The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-01-27

WcdA tckiOISs Acep y OuI uc0It IN tsa'
right place, and don't increase mann
mas fright. CGoes to left-hand door
locks it. and puts the key into he
pocket At least we have one frsil
lock between him and ourselves!
Brid.-[Down on floor in an agon,
of terror. rocking back and forth. II
think of locking a murtherer up in on
house!
Mel 20. Bridget! I hope he is not ,
murderer! Aburglar is bad enough!
Brid.-M Murderer or burglarer. It'll
all one and the same to me. Ii basta
of man breaks into an honest man!
house with intint to stale, he has bu
short step to r'ach the intint to kill
Mr.. H-CTrying the knob of hi.
door from Within Miss Nelly, an
you aware that 1 am locked in?
Nel.-Perfectly well aware of tho
fact, Mr.. Hayward.
Mr.. H-Would you be kind enough
to explain tchy l am locked in?
Nel.-[To the others The COO
audacity of the man! Turns to the
door, Certainly, Mr.. Hayward. will
explain. You have been discovered in
your true character. We know. now,
that instead of being Toms friend. in
whom we all trusted, you are notori-
Gus burglar. In the guise of friend
You have entered the isolated home Of
two lonely women. and while partak-
ing of their hospitality your heart
has been full of malice towards them.
Mr.. H-O. my dear young lady
You wrong me deeply! Whence came
so false suspicion? beg you will
tell me.
Nel.-Listen. then. to this telegram.
received but an hour ago from our sis
ter Reads telegram aloud.
Mr.. H.-Alas! with such false evil
dence, seeming in your eyes so true.
what words could justify my character?
Nel.-None, l assured you. Mr.. Hay
ward. [Goes TO her mother Now,
my dear mother. can you not feel COM
paratively secure? We are safe for the
present. assure You. and at dawn the
coachman will return. Come. dearest,
seek a few hours rest. Leads her of
through the right-hand door.
Brid.-[Hobbling up and following.
Howly Moses! Who could rest in a
house with murtherer? TShakes
with terror as she passes Mr.. Hay
wards door.
Scene Third Drawing-room as before.
Sounds occur outside as if some one trying to
enter the house. Mrs. Withers and Nelly,
wearing wrappers rush in from the door on the
right. Mrs. Withers wearing nightcap. the
strings of which fly loose. Bridget rushes in
from the rear. wearing a red flannel nightcar
and shawl and covers down al one emf OF the
stage hiding her face and rocking back and
forth in great terror
Mrs. W.-Nelly. dear. some one is
surely trying to enter the house. Can
the burglar have escaped from his
room?
Mr.. H-[Calling from his room. ]
Miss Nelly!
Mel Going to Mr. Hayward door.
Well, Mr.. Hayward?
Mr.. H.-Do you hear those sounds?
Sounds break forth again. Nelly
seems very much startled.1
Mel. Yes Mr.. Hayward. What
shall we do? Can you not help us?
Mr.. HI fear, Miss Nelly. that
burglars are entering the house. II
You will trust me and open the door ]
will do my best to protect You.
rid-Protect us from his own muir
thering band!
Nel.-CTurning to Mrs. Withcrs.
Mamma, what shall do? Mrs. With.
ers shakes her head in helpless fash
ion. Another sound from without de-
termines Nelly. She goes back to Mr..
Hayward door. will unlock the
door. Wait moment. that we may
return to our rooms.
Nelly unlocks his door: then she. Mrs. With
ers and Bridget all so of through n door on the
right hand side, which she locks audibly. Mr.
Hayward rushes from his room. pistol in hand
He fires after leaving the stage. and sounds OF
persons scutfiing follow. He returns and goes
to Nelly's door.
Mr.. HI was right. Miss Nelly;
they were burglars. don't think they
will trouble You any more. Iput some
heavy shot into one, and frightened the
other so thoroughly that 1 don't think
they will care to try this house again to-
night Will you be kind enough to
lock me in now?
Mel. MIR. Hayward. we are very CRATE
full to you. II don't think it neces-
sary to lock you in this time.
Mr.. HI might prove dangerous. !
might not yet be revealed IN my ''true
character" [Goes in his room.l
MRS. wi;hers. Nelly and Bridget enter.l
Mel Mamma, 1t seems horribly un-
grateful to harbor our suspicious after
all he has done.
Mrs. Wit does. child, but is is best
to be on the safe side.
Brid.-l'd niver thrust murtherer.
Nelly locks his door, The door-bcll
rings. All star. and Bridget covers
her head.] His pack of murthercrs
are upon us now.
Nel.-Be quiet. Bridget. Burglars
don't ring door-bells. Come with me
to see who it is.
Bird. Go to the door at this time o.
night. and afther all that has happen
ed, too? The saints presarve US!
Couldn't We ask the murtherer to go?
Nel.-Come along. Bridget They
must be honest people. or they would
not ring the door-bell. Takes up lamp.
Mrs. Why child, if you go, Unjust
60. too. Exit all.
ENTER Tom. with Mrs. Withers on one arm
and Nelly on the other. Bridget follows with
the lamp.I