson son consolingly The beauty of this new alarm is that you never know any ny thing about it Now be a good bur burglar burgar burglar glar gar and put down that gun For a minute longer the man hesi heal hesitated hesitated and then the ringing of the door doorbell doorbell doorbell bell was supplemented with pounding noises and shouts That decided him for he laid his pistol on the bed and backed off against the wall wail You win wint he said briefly Thank you said Mr Wilson pick picking picking picking ing up the gun and slipping out of bed b d Now If It kindly go first well answer the belL Dont try to torun torun torun run for it because got a bunch of dogs and you have a chance The burglar led Id d the way into the han hall halland hailand I and down the stairs and Mr Wilson followed closely cosely with the revolver I pointed at the middle of his captives bak ba I I I Turn up the he light and open the thedoor thedoor door he commanded I The burglar obeyed meekly stepping back quickly as he undid the chain and turned the key ke Half a Ii dozen of Mr I Wilsons neighbors piled plied into the hall hail Got him they cried I There he is gentlemen said Mr Wilson making a courtly bow Bur Burglar Burglar Burglar glar these are my friends Mr rr Gates Mr Fanshawe Mr and others i ito to whom I will present you more for formally formally i mally later I regret that I must ask i ithem them to search you for weapons Mr Wilsons neighbors went at the task rather gingerly and clumsily but I produced only a pocket knife Then Mr 1 L I I 4 I p Ii I f yi I Ii Iia a 1 y t r L I lI fk K I y f fI L r rii I ii I 1 I Ill I I i 1 I I tP I r 7 IIi l I 11 i Burglar these are arC my friends I will present you more formally later Gates stepped to the door and called out All An right boys come on In Other members of the Greenlawn golf club including the radiant burglar alarm Inventor Mr Jackson trooped in bearing pistols and shotguns and lead leadIng leadIng leading Ing dogs This Is a great night for Gardendale gentlemen said Mr Ir Wilson and I congratulate you all Now if one of you will kindly telephone to the club and tell the steward to have things ready and the rest test of you will enter entertain entertain tain thin my friends for a few moments Ill go up stairs and dress Then well all an ango go down to the club Ten minutes later a curious procession walked through the quiet streets of the park headed for the club house The steward had lighted up when the party arrived and he stood grinning at the thedoor thedoor thedoor door Mr Fanshawe Mr Ir Gates and Mr Ir Jackson said Mr Wilson will you kindly take the candidate into the lock locker er room and prepare him We will await you in the cafe The trio thus detailed disappeared down the han hall with their prisoner and their fellow members followed Mr Wil Wilson Wilson Wilson son into the large room on the main i floor At one end of It was a large leather easy chair raised upon a plat platform platform platform form and overhung with a canopy of table cloths that was apparently of has hasty hasty hasty ty construction I Now gentlemen said Mr Wilson shall shan we adhere to the program I say to hand him over to the town I police at once declared little Mr I Tompkins romp nervously I r dont like this I Tut brother said Mr Hotchkiss He your burglar He belongs to Wilson Then said Mr Wilson I r dedicate him to the club clubA A moment later a strange figure es escorted escorted escorted by three solemn guards entered from the hall ball The figure was dressed in the garb of a knight of the fifteenth century Over his shoulders was thrown a kingly robe His face which was that of oti a man who had carelessly dis disturbed disturbed disturbed Mr Wilsons sleep wore an ex expression expression expression of pathetic dismay The burglar walking as if in a dream was was led to the raised platform and mo motioned motioned motioned to sit Mr Ir Jackson who had hadI brought up in the rear with an armful I of clothes laid them upon a table In front of the throne and stepped back Burglar said Mr Wilson what is your name There was no answer from the occupant occupant occupant pant of the royal seat whose eyes shifted about the room nervously He declines to give his name gen gentlemen gentlemen tiemen said Mr Wilson Call Can him Foozle suggested the clubs worst golfer Excellent said Mr Wilson The secretary will make a note of it Foo Foozle Foozle how old are you The burglar glared sullenly and then exclaimed Aw cut It out Send for forthe forthe forthe the cops Dont be rude Foozle old boy from the back of the room Put him down as 2 years old od com corn commanded commanded Mr Wilson Foozle have you youa ou oua a family r N f The secretary will record that he has hasa a wife and nine small children at home announced Mr Ir Wilson Now Foozle Instead of being a common |