Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-04-30

sit down and wait five minutes" said
the man | spoke to.
Sit down! wait the idea was prepos-
ferrous.
Send them Immediately they come"
said |, giving my address and hurrying
away.
Sarah Jane is usually very sensible for
a woman; but must confess | was pro.
vokec with her, for the first thing she
said to me when got home was:
John, the house has been so very
quiet. Don't you think it might have been
cats?"
OF course | didn't harbor the idea for a
minute, but the house was very quiet, and
| concluded that, on the whole, had bet
ter find out what was really happening.
confess it required some courage. took
the bed.key | have already mentioned and
the bedroom poker in one hand, and
with candle in the other went and peeped
over the stairs. The parlor floor was quiet
The burglars, whoever they were, were
still in the basement
l descended cautiously to the kitchen
stairs. heard them whispering when
got that far. | hid my candle and put my
head forward, holding the door at the foot
of the stairs on crack Through the
glass door Of the kitchen saw them.
Cats, indeed! Sarah James cats were
six feet high at least. One of them wore
negro's mask, and one a black fur
muffin. Both were partly pushed back
and under the black fur | saw, without
the shadow of a doubt, Broadspoon's leer-
ing face-Broadspoon who had given me
his word that he should be at jerks.
They held between them the silver tea urn
presented to me BY the X. Y. @. Society,
and | know not what else. / shat the
door softly and flew upstairs on tip-toes
"What is it?" said Sarah Jane.
Burglars" said l, with the quiet of
desperation.
land Broadspoon is one of them.
think you'll trust me next time. Pm never
mistaken in a mans face"
Somebody must let the police in when
they come"
"I'll 90 down and wait for Them" said
|, and, Sarah Jane, hunt up the latch
key"
After having been probably heard on
the stairs, | did not dare to go down there
again. The descent from the balcony had
been easy. repeated it.
No sooner had | reached the ground
than dark, shadowy figure emerged from
the basement.
Broadspoon?" said |.
No spoon at ALL" said rough voice,
and q strong hand grasped my arm.
Let Inc CO." said |. "Oh, it's the po-
lice; I'm so glad you came. The burglars
are inside" | tried TO release myself from
the mans grasp,
- Nnu can't III Sromn over mo ~
said he
But I'm the master of the house"
"Go in, them" said he, giving me a
push.
"Sarah James got the latch-key," said
|; ''let me go up and get IT'D
Come, now" said he, "enough of that
I've got you. Come along" and he blew
"a beastly whistle.
In spite of all my struggles l was over
powered and borne to the station in my
india-rubber boots, with my wife's water.
proof cloak, and no end of flannel wrap
per- not to mention the tasseled night
cap.
They had hustled me into room and
were waiting for some one to take me
away, when | heard voices outside, jerks,
of all persons, and Sarah Jane
"Its john" said Sarah Jane, sobbing
Please let him out"
Cant you let him go?" said jerks.
I" Pm responsible citizen, and III make
it all right in the morning"
"Must be locked up tonight" said the
guardian Of the law.
4" But it's all mistake" pleaded Sarah
Jane. at was masquerade surprise
party, and two of them came first, and
John thought they were burglars. Oh, let
him out, out. | shall dier
She didn't die, and they did let me out
when they got good and ready in the
morning, and there was a masquerade
surprise-party at my house while | slept
in the dungeon. They broke my dishes
and ground dirt into my carpet and
dented my silver. Worse than all, | was
reported as having got into some trouble
with the police.
As for that rubbish story of Broadspoon
coming first with the wine and to get the
table ready, my wife may believe it if she
likes. | know he says so.
A Duel Between Boys.