Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
Naughty Nick!
He Casts Himself for the Part OF Har.
lequin in Rich and Racy
Christmas PantOmime.
BY Clever Transformation Scene He
Becomes Converted frem Prisoner
to Free Man.
The Second Act Shows Another Series
OfDaring Burglaries Under the
Noses of the PatroImen.
The Curtain falls on Nick Reeapturcd- Lights
-fableau-Ending by Grand Transfer
nation Scene at MeLimans.
A CHRISTMAS InYL..

posed to be productive of Peace OF
earth, goodwill toward men" feeling
and with this in mind ] lie HERALD mar
/ glided gracefully into the breakfast
room at the Mansion when his Christ
mas greetings were met with the asser
ton basso. assertion baritone, assertion
tenor, assertion convincing assertion
( argumentatye and the assertion don t
caradamnitive, all bearing as the word.
OF their particular and convincing
chant, "Nick's gone" Vow it is be-
yond argument that tlls was certainly
calculated to breah down even model
temper Afte~ having watched Bellows
kill the fattsd calf and round up the
inticing turkey; with the very aroma in
fact Of . luxurious dinner tainting the
air with M odor peculiarly itsown, then
to lean that the low down rascal had
left . vacancy in his particular orbit as
a Christmas present for Lane, with a
certainty of numerous dangerous inter
views during the day was enough to
upset the nerves even of newspaper
man.
What Lane said we did not learn as
It was not etiquette to ask just at that
particular date and he has not called
around to inform rs since, but it was
undoubtedly eminently fit for the occa-
sion.
As the web Of fact was gradually
woven from ont the contradictory wool
of excited statement, supplemented by
a deposition from more important wit
nesses. it showed that
NICK HAD ESCAPED
early in the morning when Deputy
Sheriff Richards went to the Jail to call
the man who during the day cares for
the horses. Since his arrest Nick has
been confined in the upper tier Of cells.
and as no one occupies the floor below
but the hostler, it has always been Gus
tomary to leave the outer door of the
corridor open while calling this party.
Nick, with 4 deXterity born of his active
partnership with Beclzebub and other
spiritual parties, had become aware of
this fact ana Saturday evening con
trived to get himself locked into the
lower corridor. sunday morning when
Ora entered the corridor, it being hardly
daylight and the building shrouded in
gloom, Nick slipped out the door and a
moment later breathed again the air of
freedom Being in his stocking feet he
might have got off without attracting
attention had not the door entered a
protest by a horSe-hddc squeak that
caused Ora to turu back and inycsti-
gate, when one of the insane inmates
conveyed the startling information
that Mich had just passed out.
The sad intelligence was Immediately
communicated to the sheriff as Christ
mas greeting and he in turn made the
weIkin ring around the peaceful couch
Of the District Attorney A few short
anathema~ were uttered in a bcnedic-
tory manner and the search was begun.
III the meantime Nick had rot wasted
amy time in sampling the morning sir
but anticipating numerous invitations
70 remain to dinner and not being
IN tNr,I1- rpt.s
be saw at once the necessity Of putting
As much territory rs possible between
himself and his lospitable friends lest
they should be too persistent in their
cntreates, and before the pursuing
forces got on his trail had put sevcra!
miles between their point Of departure
and himself
As was afterwards found he had
struck out across HorStman' 5 lot and
then down back of Mr.. John Schreiner's
and of, northwest toward the slaughter
houses Arriving there he found a
pair OF rubber boots which he appro-
priated without unnecessary delay, also
carving knife and proceeded on his
way rejoicing
This much was reported by portion
of the detective force who turned back
at this point disguised with their exper-
fence as thief takers,
Nick at liberty meant. in The
HERALD's vocabulary. further trouble
for the community and the representa-
tiyes Of that sheet quietly awaited de-
yelopments. 1t was only another en-
sample witt slight alteration Of the
words Of the old promise, ASK and We
shall receive In this ease being,
'.wait and ye shall receive This ex-
traordinary exhibition Of patience met
with rich reward. As puveyor of
pyrotechnic news Nick is without an
equal lie never does anything by
halves With a magnanimity hard to
surpas> and an appreciation Of the stu
alton truly touching he throws himself
in tAe deadly breach and wakes the
night echoes with series Of
HoOF-LA PERFORMANCES
chat make the individual hairs on the
heads Of the timid stand on end ''like
the quilts of the frightful porcupine. "
A. the cleaning shadows fell and the
7 bright noon Shed her silyery rays over
things terrestrial the young bandit
doubled on his trail and before those
who were 80 anNiousIy looking for .
glimpse of his prcciou, carcaS, had re-
turned 10 the city. Nick with a persist
euce worthy Of better cause and a
dextrou> application Of the burglars art.
was boring his way through houses and
ears with grace ana felicity born only
Of long practice.
He made his first attack upon The
carpenter shop Of Mr.. Henry Muessc
near the depot. obtaining entrance by
prying open the rear door. The net re,
salt Of his missionary labors was tn,
converting Of a brace belonging I'd
Charley Langridge and several bits ana
chisels owned hy Acorn 10 the uSe q
the flesh ana the devil.
Now while good people slept ana q,
detectives were on the lookout the bolt
b,,-,rla~ bafra,, f,,rthar oneratinns IN 3