Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-08-28

colonel was Lhown to have very large
sometimes he was compelled T., Keep II
iently deposit 1t in tn. atty.
Then there was the P-;ter plate. Some
of IL served three generations. IL was
known over the length md breadth OF the
land. IL had been honored by the notice
of three presidents and no end OF senators
and governors, to say nothing nf superb
solid gold and silver services presented to
the colonel by his regiment, his state and
two or three orders he was active in The
Potter plate alone would have proved a
load for horse.
NV hand was placed on Dick Mayber-
rvs mouth in the nick of time. A mo-
ment later and he would have revealed
our presence. l caught Tom Blythe's
wrist, and held my companions at the
foot Of the stairs, listening intently.
About twelve feet from where we stood, q
door in the hall opened upon a strip Of
lawn between the main building and the
conservatory, and underneath the STAIR
way used by the servants, the safe was
built which contained the Potter plate
and other valuables. We could see light
glimmering under the door intervening.
1t was safe to assume that the door open
ing 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, figure glided down the stair
way silently, and Mrs. Potter's hand was
laid on my arm lig htly as she listened To
the sounds which were now loud enough
to 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 be three or four" replied.
II will 20 out of the hall door on the right,
to the kitchen or dining room. They got
In from 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 meas
ure, could not remain longer In suspense
In the upper hall.
Il fear something may happen, Mr..
Adair, if you 20 around to the kitcnen. A
"a
defenders
had not thought of that. did thi nix
of the ladies however. and demonstrated.
Dick and Tom also demonstrated forciOly
against their presence in the hall We
did not want the man in the house to shoot
them, whatever befell US. The ladies re-
tired into the library, lit the lamp, AID
tremblingly awaited the result. ALI but
Mrs. Potter. The colonel's wife persisted
In accompanying US into the dining room.
My companions stood beside me as
placed my hand on the knob of the door.
The door opened noiselessly. We entered
quietly. The wax taper l held disclosed
the conservatory empty and silent, and
Dick, with rare presence Of mind, lit an
other match, and held his matchbox open
In the hand that carried the taper; his
other hand grasped one of the colonel's
Colt revolvers. Contrary to our conjec-
tuIe, 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 OBJ
served on the other side Of the room. Ger
tainly the burglar was cool one. We
could hear the grating sound our ears are
accustomed to in daily life. The fellow,
or fellows. were cutting the door of the
safe open
Once more signalled to my compan-
ions, grssped the pistol in my right hand,
and seeing both prepared for the onset,
suddenly opened the door between US and
the burglar.
~Welli'
A face knew well-we had seen the
man score Of times in the vicinity Of
Potter's Point-the face of man upward
Of sixty. was turned up to Us. His torn
straw hat was pushed back from his fore
head. His struggling gray locks fell upon
his open wrinkled shirt collar. The strong
leather suspenders supporting his faded
blue overalls were polished by long wear
He held in his right hand carpenters
chisel, while his left grasped window
sash, from which three panes had been
removed. As he looked at US Che was on
his knees a merry twinkle lit up his eyes.
He moved his lower jaw rapidly, squirted
a streem Of tobacco juice into a spittoon
beside him, and again exclaimed:
@Wellsn
The colonel's wife Immediately rushed
into the breach.
Jerry, lHese BeulleLleu ulu Hot hHo"
you were here. They are rehearsing a
little play"
God bless the colonels wife. | will al
ways believe the other boys and am in
debted TO her tact for taking the ridiculous
edge off the affair
"Nos Well, don't reckon you knew.
But the colono lowed these Ii gifts ort to
be put In fore the next rain, n bein as how
I've got TO go TO town fer day or two, he
gin me the key to git in the back way fu~'
thing this mornin', SOS not to disturJ
you. I'm nigh throo."
Another stream Of tobacco juice
uated his peculiar speech. an
treated in good order Thank,
onel's extraordinary forethou yh
"man in the house, we were aii q.
ing Stowbridge, who to this day D.. 81,
In looking at the whimsical side VI Inc
picture. up early and prepaid for the fish
ing excursion when the colonel returned
on the early morning train.
The colonel Graves, fairly yearns, for
another war. He says be knows just
where to put his hand on three brave
men.-David Lowry in Pittsburg Bull.
letin.