The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-22

seh VI lne losS o. MS trouble caused MN
to sneak out and reconnoitre. The saw
jack was still there. Mr.. Mouser whis-
pered-nOt prayer. Oh, well, there is
tine enough still between this hour and
daylight for a theft to be committed he
muttered.
1t was the voice of Mrs. Mouser that
awakened him in time for breakfast.
He glanced out of the window the first
thing. Oh, how brightly the sun shone,
and that saw jack cleaned up at him in
all its verdant beauty. No robber hand
had carried 1t away. A fearful sigh es-
capped the NJ, user bosom.
You must saw some wood for me be-
fore you go dear, said his wife.
/ What, more wood!
Yes dear; recollect you only sawed
one stick last evening, rejOined Mrs
Mouser meekly, but wicked gleam of
mischief played about her eyes and
mouth.
Mr.. Mouser ignored her reply. and
hastened to toy with his pretty tools
with vigor born of awful fury, but
way down in his soul voice groaned-
that saving jack must gol
Where? whence? how?
Mr.. Mouser was man of resources.
Twelve o'clock midnight. A burglarish
darkness and silence brooded around as
man stole hence from his couch, and
grabbing his trousers, left cosy bed
room. A little latter the only other ac-
tive creature about-a feline prima don
ra-might have witnessed sorry sight;
solitary man marching downward.
clutching in his strong right hand
beautifully painted bright green saving
jack.
Soon he returned. The saving jack
where was it?
Mr.. Mouser rose that morning in a
most delightful frame of mind.
L'7beth--my dear little Lizbelh, he
exclaimed triskily, l am going to work
in earnest today. | am feeling fine
much better than have for some time
Here, feel this arm. How's that for
muscle, ehI That's what saving wood
has done
Ligbeth bliuked oddly ,bu. looked con.
tented. Mr., MOuser hastened out to fl
off stick or two before breakfast, bur |
soon came in looking quite angry and
puzzled.
What in the world has become Of that |
lackr 1t was gone. Such infamy--to |
steal ones very implements of toll! he |
cried, in rage, as he sent the old wood |
sawyer again.
Mr.. Mouser of course grieved over his |
loss but managed to conquer The regret |
sufficiently to disl lay some of hls old |
wit and mIrth.
But this good feeling received a sud
den check the morning after the burg
larry of the jack.
He had just opened the daily paper, |
when his glance was arrested BY the |
leading paragraph.
LzbetiI, look at thisl
Mrs. Mous,r became alarmed. Her
husband was pale as death and trem-
bling in every limb as he handed her the |
paper. She read
The residence of the Hon. Oliver was
broken into last night before last and a |
large sum of money and valuable plate |
and jewelry stolen. The rob-
bers entered by the garden window,
from which they had removed the iron |
grating, while standing on a singular
looking wooden object, recognized by |
old fashioned country folks as a saw
buck. 1t is painted light green, and |
will doubtless prove valuable clue to-
ward tracing the miscreants A thous-
and dollars reward is offered for return
of iewelry or information leading to the
arrest of the robbers,
Why, this is splendid You can at
once notify the authorities that the Jack
is yours-the thieves who carried it Off
Oh, my-oh my! groaned Mr.. Mouser;
don't talk to me about thieves-I may
be arrested any moment, when they dis
cover
Discover what How can they arrest
an innocent man because he owns an
article stolen from him and used by
wretches-
Oh, L'zbeth-I may not even be able
to prove an alibl. oh, what shall do!
| tell you, wife, am not enlirly inno-
cent
Ahl we nab you confessing, my fine
bird, a rude voice here interrupted, fol.
lowed by the entrance of the minions of
justice.
Mrs. Mouser begged, cried, stormed
and implored. MIR. Mouser was mute
and totally crushed, but the bold min
ions of authority led him away to dun.
geon. where he languished for three
days before his friends could Obtain
hearing for him. In the meaptime the
real culprts had been caught, but the
law required an explanation of the lam
guage that appeared to the police like a
confession OF omplicity-nOtwithst
ing Mr.. Mouser's unquestionahle social
standing and perfect responsibility,
The court oOm was crowded with his
frienda and peighbors. His wife gdxad
at him tearfully and lovingly, but Mr..
Mouser was very much cast down.
There was no escape. He had to tell
how distasteful wood saving had proved
to hlm-how he feared the ridicule of
wife and friends If after all the boasting
he gave it up. But when he related his
midnight elopement with his green saw.
ing jack even the court Joined in the
broad smile that ripened into a roar OF
laughter from the less dignified listen
RS. The growing humiliation came,
however, when he left the prison for the
coach to be taken home. There he saw
the green abomination resting at the
drivers feet op the front Of the carriage.
His wife has not stopped laughing yet
at his midnight adventure Adapted
from the German by Mrs. Miles H. Nc
Namara.