The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-27

china closet at the end of the passage,
and lock him up till assistance arrived"
Excellent Penelope; nothing could be
better. But what frightful experience
for two defenceless femalesl Nay, not
so! Peter, / beg your pardon. No
longer defenceless since you are with us.
My gallant brotherp'
20 yes, Pm here; and Pm a-going to
stop" said Peter.
II must say / admire bravery in q
man." said Miss Penelope. Happily,
women don't often need it. But there
is no time to be lost. We had better
have up the gardener at once"
No sooner said than done. The gar
dener was summoned, and was instructed
as to the duty expected of him. Mr..
Peter Pimpernel and himself, each armed
with large and heavy blanket, were to
stand one on each side of the door, and
in the event (Which the sisters appeared
to regard as foregone conclusion) of a
visit from the lunatic, they were stimuli
taneously to make swoop upon him
with the blankets, throw them over his
head, and hustle him off to the china
closet. Here, however, an unexpected
difficulty arose. Mr.. Prodder seemed to
hesitate as to undertaking the required
duty. Miss Pamela's small figure ap-
peared to grow almost gigantic as she
inquired with withering scorn:
What, afraid, Prodder? A man, and
afraid"
"Well, no, mum, it amt exactly that;
but I'm always advocate for a man
a-stickin' to his spear. Always stick to
your proper spear, says I. Now it do
strike me, axing your pardiu, ladies both,
that harpoonin' of lunatics is not exactly
the proper spear of a gardener. Fruit or
vegetables or flowers, or even a handy
job about the house, l don't say nothin'
OF wotsomdever; but when it comes to
lunatics, why, it amt a line of dooty
that lays myself out for, and I don't
know that l feel equal to the undertaken
of it,"
Here Mr.. Prodder paused in a shame
faced manner, and rubbed his mouth
pensively with the back of his hand.
This last gesture was ray of light. The
sisters knew that it always indicated ex-
treme thirst.
"I understand you, Prodder," said
Miss Penelope, with cutting sarcasm.
perhaps you would feel more equal to
the occasionSif you were permitted to
crafty your morbid thirst for beer. Be
it so. Susan, draw jug of beer-a
large Jug"
"Two jugs" said Peter.
MIR. Prodder frightened visibly. And
remarking "sotto voce" that it was a
"rum start" but he "wasn't noways par
ticular if there was drop O somethin'
hanging to it," he betook himself to the
kitchen till his services should be re-
quired, though with private conviction
that they were not likely to be wanted.
in this, however, he was doomed to be
mistaken; for scarcely had the two
blankets been brought downstairs and
placed in the hall, than q rat-tat-tat of
timorous and uncertain character was
heard at the front door. Miss Pamela
remarked that she should know that was
a lunatic's knock anywhere. Peter and
the gardener took up their respective
corners and spread their blankets before
them. The gardeners face wore its
usual expression of beery apathy, as
though capturing lunatics was as every
day an occupation as potting geraniums.
Peters, on the contrary, wore an express
sion of mischievous amusement.
Susan opened the door. A smart
looking, elderly gentleman, in a white
hat and waistcoat and with a flower in
his button-hole, said:
"This is the Misses Pimpernel's, I
thinkT and stepped jauntily into the
lall. .-.
fro BE CONTINUED