The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-10-13

Very good, sir" said the policeman
and up stairs papa came, looking more
singular perhaps than ever he did in his
life before. His appearance, however,
being rather picturesque than elegant, I
will here draw veil.
No sooner was he in sight than mamma
became hysterical
"Oh, Hotspur," cried she, "the sill
yer !" and fell back on my shoulder with
such weight that took up a sitting po-
sition on the floor.
"Jane," called papa, "come and see
to these two foolish creatures. Get up,
you donkeys. Why, the fellows gone
There's nothing to be frightenedat now.
l and the policeman are going to scour
the neighborhood."
Help mamma" I painted; "she is
dyingl"
"Indeed, Jane" said mamma, "I
knew it would come to that, sooner or
later"
"Well," said Aunt Jane, who had just
made her appearance, "and what in the
world is all this about2 Just get up at
once, Amelia !"
Mammals hysterical," said. "Has
the man taken anything?"
eve don't know"
buG the silver Sate
eyes," said papa ; cat least it was
five minutes ago."
.'Thank God!" said my mother, and
took a fresh lease of life.
Much relieved, summoned courage
to get a shawl and pair of slippers, and
creep down stairs. The gas was lit in
the passage and dining room. could
hear voices in the kitchen. Afraid of
the sound Of my own feet even, listen
ed little to assure myself that no new
alarm need be apprehended, and this
was what overheard
Policeman" There's nothing I ad-
mire more than spirit anywhere"
Susannah-" don't know much about
spirit. wish I knew what was come
of that there latchkey. If that's gone
twill be a pretty job"
Policeman-"I suppose, now, you've
got fairish place"
Susannah-" That / ave -
Policeman =" But you're not the only
one."
Snsannah-" Bless you, no there's
Maria, she's the 'ouse-maid and Jem,
e cleans the knives and Shoes"
Policeman" I see. Well, you're q
wonderful good-plucked un. any'ow.
Blowed if I should ave cared to do
what you did T.
Susannah-"I dare say not. You
didn't seem in a great 'urry to come
when 1 called you. I thought you d
ave jumped in at the window. You'd
ave caught i'm tlcn."
Policeman-Not L. 'E's been Mt this
sort of game for the last seven years.
That's q nice -
But here an eldritch screech rang
through the house.
It was I! Mouton, the cat, had
taken advantage of my abstraction to
mount the balusters and Jump OH to my
shoulder. The shock was terrific. I
shook like jelly.
BLESS me l'' cried Aunt Jane,
"what's the matter now 2"
"I tell you," bawled papa, hurrying
down, on vengeance bent, 81 won't
have such folly. Go off into the dining
room and shut the door, or to bed, which
you like but-but behave yourself like
q rational creature, or not another new
gown do you have for the next ten years.
And now, policeman, to the chase. -
do wish," said Susannah, as they
set off, "that they'd ave let me 20
along with 'em. I'm sure I could get
over the fences a vast deal easier than
master, and as for seein' in the dark -
ooh no, Susannah," said, "don't
you leave us on my account. What q
mercy the man didn't hurt you! Did
You try to catch hold Of him Z"
Lor, yes, miss; seized is coat, and
tried to tear bit out with all my might.
I'd ave clawed is face well, if ED at
tempted to lay a finger on me but when
e looked that scared, the coward-wsll,
some'ow, I couldn't mislest i'm"
"No, to be sure not" said mamma,
who had just shivered herself down.
cit is all for the best. We ought to be
very thankful"
Aunt Jane vowed that she'd buy a re-
volver tomorrow, and practice shooting
at mark two hours every morning, and
-Susannah discovered that she knew
the man as we'll as she knew me.
"Why, SIR" said she, washing her
hands, when papa and the policeman
had returned to shake their heads and
lament the uselessness of their endeavors
they had trampled down goodness
knows how many cabbages, smashed a
cucumber frame, and upset bee hive
all belonging to our neighbors-to no
earthly purpose)-" why, sir" said
Susannah, "I'm most certain It's that
man who used to work at Mason's, the
oil shop"
"You don't say SO ~ said papa.
"That man-why, 1 thought he was