his presence. If the truth were to be told it would chron-

icle the fact that a very nervous and frightened burglar

sneaked along the quiet and peaceful country road out-

side of Oakdale. A lonesome burglar, this, who so craved

the companionship of man that he would almost have

welcomed joyously the detaining hand of the law had

it fallen upon him in the guise of a flesh and blood po-

lice officer from Oakdale.

In leaving the city the youth had given little thought

to the practicalities of the open road. He had thought,

rather vaguely, of sleeping in a bed of new clover in

some hospitable fence corner; but the fence corners

looked very dark and the wide expanse of fields be-

yond suggested a mysterious country which might be

peopled by almost anything but human beings.

At a farm house the youth hesitated and was almost

upon the verge of entering and asking for a night's lodg-

ing when a savage voiced dog shattered the peace of

the universe and sent the burglar along the road at a

rapid run.

A half mile further on a straw stack loomed large

within a fenced enclosure. The youth wormed his way

between the barbed wires determined at last to let

nothing prevent him from making a cozy bed in the

deep straw beside the stack. With courage radiating

from every pore he strode toward the stack. His walk

was almost a swagger, for thus does youth dissemble

the bravery it yearns for but does not possess. He al-

most whistled again; but not quite, since it seemed an

unnecessary provocation to disaster to call particular

attention to himself at this time. An instant later he was

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