The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-02-15

dow by which | had escaped, our two
protectors stole noisclessly round to
| the front Of the house. In another
moment there was q cry, and | saw
Bill dash across the garden and over
the hedge in hot pursuit of one OF the
burglars, while a scuille and loud
voices told that his father was engaged
in stacking" the other. Curiosity
prevailed over fear; | ran around the
house and beheld the gamekeeper in
the act Of bearing his antagonist to the
ground.
"'Taint no use struggling, and you
may just as well come along quietly"
said the conqueror; "we've firearms
here, and there's two Of u.s."
"l've nought in my pocket but five
pence in coppers," quivercd the other,
in voice nearly audible with terror;
"you may take 'em without murder
ing of me. Oh, dear! oh, dear! here
Pve lived in Settlebourle, man and
boy, nigh fifty years, and come to this
at last |"
"Sakes alivew exclaimed the game
keeper, relaxing his hold, "you're new
CT Tom Bates, the sweep"
"And who else should | be?" said
the injured Bates, slowly rising from
the ground.
Sand I'd like to know who you are
that comes a-ruShing down like this
on an honest man as is waiting to
sweep the kitchen chimney.
I.y,,
said the gamekccper, and proceeded to
| explain matters.
Bates shook his head doggedly. "No
housebreakers has been here the last
hour or more, as | knows well, having
been awaiting under this blessed win
dow all the time"
A horrible suspicion began to dawn
upon me-had /, the wise, the strong
minded, actually given false alarm?
The ganekeeper was q civil man, but
he had a sly twinkle in his eye as he
turned Oh me, and said: IL think
there is little mistake here, miss"
81 should rather think there was"
grumbled Bates, who by no means
torgave the assault upon him.
"lf you came to sweep the chimney"
said |, endcavoring u assume all air of
dignity, ,"why did you not ring the
bell or try to wake the servants, IN
stead of cndeavoring to open the door
for yourselfI"
Cooks mostly leave the door on
the latch When the sweep is ordered
early" replied Batcs--a fact, by the
way, that perhaps explained the IA
cility with which some OF our neigh
borS' houses had been entered by
thieves.
But when you found the door
bolted, why did You not ring the bell
instead OF lingering about III the most
suspicious manner"
"Why," said Bates, scratching his
head, "cooks is often shortSvery
short-Mrs. Sinclair's cook is patrick
Ter SO. She orders he to come at sew
en- o'clock this morning, mot before
seven, nor yet after were her words"
"And you came about tive'
"Well, ma'am, you SEQ had anoth-
er job at Squire llardy'S along the
road. SO, knowing as cook here most
ly leaves the door on the latch, |
thought might slip in and do the
cllmIy on my way. But when |
found the door locked | daren't ring
the bell at five in the morning.
might ha' tried it an hour latcr-so |
was obliged TO watt
understood it all now. Our ex-
horiation, to iastcn up carefully that
night had been duly obeyed by the
cook, who doubtless intended to rise
in time to admit the sweep on this &C.
clsion. Grayland5 was a rambling
old house, and she slept in quite a
different quarter from that occupied
by ourselves and the nursery cstab-
lIshment, consequently they escaped
hearing our nocturnal alarm. But
what terrible lame and impotent
conclusion" to my deed OF hcroism.
81 don't see as how | gave alarm by
waiting here on my honest business"
replied the injured sweep, sulkily.-
"And Id like to know who's a-goinp
to pay me for my cap as is spoiled by
rolling in the mud, and my bones as
is all shook into a Jelly, and my prem
tice as has been chased out of sight
and frightened most into fits"
At this juncture the door opened
and disclosed a group of servants,
with Maggie, serene and smiling, at
their head.
"My darling Jane" she exclaimed,
clasping me i'll her arms, II have only
Just heard what an alarm you have
had. But then, my dear girl, why
didn't you wake me? Icould have told |
you we expected the sweeps this
morning. ! suppose, however, you
were too frightened to think it might
DO only Bates"
This was too much. Maggie, timid |
Maggie to lie preaching GOODNESS and
presence of mind to Inc. And yet
what an cgrcgious goose had been,
Kind little Maggie saw my look of |
modification, and kissing me again,
whispered: dear, brave, unsclish
Jane, you only thought Of saving us
all from danger. | am sure few girls
would have done what you did"
Peace was made with Bates by
means of an excellent breakfast, which
the cook improvised on the spot for
the sweeps and gamokecpers, and |
cmpticd my purse in tips" for very
shame. But Of course the absurd sto-