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

ALWAYS detested him, even before l
ever set eyes on HIM. In the first place,
what right has man to be named Broad
epoong 1t can't even be called outland-
ish. but it is outrageous. Still this might
have been blind, unreasoning prejudice
on my part, as my wife said it was, but
when saw his face knew in moment
lust what he was. There is a saying to
the effect that the world is made up of
fools and knaves, or flats and sharps, as
some one expresses it, but l know one
man, at least, that is good deal of both.
When i3roadspoon came to me with that
amiable grin Of his, a long sight too anna.
bic 20 be pleasant, | knew he was up to
solre mischief, though, of course, it was
cyond human sagacity to fathom it at
she time.
"Going to surprise jerks tonight ~
said he, slapping me familiarity on the
back.
moved away from him about three
feet
Surprise Jenksm said I, surprised
myself and very much puzzled. How?"
ooh, our crowd expect to go there
tonight"
Now, if there is one thing that Idespise
more than another it is surprise party.
Vulgar things at the best--and to be
spoken of as one of our crowd-Broad.
spoons crowd-was beyond my patience
so | blurted out, not so amiably as Broad
spoon had spoken:
"No. | hate such affairs. Besides
Ms Jones has cold, and | wouldn't
think of taking her out at night, and I'm
not quite well myself" | added that
much for the sake of being civil. Good
morning" said he, and | saw very curl
GUS expression pass over his face. | did
not understand it at the time, but it meant
something, as | afterward found. You
see, he had plainly told me that he was
going TO Jenks' that evening. That is my
first point against him.
| sent word to jerks that BroGdspoon
and his crowd were going to make Il raid
upon him and that he had better be pre-
pared for them, and the whole thing
passed out of my mind.
That night Sarah Jane and Iwere about
retiring. We had taken bowl of onion
syrup between us and a football apiece
ahC were wrapped in flannel up to our
noses, when we heard a very singular
noise sound like the raSping of a file
apparently at the back basement door.
There is an alleyway from our yard that
leads back to the next street, the gate OF
which is always locked, but is only ten
feet high and nothing would be easier
than for q man to climb it.
| hunted up an iron bed Likely we have.
1t looks exactly like a pistol in its out
line, and opening the window | pointed
down into the yard and called out:
Who is there9 Answer, or I fire!"
The noise ceased, and as 1t was showing
very hard and blowing harder retreated
in haste.
ooh, John, John, come NJ" called my
wife, Juggling at Engagements. "We'lfbe
murdered in our beds. Wen be robbed
Of everything. They'll set the house on
fire, They'll steal the babyp'
What was to dos l locked the doors
OF the bed -rooms, but all our valuables
were on the floor below We were alone
in the house, our domestic having gone
out for the night. Pretty soon we heard
the chink of silver and something fell
and shattered. The house was 80 still
we cCnld even hear them whisper
"Husi,"
looked out of the front window hop
ing policeman would pass, but no such
luck. There did not seem TO be q soul
stirring.
:" must 90 for the police" said
"Dont leave me. Don't leave me,
John. They'll kill me and the baby"
cried my wife.
She couldn't go along. What was l to
do' | put on the first thing that hap
pened to come handy. They were, as |
aiterward discovered, pair Of India
rubber boots and my wifes waterproof
cloak. AS for hat, my hats were on the
Jack in the hall.
Il must leave you for few moments,
Sarah Jane | said, "only a few mo-
mcnts. / will hasten back. Be brave
The dcois are locked"
We en- araced, and l went out on the
balcony. There is another balcony be
low, connected with it by iron-work up
Tlgt and from that to the front steps is
but trife.
You'll fallm shrieked Sarah Jane
but did not. l reached the ground in
safety, and the police station in an inCred-
IDLY short space Of time.
had on my red flannel night cap,
which has, | regret to say, a dropping
t,ssel and suppose | was rather pc
Cullar obicot for some one at the station
laughed d me-some one who did not
know my cause for agitation and alarm.
! want police officer-two or three
OF them, said |.