The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-03

something"
Softly she turned the key, and gent
ly opened the door, and noiselessly
crept into the hall, determined to do
something. Tremblingly she crept
toward the sitting-room door, expect
ing every moment to be met by the
monster of a law-breaker. She gained
the sitting-room door and peeped eau
tiously in. No one was in sight, but
she heard-yes, she very distinctly
heard some one in the closet. An idea
suggested itself to her mind. She
clasped her hands together for a Sec
ond, then springing forward she push
ed the closet door to and turned the
key. Only a few seconds work and
she had him safe. She heard his cries
to he let out as she fled up the stairs
to the girls room, screaming.
I've got him! I've got the burglar!
Now, quick for the police! Ann,
Bridget. He'll burst open the door!
SoASN3 SSo W ~ Aoh9
Aroused from their slumbers, the
girls rubbed their eyes and failed to
understand the situation.
ooh, be quickl' cried Mrs. Wylks,
wringing her hands.
What is it, ma'am?" asked the
girls in the same breath.
THE burglar! I've got him down
stairs in the closet! Oh. hurry! He'll
break out, and then we're lostr'
At the name of burglar" both
girls hid themselves under the bed
clothes, and paid not the least atten-
ton to Mrs. Wylks' pleadings.
Hell break out, l know he will,
and kill the baby. Oh, dear, amt you
going to get the police9" and Mrs.
Wylks tugged at the bed clothes.
"Och! ochr" answered the girls,
holding IN to their night coverings.
"Oh, dear! I'll go myself. 1 won't
be killed! l won't have the baby kill
edl 1 leave you to your fate!" and
Mrs. Wylks fed, closely followed by
the girls, who objected to being left
to their fate, and, springing from their
beds. they had caught up whatever
articles of wearing apparel lay con-
veniently at hand, and followed their
mistress down the stairs, past the
door of the sitting-room, on to Mrs.
Wylks' room, where a pause was made
long enough for the anxious, loving
mother to grasp her baby, and wrap a
blanket, which she hastily;drew from
her bed, around it, and the girls array
ed themselves in whatever they had
brought with them, enlivening the
time, while making their toilet, with
little shrieks and screams, as they
heard a voice from the closet demand
ing, in no gentle tone, to be let out.
Then the three women and the baby
took up their onward rush downstairs.
They halted to open the front door.
and the young heir of the household,
SO rudely aroused from his slumbers,
entered a protest in loud and angry
tones.
The door was opened, and Mrs.
Wylks took her stand on the steps,
while the girls hurried away for help.
What a long time. it seemed to Mrs.
Wylks. they were gone. She could
not hear the captured burglar banging
on the door, and calling to be released,
not even when she stepped into the
hall and listened. He had undoubted-
ly resigned himself to %conquering cir
cumstances.
"Oh. how I wish Mr.. Wylks would
come" she said to herself, nesting her
baby close in her arms. II knew some
thing was going to happen. How
glad he will be that baby and I are
safe. Oh, I am so glad that you have
comel'
This last exclamation was caused by
the appearance of the two girls and
half a dozen police.
captured a burglar, I un-
derstand. ma'am," said the captain,
addressing Mrs. Wylks.
ooh, yes. He's in the closet up
stairs; that is If he has not gone out"
and Mrs. Wylks pointed the way for
them to SO, and followed closely in
the rear. -
"Sure, they think you're u hero,
MIAMI Whisnafed Ann To her mia.