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

THE MIDNIGHT ROBBERS.
Last night-yesterday being my sew
enteenth birthday-we had little musi-
cal party. The people gone, we, having
eaten up I'll the sandwiches and O box of
preserved cherries, repaired to our re-
spective bodchambers, very tired, very
yawny, and rather cross, as is the way of
odd people after too prolonged spell of
their fellow-creatures' society.
"Susannah will lock up" said papa,
somewhere below his second stud.
every we'll, gaped mamma and the
door shut.
Now suppose I was too much excited
to fall asleep easily, and for the last
three days I have been puzzling my
brains to find out how I had better have
my new silk made. I don't care about
basques, and hustle skirts are my abomi-
nation anyhow, sleep could not get. I
turned and twisted, and sat up and lay
down. No; it was no good. At length,
however, I dozed off; but through my
slumbers came noises, strange grating
noises, as of fower-pots being moved, or
n fire being rnked out. I took no notice.
I knew that Susannah did always rake
the fire out before she went to bed, so
supposed she was performing that au-
gust ceremony. But before long three
tremendous bangs at the hall door fairly
woke me mp. listened. Was the house
on fire A minute, and scroop went a
window.
"Who's there 2" bawled papa.
Somebody growled something. A
policeman, L thought, and shook all
over.
Then Susannah opened her door an
came running down stairs. Maria would
sleep through n railway accident.
"What is it? said Aunt Jane, coming
out of her room, which is next to mine.
ooh, don't you trouble, m" answer
ed Susannah "you go to bed. I'll see
to it," and hurried on. I lay and
quaked. For while all was quite still
so still that L felt impelled to get up
and listen /; but barely had reached the
door when quite frightful sounds be-
sieged my ears-sounds as of people
scuffling, mingled with screams.
Policeman I yelled. "Police-
man-murder-tire - Anything you
like to mention.
Out dashed papa; out dashed Aunt
Jane.
"For goodness sake" cried mamma,
don't go down like that you'll be
killed to certainty. Why, you haven't
even got poker !"
flew to the fireplace.
"Here," I said" here, papa !" and
thrust out the familiar implement.
But he WAS gone.
I caught glimpse Of the tail of Aunt
James red flannel dressing gown as it
whisked round the turning. Our stair
case is wonder. It seems to have
wriggled out Of the mind of the architect
1,e. Il.
worm will out of pea.
"What ever is the matter2" demanded
1 of mamma, who seemed fit to drop.
"He's run through the garden 7"
screamed Susannah. Oh, the rascal
Policeman 70
"Good gracious !" gasped mamma.
Through the hall tore a large and
helmeted person in blue, and out at the
garden door. Out tore Susannah.
Whether Aunt Jane joined in the chase
I am not sure; but she has got bron-
chitis.
"Spring your rattlel" roared papa,
who seemed to have secreted himself,
from feelings of modesty possibly, in
the pantry.
The policeman sprung his rattle ac-
cordingly, and having done so, seemed
well satisfied. At all events. he speedily
came back again.
"Have you got him." inquired papa.
"Lor, no, Sir" says Susannah (who,
may here mention, is our cook; 'e's
gone arf mile by this time. Eef this
young man
"My dear woman," broke in our
guardian of the peace, sis there no male
person in this house, that you mnst
needs go and willfully endanger your
precious ife2''
"Lor, yes," replied Susannah
"there's master, amt there Z"
Then," said the policeman, 81 con-
slider it was your duty to let him come
down and see what could be DONE"
"Of course, of course" said papa,
coming out of his retirement, and seem
ing to knock down a wine glass. Nam
ma groaned, and clutched my arm dread
fully as she heard the smash. ." You
presume this man effected an entrance
through the kitchen window, police
man"
"Presnme !" exclaimed Susannah,
who is west "onntry woman, and as hot
as live ca L found the rascal