three-days’ growth of bristly beard on my face for, and a cap with flaps? Give me the oil, quick, and let me grease the bit, so I won’t wake up your mamma, who is lying down with a headache, and left you in charge of Felicia who has been faithless to her trust.”
“Oh, dear,” said Tommy, with a sigh. “I thought you would be more up-to-date. This oil is for the salad when I bring lunch from the pantry for you. And mamma and papa have gone to the Metropolitan to hear De Reszke. But that isn’t my fault. It only shows how long the story has been knocking around among the editors. If the author had been wise he’d have changed it to Caruso in the proofs.”
“Be quiet,” hissed the burglar, under his breath. “If you raise an alarm I’ll wring your neck like a rabbit’s.”
“Like a chicken’s,” corrected Tommy. “You had that wrong. You don’t wring rabbits’ necks.”
“Aren’t you afraid of me?” asked the burglar.
“You know I’m not,” answered Tommy. “Don’t you suppose I know fact from fiction. If this wasn’t a story I’d yell like an Indian when I saw you; and you’d probably tumble downstairs and get pinched on the sidewalk.”
“I see,” said the burglar, “that you’re on to your job. Go on with the performance.”
Tommy seated himself in an armchair and drew his toes up under him.
“Why do you go around robbing strangers, Mr. Burglar? Have you no friends?”
