Nina Wilcox Putnam

“ Newlove trembled for the first time in his hardy existence; trembled from head to foot like a young tree shaken in a spring storm. The scent of violets grew stronger, seeming to emanate from her, swirling about her white draperies there in the dark. What would she do? Would she shut herself away from him again? No, no! She must not do that! ”

“ Newlove leaned forward eagerly, forgetting everything for the moment save that her eyes were like southern skies in April, her hair like the hearts of golden poppies.
“It's God's country!” he smiled. “So big and simple and fertile. You can see so far, so very far, and the face of nature is naked—great rolling mountains, where the modeling is unhidden by trees. ”

“ The house breathed a quiet charm and sense of homeliness, even in the dark. Instinctively he felt that the hall before him was a wide one, more living-room than passageway, and that there would be large, easy chairs about to bump into. A white-railed staircase glimmered vaguely some fifteen feet ahead of him. There must be an electric-light switch somewhere. He would find that!
To look for it he flashed on his lantern, and out of the darkness sprang a lovely thing—a great bowl of windflowers, delicate and frail, their stiff little heads closed in sleep. ”

“ Mountains that are green and purple and violet, whose valleys fill with blue shadows at twilight. There's nothing out there to cramp a person—and everything you give to the earth is returned to you a hundredfold.”
She regarded him with wondering eyes. “You can feel and say all that, and yet you are a thief, an outcast!” she exclaimed. “Why, it's more like listening to a poet.... Have you robbed a great many houses?”
“No,” said Newlove.
“I was sure you hadn't!” she cried. “I was certain! For you don't seem a bit hardened. How long have you been a burglar?” ”

“ No need for getting lost!” muttered Newlove. “Guess I'll have to take a look!”
The arrow directed him through a short and narrow passage into a low-ceilinged portion of what must have been the original house, for it had a strange, musty odor, such as only ancient New England dwellings possess. The furnishing was old, too, in the room he entered: a stiff little parlor which seemed to have preserved intact its original decoration. ”

“ It was as if he had turned his light upon a bit of sheltered woodland. A woman's work, undoubtedly! Yet Jack was not a married man, nor did he possess any female relations who lived with him, so far as Newlove was aware. ”

“ I am a student of psychology, and I am most anxious to meet a burglar under these circumstances. While I am preparing to come down, kindly gather up the things you mean to take. Escape is impossible, but you will not be hurt, and at the end of our interview you will be allowed to depart unmolested. Adherence to these rules will be greatly appreciated by the undersigned and will result in an equal consideration of treatment on her part.
“Phew!” commented Newlove, with a long breath. “A woman!” The rules were carefully numbered, and printed in somewhat smaller type. ”

“ Old-fashioned brooches—one with a lock of gray hair in it, and the inscription “Our Aunt Mary” on the border. A simple pendant, an old watch and chain—a man's, and of generations past. A couple of inexpensive modern necklaces, and—the emerald ring from the portrait in the parlor! ”

“ Kindly read the following information and rules carefully before beginning to rob the house. You are trapped. The window through which you entered locked automatically on your stepping off the floor beneath it, at the same time notifying me of your arrival by means of a muffled alarm. ”