The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-03

Green's and mine"
Mr. Green prolonged his visit to the
Browns longer than he had intended to.
He had almost made up his mind to ask
Miss Tryphena to be Mrs. Green, but
kept putting off the moment when he
must offer his heart and hand to that
expectant damsel us long rs possible. 1t
frightened him to think OF it. More
than once he had to use his red bandanna
at the bare idea.
One evening the Misses Smith retired
to their respective couches, not dream
ing Of the adventure that awaited them.
About eleven, or it might have been
near to twelve, II terrible racket down
stairs woke all three of the Misses Smith.
1t seemed as if all the crockery i'll the
pantry was tumbling down.
Charlenap' said Miss Parthenia, in
Il shrili whisper, "are you awake 7"
YES" whispered Miss Charlena.
"What is it, Parthenia 7"
al don't know" answered Miss Par
thenia. "Tm afraid It's burglar. I'm
going down to see."
"Oh, don'tr' cried Miss Tryphena.
al wouldn't stay here alone for the
WOIlu W ubO IL n6 bllOu1S tOLlo uSt u
while you are gone"
"Get up and come along, them" said
Miss Parthenia. "Tm not going to lay
here and let him steal grandfathers sill
yer spoons, and the forks, and the but
ter-kiite, if know myself"
And up Miss Parthenia got, and put
On wrapper, and her sisters followed
suit, trem Dllng and pale.
Meanwhile, the Jacket down stairs
had somewhat abated.
care you ready!" said Miss Par
thenia. "Oome on, then !" and the three
women tiptoed down stairs-Miss Char
lena and Tryphena, closp behind their
more heroic sister, hardly daring to take
a long breath, Tor fear the burglar would
hear them.
Here's tracks" announced Miss Par
thenia, as they reached the hall great
horrid muddy tracks, going right toward
the pantry. He's in there, as sure as
you livel If could only get the door
shut, we'd have him safe"
"Don'tw whispered Miss Charlena.
".We'll all be murdered if you try to
do it"
Keep stillw commanded Miss Par
thenia. "Hark l hear him stirring !
He's coming out And seel He's going
into the iron closet, and we've got himW
the latter part of which information was
delivered in shrek like war-whoop,
as Miss Parthenia darted forward and
banged to the closet-door, and snapped
its bolt into place. There, Mr.. Burg
lar, you're where you Il keep out of mis-
chief a spell Amt you ashamed OF
yourself-trying to rob three unprotect-
ed women 7"
"I hain't tried to rob nobody"
answered voice from inside tue iron
closet. Its all a mistaken p
"Of course" said Miss Parthenia.
" Charlena, you run for Mr.. Brown, and
we'll have him took care Of"
Mr.. Brown ain't to home," said Miss
Charlena. "And, Parthenia," very SOL
emnly, "I wouldn't dare to go there, if
he was, and you know it, in the dead OF
night l wouldn't step out doors for
anything|
"Holler, them said Miss Parthenia.
" Keep still in there, or I'll shoot you !"
to the man inside the closet, who was
pounding on the door.
"Oh J" shrieked Miss Charlena, "hell
burst out, and kill us dead know he
will Oh, dear" and she wilted away
on the lower step of the stairs, and be-
came a perfect picture OF helplessness.
You run to the window and holler,
!" commanded Miss Partheuia
- hope you amt such fool as Char
lena is! Oh, there's Mr.. Green. We
never thought of him! Holler to him,
Tryphena
"Do listen to common sense, if you
can " came family through crack in
the door. Whoever was in there had
been trying to make himself heard, but
in vain. I'm Mr.. Green! / have
made mistake and got into the wrong
housew
"Mr. Green" exclaimed Miss Par
thenia. do you hear that, Tryphena ?
Listen, and see if you call that Mr..
Green's voice-and you should know, if
"No, that's not Mr.. Green's voice !"
said Miss Tryphena, without any hest
tation. "It's too grum for him! After
what has passed between us, I could
never be mistaken !"
"But l tell you it is Mr.. Green !"
came from the closet. "pve got cold,
and that makes my voice sound odd
Let me out, for goodness sake, and
don't make row and raise the neigh
bors !"
won't you hurt us if we let you out
and will you give us back the spoons
and the butter knife Z" asked Miss Char
lena, feebly.
81 hain't got any spoons, and I don't
know anything about your butter
knife" responded the prisoner. "Pil
buy butter-knife for each one of you,
if you'll let me out, thought"
Perhaps we had better trust him !"
suggested Miss Charleua.
81 hain't no notion of letting him
out!' said Miss Parthenia. "Are you
going to holler, Tryphena, or notY'
MISS Tryphena replied that she was
going to holler," and, accordingly, threw
up the window, and thrust out her head,
"Thieves Murder! Helpw
The sound of her shrill voice pene-
trated the still air like knife. She
heard windows thrown up in two or
three houses opposite, and renewed her
cries for assistance, until she was certain
somebody must hear where they came
from, and hasten to deliver them from
their awful situation.
The sounds at this junoture from in
side the clcset bore a striking restm-
blance to rather forcible language.
"Swear away, you wretch !" said Miss
Parthenia. at won't do you bit of