The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1870-12-17
Two Gailaets ia u Peculiar Fix are
Rescued by strategy.

nisereditable as the following story may be
to the parties concerned, we have the wcrd of
one Of those engaged in it, railroader. and
veil known mere, as to the facts Two friends
we'll call them Tom aud Dick-went few
nights since to call on couple OF damseis
who reside with their mother in the southern
part of the city. The old lady is slightly
deaf and the girls somewhat roguish The
two gentlemen were graciously received by
the old lady. who formed fifth in the social
circle. Ordinary bed time came and the gen.
tlemen proiessed to leave, the maids showing
them to the door. But this was only a ruse
to get the old lady to bed. The front door
was opened and shut and the girls returned
to the dining room, the two heaus having
been slipped into the front parlor and left
there in the dark ltwas supposed, of course,
that the slightly deaf lady would soon be in
the land of Nod, but she took sudden whim
to 90 and set in the parlor for awhile, and, TAX
ing up light, started for that place. Dick
and Tom had been anxious listeners and
watchers, and now saw the old lady approach
ing with lamp. As she passed into the hall
Of course their only means of escape was cut
off. Dick made dive behind lounge that
stood out few inches from the wall-the
framework was two low for him to crawl un-
Ger-and Tom, finding no other place, wedg-
ed himself in on top of Dick. The old lady
set the lamp on the table, took up book,
and, deliberately seating herself on the lounge
began to read The feelings Of the two nice
Young men behind the lounge may be better
imagined tlan described Tom was in dread
Of immediate detection, while Dick dreaded
smothering. He was so frightfully cramped
that he was getting reckless of consequences,
and in a muffled voice, that only the old ladys
deafness prevented her from hearing, num-
bled to Tom, "Kick the lounge over, blow
the lamp out, and let's jump through the win
dow" As Dick was squrming in a way
that BODIED sudden expose for Tom, 1t Is
probable that the latter would have taken his
advice to the letter, but for the interposition
of the quick witted girls. At first, expecting
the cat was out of the bag, they had kept
back, ready to take the storm of reproach
they conld not avoid; but, hearing no noise
after the old lady entered, they went to see
what had become of the gallants. Two pairs
of boots and foot or so of pantaIoons were
visible from the door, and the girls, making
some commonplace remarks to their mother,
went away laughing Loudly. "Phancy the
rhelinks" of the CHAPS behind the lounge.
But in few seconds there came shout from
the woodshed, where the girls then were,
saying their lamp had blown out, and asking
"mother" to come with hers. The boys
heard them plainly, and even smothering
Dick stopped his muttering and threatening.
The good old lady wiped her specks and fold
ed them away, and bidding the girls not to
he frightened. went off with the lamp to their
aid. 1t would be superfuous to say that the
lounging boys didn't lounge just there any
longer. They unlocked the front door as
quietly as possible, and slid out without even
bidding the young ladies good night. 1t was
well for them that they did, for in less than
three minutes the old lady was seated on the
lounge again, perusng her book.-Erie Pa
Dispatch.