River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-08-12

of. that we had all tested about only a
few hours since, upon remembering
the Colonel was not at home. "A man
i'm the house was the warning that
caused three frightened girls to huddle
together tremblingly, while Alice
Trevino and Mrs. Potter endeavOred to
allay their apprehensions. And there
was abundant cause. The Colonel
was known to have very large sums of
money in his house at times-some-
times he was compelled to keep it
three or four days before he could con-
veniently deposit ii in the city.
Then there was the Potter plate.
Some of it had served fo1 three gen
erations 1t was known over the
length and breadth of the land. 1t
has been honOred by the notice of three
Presidents and no end of Senators and
Governors. TO say nothing of the
superb solid gold and silver service
presented to the Colonel by his regi-
ment. his State, and two or three
orders he was active in. The Potter
plate alone would nave proved load
for a horse.
Ny hand was placed on Dick May
berry mouth in the nick of time. a
moment la-er and he would have re-
yealed our presence. | caught Tom
Blythe's wrist, and held my COM
paniOns at the foot of the stairs, listen
ing intently. About twelve feet from
where we stood a door in the hall
opened upon strip of lawn between
the main building and the conservatory.
just beyond the conservatory. and I'M
derneath the stairway used by the
servants, the safe was built which con
tanned the Potter plate and other
yaluables. We could see light glim-
mering under the door intervening.
Ii was safe 10 assume that the door
opening upon the short hall leading
into the dining-rOom was open. The
light We saw would otherwise have
been concealed.
While we were whispering TO each
other in the hall. a figure glided down
the stairway silently. and Mrs. Pot
tiers hand was laid on my arm lightly
as she listened TO the sounds that were
now loud enough 10 be heard in any
part of the house. The audacity of the
burglar or burglars amused Us.
Il think there must be more than
one. said Mayberry.
There may three or four. l replied.
Il will 20 out of the hall door on the
right, To the kitchen or dining-room.
They got in fr m the rear; SO much is
plain. You and Blythe will enter this
door when you hear me whistle"
Here | was interrupted by Mrs.
Potter. who. in the meantime, had
been joined by the dear girls, who.
terrified, beyond measure, could not
remain longer in suspense in the upper
hall.
II fear something may happen, Mr..
Adair. if you 60 around to the kitchen.
A shot aimed ut a robber may hit one
of our defenders.
| ha not thought of that. | did
think of the ladies, however, and re-
mOnstrated forcibly against their pres
ence in the hall. We did not want the
man in the house 10 shoot them, what
ever befell us. The ladies retired into
the library, lit the lamp. and trem-
blinglv awaited the result. All but
Mrs. Potter The Colonel's wife per-
sisted in accompanying us into the din
ing-room.
Ny companion stood beside me rs
placed my hand on the knob of the
door. The door opened noiselessly.
We entered quietly. The wax taper |
held disclosed the conservatory empty
and silent. Dick, with rare presence
of mind, lit another match and held his
matchbox open in the hand that car
ried the taper; his other grasped one of
the Colonel ; Colt revolvers. Contrary
to our conjecture. the door opening
upon the hall in front of the safe was
closed. However, the strong light we
perceived under the door accounted
for the glimmer we observed on the
opposite side of the room. Certainly
the burglar was Il cool one. We could
hear the grating sound our ears are
accustomed to in daily life. The fell
low, or fellows. were cutting the door
of the safe open.
Once more | signaled to my compan-
ions, graspcd the pistol in my right
hand, and seeing both were prepared
for the ontset, suddenly opened the
door between us and the burglar.
well ?''
4 face | knew well-we had seen the
Inan score of times in the vicinity of
Potter's Point-the face of a man up
wards of 60. was turned up to us, His
torn straw hat was pushed back from
his forehead. His struggling locks fell
upon his open wrinkled shirt-cOllar.
The strong leather suspenders support
ing his faded blue Cveralls were polish
Ell by long wear. lie held in his right
hand "A carpenters chisel, while his left
grasped a window sash, from which
three panes had been removed. As he
looked at us The was on his knees) a
L In hir Ia
moved his lower jaw rapidly. squirted
a stream of tobacco juice into a spit
toon beside him, and again exc aimed:
'WellP'
The ColoncI's wife Immediately rush
ed into the breach.
Jerry, these gentlemen did not
know you were here. They
are rehearsing little play
God bless the Colonel's wife. | will
always believe the other boys and | am
indebted to her tact for taking the rid
iculous edge of the affair.
"No?" Well, | don't reckon you
knew. But the Colonel lowed these
lights ort to be put in for the next
rain, n beiE' as how I've got TO go TO
town fer 4 day or two, he gin me The
key to get in the back way fus' thing
this mornin SOS not to disturb you. IIn
nigh thrOO."
Another stream of tobacco juice
puEctuated his peculiar speech.
and we retreated in good order.
Thanks to the Colonel's extraordinary
foretheught and the "man in the
house." we were all, including Stow
bridge-who to this day persists in
looking at the whimsical side of the
picture up early and prepared for the
fishing excursion when the Colonel re-
turned on the eatly morning train.
The Colonel Graves, fairly yearns,
for another war. lie says he knows
Just where to put his hand on three
brave men-Ddrid Larrey IN PittSbUrg
Bulletin.
The Management of Husbands.
Aunt Harriet in Cleveland Plaindeal-