are too complicated to write.

"Yours ever,
"P. W."

She enclosed her note in a large manila envelope that had contained
weaving mats, and addressed it to Silas Weatherby, Esq. The man received
it gingerly. He seemed to think that it might go off.

"What's the matter?" said Patty. "Are you afraid of it?"

"Ye're sure," he asked suspiciously, "that Silas Weatherby ain't a
cop?"

"He's a railroad president."

"Oh!" The burglar looked relieved.

Patty unlocked the window, then paused for a final moral lecture.

"I am giving you a chance to begin again. If you are game, and present
this letter, you'll get a job. If you're a coward, and don't dare
present it, you can keep on being a burglar for the rest of your life
for all I care--and a mighty poor one you'll make!"

She opened the window and waved her hand invitingly toward the outside
world.

"Good-by, Miss," he said.

"Good-by," said Patty cordially. "And good luck!"

He paused, half in, half out, for a last reassurance.

"Ye're sure it's on the straight, Miss? Y' ain't pitchin' me no curve?"

"It's on the straight." She pledged her word. "I ain't pitchin' you no
curve."

Patty crept upstairs the back way, and by a wide detour avoided the
excited crowd still gathered in the East Wing. A fresh hub-bub had
arisen, for Evalina Smith had found a monkey-wrench on the floor of her
room. It was shown to the scoffing Martin as visible proof that the
burglar had been there.

"An it's me own wrench!" he cried in wide-eyed amazement. "Now, what do
ye think of his nerve?"

Patty hurriedly undressed and tumbled into a kimono. Sleepily rubbing
her eyes, she joined the assemblage in the hall.

"What's happened?" she asked, blinking at the lights. "Has there been a
fire?"

A chorus of laughter greeted the question.

"It's a burglar!" said Conny, exhibiting the wrench.

"Oh, _why_ didn't you wake me?" Patty wailed. "I've wanted all my life
to see a burglar."

* * * * *

Two weeks later, a groom arrived on horseback with a polite note for the
Dowager.

Mr. Weatherby presented his compliments to Mrs. Trent, and desired the
pleasure of showing the young ladies of the Senior class through his
art gallery on Friday next at four o'clock.

The Dowager was at a loss to account for this gratuitous courtesy on the
part of her hitherto unneighbo