Omaha daily bee., 1874-06-25
fBEING BURGLED.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "SHIP AHOY :"
arpr.Srpr INIT

- 1880
TREASURE HUNTERs,"&C.
(C~onclusion.)
ats only Tom Norris dreaming
about bull-fights in SPAIN" / said
hastily drawing on some clothes
but though I spoke in tones of ere
dence; and could hear some ont
moving upstairs, I was far FROM
satisfied.
Lastly, 1 struck a light, and open.
ed the door, just As one was opened
overhead.
anything the matter, old fel.
lowe"
"Anything the matter; old fel.
low"
These two questions crossed on
the way up and down.
~ thought you yer queerw
81 thought you We're queer"
These remarks too crossed; and
then We took council for q moment
and listened, for all was perfectly
still.
HWell, I'll go down and see," l
said; for that was absolutely neces-
sary, though 1 confess l did not like
the task.
had hardly uttered the words
before there came up, evidently
from the studio, q sound as of the
window Icing ratified furiously,
then a hand was beating at it evil
IDENTIFY, and before We could reach
the door the whole house was filled
with the most dismal howl, that
sounded hardly human. And again,
in an Instant
"Help, help! Oh, pray, help"
"This is a rum start" said Tom
Norris, as / unlocked the door and
threw it open; when We entered to-
gether, and / held up the light above
my head.
/ have seen strange sights, but
that was one of the most strange ;
for there, half strangled, and with
starting eyes, was the head of q man
apparently being g~uillotined by the
window-sash, which had fallen right
across his neck, holding him secure
ly there, so that it was impossible to
more.
could read at a glance how il
happened, for the broken sash lines
hung down i'm the room. The fell
low had forced back the catch and
had thrown up the window to get
in, when, in . most inopportune
moment for him, the lines had
snapped, letting the heavy one
framed sash fall-fortunately for the
scoundrel-upon his shoulders, or
it must have been his death. AS il
was, he had wriggled and struggled
hard, striving in vain to free him.
self, till the sash rested upon his
neck where 1t glided down more
tightly and, as his efforts grew
weaker and his hands impotent to
hold it up, he hung there securely
trapped, with nothing left for him
to do bat to howl for help.
"Well, you're a pretty sort Of a
scoundrel, you are" said Tom, cool
ly.
"For Heavens sake, sir, let me
go! oh, pray, SIR let me out, and
I'll never do so again. / shall die
directly"
"And a precious good job, too"
said Tom. ave could get On very
we'll without burglsrs.n
"But please, sir" said the poor
wretch, in stifed tones, ~ Amt took
nothin'."
Show many pals have You got
there 2"
"Oh, sir, 5 true as goodness, sir,
only two, sir; and the towards cut,
sir, Is Don as they saw me here
hooked it like two pair % sneaks,
sir; but only let me get out, sir,
please, SIR, and I'll blow on 'em
both, sir. O-h-h-hw
Here the poor wretch uttered such
a howl that i ran to the window.
"No, no, let him be-" said Tom,
coolly. "He won't hurt. III see
TO him. You go and tell them up
stairs that we've caught the. scoun-
drel, and they need not be afraid"
Iran and performed the task, and
came back TO find Tom arranging
the light 10 that it fell upon the bur-
glars face.
Hadn't We better drag him in
and tie him hand and foot ?" 1 said.
ayes, presently" said Tom, cool
ly; "but l haven't done with him
yet"
"Oh" groaned the burglar in q
faint voice.
"Now look here, young fellow"
said Tom, giving him a sharp cuff
on the ear, "stop that row, please"
"But l can't breath, governor; IS
true Is goodness, i can't"
'"Tis rather tight" said Tom,
putting his hand 10 the fellows
neck. "Whst do you say 1" he con-
tinued turning to me. .'Shall We
press the sash down hard and put
him out Of his misery??"
The poor wretch half screwed his
head round to gaze at the speaker.
What" he shrieked hoarsely,
"you towards, murder me, will You:
and you call yourselves"
Blob.
The speech was cut short BY Tom
dabbing great oily painters cloth,
gag-like, against the fellows mouth.
"Now, look here" said Tom.
"You make another sound, or so
much as a move, and I'll squeeze
your throat with that sash. Here
stick this book under edgewise, so
as to ease his neck a little. There