The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-10-19

The policeman went over to the des-
perate man, and clutched him by the
shoulders. Then began the struggle.
They tussled about the room, bawling
and shrieking, upsetting the furniture,
tearing down the curtains, smashing the
mirrors, breaking the water-jar, and
deluging the carpet with dirty water.
The door opened, and three persons
appeared, looking on in Mortified as
tonishment. They were Mrs. Pottletop,
General Wagstaffe, and the long-legged
individual who had been locked up in
the library-closet.
The combatants separated, and stood
up, out of breath. Mr.. Pottletop beheld
his wife.
"vile female" he cried, it is all over,
at last !"
"Oh, Pottletopl" !" screamed Mrs. p,
falling into General Wagstaffe's arms.
"I go from you for ever!"
"I told you he wasn't a burglar, but
a lunatic, ma'am," struck in the man in
blue, triumphantly.
"Here is the burglar" said General
Wagstaffe. al surrounded him, charged
upon him, and captured him myself"
"I see it all !" spoke Mrs. Pottletop
suddenly. My poor Potty is the VIC
tim of series Of mistakes. Let him ex-
plain his share in them"
"Victim I am, indeed, and of mis-
take in you, cruel Sophronista !" return
ed Mr.. P. "This morning, looking at my
pipe, was seized with suspicion that
you had some object in giving it to me
yesterday, and making me promise never
to come to dinner before two. Ideterm-
ined to watch. I stole into the garden,
and hid behind the gooseberry-bu
and then perceived a man enter our
bedroom window from the roof"
"Thst vos me-" said the generals cap
tive. al had been behind the chimney
all night, Waiting for a chance to get in
and take look at the waluables."
81 planted ladder against the win
dow" continued Mr.. p, assembled it,
and went in, too. followed this ruff
fan to the library-closet, and locked him
in"
"And l." said General Wagstaffe,
"saw you going up the ladder from my
second-story portico opposite, took you
for housebreaker, went around to your
front door, and informed your wife. She
sent for policeman, and returned to
the garden, and likewise assembled the
ladder"
"Well," put in the blue gentleman,
"when arrived, planted my pardner
at the front door, slipped around the
backway, and vos the third party as
went up the ladder. I must beg this
gents pardon for mistaking him-but
duty's duty! Howsomever, there is q
burglar in the case, and so shan't have
had my trouble for nothing. Come
along, my friend"
The general surrendered his prisoner
into the grip of the law. Then he ap-
preached Mr.. Pottletop, and took his
hand.
"Sir, am happy to make your &C.
quaintance under such singular circum-
stances"
al should have preferred them not
quite so singular" rejoined Mr.. Pottle-
top,rather ruefully. "However, Ideserve
all my misfortunes, for once having
doubted my dear little tootsy- -wootsy
Sophronista p
"How could you?" pouted that charm
ing lady.
"How couldn't 1, is more to the pur-
pose, when you gave the surprising priv,
ilege of smoking, and, what's better, q
beautiful pipe to smoke with. Blythe,
way, where is it 7"
"Where is it p cried General Wag.
static, clapping his coat-pocket. Bless
me, had quite forgotten it !"
The policeman went up, and touched
him on the shoulder.
"Shsll I take him along for petty
larceny, sir ?" he asked of Mr.. Pottletop
"What an efficient officer" |" cried Mrs
P, admiringly.
"Confoundedly eficientp grosned
Mr.. P, noting the figure he himself cut
and observing the ruin about the Aool
the general smash of everything
"No; we've had enough excitement fol
one day"
"And what a ridiculous cause for it ?
sighed Mrs. P. "Only pipe"
Ever since, that has been her grea'
instrument in managing Pottletop
Whenever he begins to grow jealous OF
suspicious, she puts her arm around hi
neck, kisses him, and says in the arch
est tone:
"My dear, shall I tell you the story O
Pottletop's Piper"
1t always settles him.