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

certainly In the study (where had my.
SELF been sitting), aad afill right@no,
not quite all right In our little back hall
or vestibule, where, upon the round
table, the very largest and thickest pair
of navvy's boots ever law were stand
ing between my wife's neat little unl-
brella and q pair of her gardening
gloves. Even in that awful moment I
remember the sense of contrast and in
congruity struck me almost as, forcibly
as the presence of the boots themselves,
and they astonished aud alarmed me as
much as the, sight of the famous foot.
prints did Robinson Crusoe, and for
i precisely the same reason. The boot
and the print were nothing in them
selves. but my intelligence, now fully
awakened. at once flew to the conclu-
sion that somebody must have been
there to have left them, and was proba-
bly, in the neighborhood, aud indeed
under my roof, at that very moment.
If you give Prof Owen foot OF any
creature Gust as Of less scientific per.
sons we say: Give them an inch, they
will take an ely, he will build up the
whole animal out of his own head; and
something Of the Professor marvellous
instinct was on this occasion mine. 1
pictured to myself (and as it turned out.
correctly monster more than six feet
high, broad in the shoulders. heavy in
the jowl, with legs like stone balus-
| trades, and hands, but too often
clenched, of the size of pumpkins. The
vestibule led into the pantry where no
doubt this giant, with his one idea. or
half a one, would conclude the chief
part of our plate to be, whereas it was
1ving-unless he had already taken it;
a terrible thought that flashed through
my mind. followed BY. a cluster of 9TH
ers. like q comet with Its tail--under
our bed.
OF course could have gone to the
pantry at once, but felt averse to be
precipitate; perhaps upon finding
nothing to stealI this poor wretch
would feel remOrse for what he had
done and go away. 1t would be q
wicked thing to deprive him of the OPP
portunity Of, repentance. Moreover,
it struck me that he might not be a
theft after oil. but only Z cousin (con-
siderably "removed'' of one of the
maid servants. It would have been
very wrong Of her to let him into the
house at such an hour. but it was just
possible that she had done so, and that
he was at that moment supping in the
kitchen upon certain cold grouse which
| knew were in the lardcr. Snch a
state of things. / repeat, would have been
reprehensib!e, but most sincerlv hoped
that it had occurred. A clandestine at.
tachment, however misplaced. is better
than burglary with possible violence.
Coughing rather loudly, to give the
gentleman notice that was about, and
to suggest that he had better take him.
self Off in my temporary absence, /
went up to the attics to make inquiries.
And here am tempted to q dig res
sion concerning the excessive somno-
lency of female domestics. As regards
our own. at least, they remind me, ex-
cept in number, of the Seven Sleepers.
Knocked at their door about a QUAR-
ter of an hour before attracting their at
tention. and it took me another to con-
vince the,u Through The keyhole) that
it was not FIRE. If it had been, they
must all have been burnt in their beds.
Relieved on this point, they were
scarcely less excited and "put out" by
the communication 1 was compelled to
make to them, though. conveyed with
the utmost delicacy and refinement of
which language is capable. I asked
them whether BY accident one of tn I'M
CHANGED to have a male relative who
wore exceptionally thick highlows; and
if he was likely tohave called recently
that very evening, for example.
They all replied in indignant chorus
that they had never heard of such a
think-by which they meant the sug-
gestion; and that no cousin of theirs
ever did wear highlows. being all
females without exception.
Satisfied as to this (and greatly dis
appointed). felt that it was now in
cumbent upon me to pursue my re-
searches. Candle in hand and pistol in
pocket. therefore explore the pantrt.
To my great relief, it was empty. Was
it possible that the thief had departed?
If so, he had gone without his highlows,
for there they stood on the vestibule
table as large as life, and. from the ne
cessity of tie case, a size or two larger
Their build and bulk, indeed impressed
me more than ever. Was it possible
that only one burglar had come in those
boots? N,s fa
1 entered the kitchen: not mouse
was stirring; on the other hand, there
was a legion of black beetles, who
scattled away in all directions except
one. They avoided the dresser-be.
meath which lay the gentleman was
looking for. curled up in space much
too small for him, but affecting to be
asleep. Indeed. though previously 1
had not even heard him breathe, no
sooner did the light from my candle
fall upon him than he began to snore
stentoriously. / felt at one that this
was to give me the idea of the slumber
that follows honest toll. l knew be.
fore he spoke that he was going to tell
me how. tired and exhausted, he had
taken shelter under my roof, with NO
Other object (h0wever suspicious might
than nights rest. of which he stood
in urgent need. ~
Don't shoot. sir.'' he said. for
took care to let the handle of Edward
Johns pistol protrude from my dress
ing-gown. 81 am poor, but honest; 1
only came in here for the warmth and
to have snooze." -.
"How did you get imp 1 inquired,
sternly. -
~ just priced up the wash MS
winder,''' was his plaintive reply, /" and
laid down ere" .s,.-,..' -, ~ ~,
"Then you put out your boots in the
back hall to be cleaned in the morning,
I suppose?'' .is 81 -5 -
At this he gr:nned a dreadful grin.
1t seemed to say; Gas you have the
whip hand of me, you may be as humor-
Gus as you please; but if it was not for
that pistol, my fine friend. you would
be laughing on the other side OF your
mouth, reckon"
"Come. march," said l. s.Put ON
your boots"
He got up as wild beast rises from
his lair. and slouched before me into
the hall II ~ u -
Though he looked exceedingly
wicked, I feit grateful to him for going
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