The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-10
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON D. c. THURSDAY, Ma

"You must saw some wood for me before you
go, dear" said his wife.
What, more wood2"
Yes, dear; recoleet you only sawed one
stick last evening" reioined Mrs. AIouser,
meekly, but wicked CLEAN of mischief played
about her eyes and mouth.
Mr.. Mouser ignored her reply, and fastened
to work with his pretty tools with avigor born
of awful fury, but way down in his soul voice
groaned that saw-iack must go
Where 3? whence2 how?
Mr.. Mouser was man of resources. Twelve
o'clock midnight, burglarish darkness and
silence brooded around as a man stole hence
from his couch, and, grabbing his trousers, left
a cozy bedroom. A little later the only other
active creature about, feline prima donna,
might have witnessed a sorry sight-a solitary
man marching downward, clutching in his
strong right hand beautifully painted green
sawing-jack.
Soon he returned The sawing-iack, where
was it?
Mr.. Mouser rose that morning in a most de-
lightful frame of mind.
Lizbeth, my dear little Lizbeth," he ex-
claimed, friskily. " am going to work in
earnest to-day. / am feeling fine, much better
than / have for some time Here, feel this
arm. HOw's that for muscle, Ell? That's what
saving wood has done 5"
Lizbeth blinked oddly, but looked contented
Mr.. Mouser FASTENED out to - flip off a stick or
two before breakfast" but soon came in looking
quite angry and puzzled.
What in the world has become of that
jack ?"
1t was gone. "sueh infamy-to steal ones
very implements of TOLL" he cried, in a rage,
as he sent for the old wood sawyer again.
Mr.. Mouser, of course, greved over his loss,
but managed to conquer the regret sufficient to
display some Of his old wit and mirth.
But this good feeling received q sudden
no aft no hur If ba
jack.
lie had just opened the daily paper when his
glance was arrested by a leading paragraph.
+" Lizbeth, look at this!"
Mrs. Mouser became alarmed Her husband
was pale as death and trembling in every limb
as he handed her the paper She read
The residence of the Hon. Oliver was
broken into night before last and a large sum
of money and valuable plate and jewelry stolen.
The robbers entered by the garden
window from which they had removed the
iron grating, while standing on a singular
looking wooden object, recognized by old-fash-
Toned country folks as a sawbuck.' 1t is
painted a light green, and will doubtless prove
valuable clue toward tracing the misCreants.
A thousand dollars reward is offered for return
of jewelry 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 discover
" Discover what2 How can they arrest an
innocent man because he owns an article stolen
from him and used by wretches-"
Oh Lizbeth, / may not even be able to
prove an alibi. Oh, what shall 1 do? tell
you, wife, | am not entirely innocent"
All !! we nab you cOnfessing, my fine bird, j"
a rude voice here interrupted followed by the
entrance of the minions of Justice.
Mrs. Mouser begged, cried, stormed and i'm
plored. Mr.. Mouser was mute and totally
crushed but the bold miniOns of authority led
him away to dungeon, where he languished
for three days before his friends could obtain a
hearing for him. In the meantime the real
cuprits had been caught, but the law required
an explanation of the language that appeared
to the police like confession Of completely,
notwithstanding Mr.. Mouser's unquestiOnable
social standing and perfect responsibility.
The court room was crowded with his friends
and neighbors. His wife gazed at him tear
fully and lovingly, but Mouser was very much
cast down. There was no escape. He had to
tell how distasteful wood-sawng had proved to
him; how he feared the Tidicule of wife and
friends it, after the Boosting, he gave itu up. But
when he related his midnight elopemeut with
his green saving jack, even the court joined in
the broad smile that rippled into a roar of
laughter from the less-dignifed listeners. 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 in front of the carriage. His
wife has not stopped laughing yet at his mid
night adventure