The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-12-01

to hear all that had taken place, and Of
course had to tell her all. I described
each thrilling incident with such dra.
matte force that she averred that nothing
would ever induce her in my absence
to sleep in the house again. This was
perhaps but the just punishment for a
trifle Of exaggeration in the narrative
with which I had here and there in
dulged myself, but it was very unfor.
tunate. Now and then ind myself
detained in town, after dining at the
sclub. by circumstances over which I
have no control (such as a rubber at
whist, which sometimes stretch like In
dia rubber), and hitherto / had only to
telegraph in the afternoon to express
my regret that there was q possibility
of my non-return.7 Here was an end to
all this. unless / could reassure her.
therefore began to dwell upon the un.
likelihood of \ sec0nd burglar ever visit
ing the house, which compared with
that famous hole made by cannon
ball, said to be a place Of security from
cannon-balls for cvermOre. l'.i'' va =
h t"Oh, don't tell me, > cried my wife,
with just a truce of impatient irritation
in her voice. {" Hark!'' goodness gra-
cious. what is that coming along the
road!'' "t
She thought it was a burglar on
horseback, whereas, ii l may so express
it. it was the very contrary. the horse
rs u )
'Knock at the window; call him in.
l insist upon your seeing him." she ex-
claimed. had NO alternative, since
she said g insist' Gas any married man
will understand), but to accede to her
wishes; 80 went out and told the patrol
what had happened. s,a .ae fadif
Z How long ago was the fellow here,
sir?" he inquired.
>. "More than an hour. 1t is quite out
OF the question you can overtake him.
And beside, really think he. is repent.
ant, and means for the future to lead
an honest life.'' & s't; 4.
You do, do you2'' said the patrol,
in that sort Of compassionate tone OF
voice in which the visitor of lunatic
asylum addresses an inmate warranted
harmless. ! ''Wcll, as 1 am here, I'll
just go over the house and make sure
there is no more of them. 1t is not inn
possible, you see. he may have lett q
pal behind him.
q There was only one pair of boots, -
said ! confidently; "of that l am GER
tain.' ffa
Nevertheless, as felt it would be a
satisfaction to my wife, l acceded to his
request. He tied his horse to the
scraper, and came in with his lantern,
and looked about him. There was no.
body in the front hall, of course, for 1
had just come through it; in the draw
ing-room nobody, in the vestibule no.
body on the table where they had
stood before stood pair of gigantic
navvy's boots.
"What dye think of that?'' whisper
ed the patrol. pointing to one of them.
They're the same," l answered in
hushed amazement, "they're the very
same. could swear to them among 4
thousand. What can it mean"
.'Well, it means that the gentleman
who was going to lead new life," he
answered dryly, "has thought better
OF it and has come back again"
And so he had. We found him lying
in the very same place under the
dresser. awaiting, Isuppose. events.
s 80 lor', is that you, Mr.. Police
manT' he said, complainingly. "Then
it's all up" 'tgs 'G
If he had had to deal with me alone,
he expected, perhaps, to have got an
other half crown out of me- Bat the
great probability was, he had doubt
less argued, that all suspicion of bur-
glars, for that night at least, would
have died out, and that lie would have
had undisputed range of the house. It
was bold game, but one in which all
the chances seemed to be on his side.
l helped to fasten strong strap to
his wrist, which was already attached
to that Of the horse patrols. "And
now" said the latter, coolly, 1--WE will
go and put on our boots'
For the second time that night saw
that operation accomplished by my
burglar; for the second time saw him
walk of, though on this occasion =
captive to his mounted companion.
did not wish. as the judges say when
they put on the black cap, to add
poignancy to the feelings Of this I'M
happy man Che was on ticket-of-leave,
and presently got FIVE Years penal SER
vitude), but could not help saying:
IL think you ought to have been
content with your supper and half
crown, and not come here again, at all
events, in search OF plumber.
This argument had no sort of weight
with him, gratitude was unknown to
that savage breast. Like many more
civilized individuals, he attributed his
mis- fortunes to his own virtue.
. No, sir, it amt that, he answered,
scornfully. ''rm the victim of Perse-
verance." -Belgraria.