Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-05-26

ke slept the sleep az the just until
about O'Clock In the morning. It wRa
still dark, but his anxiety to assure HIM
self Of the loss OF his trouble caused hira
70 sneak out and reconnoiter. The saw.
jack was still there. Mr.. Mouser whis-
persd--not prayer. ''Oh, well, there 10
time enough still between this hour and
daylight for theft to be committed" he
muttered. It was the voice OF Mira Mousar
that awakened him In time for breakfast.
He glanced out Of the window the first
thing. Oh, how brightly the sun shone,
and the sawjaek cleaned up at him In
all its verdant beauty. No Tobber hand
had carried 1t away. A fearful sigh
escaped the Mouser bosom
"You must saw some wood for me be-
fore you go, dear, !" said his wife.
"What. more woodr'
eyes, dear; recollect you only sawed
one stick last evening"" rejoined Mrs.
Mouser meekly, but a wicked CLEAN OF
mischief played about her eyes and
mouth
Mr.. Mouser ignored her reply, and
fastened to town with his pretty tools
with vigor born Of awful fury, but way
down In his soul o voics groaned, that
saving jack must goi
Wheref whencei howl
Mr. Mouser was o man OF resources.
Twelve o'clock, midnight. A burglarish
darkness and silence brooded around as a
man stole hence from his couch, and,
grabbing his trousers, left coy bedroom.
A little later the only other active Great
urs about, feline prima donna, might
have witnessed . sorry sight; . solitary
man marching downward, clutehing In his
strong right hand beautifully painted
green saving jack.
Soon he returned. The saving jack,
where was itt
Mr.. Moussr rose that morning In most
delightful frame OF mind.
s'Lixbeth, my dear little Lizbeth,n he
exclaimed, friskily, ~ am going to work
in earnest today. lam feeling fine, much
better than have for some time Here,
feel this arm. How's that for muscle, chr
That's what saving wood has donsr'
Lxbeth blinked sadly, but looked con-
tented. Mr.. Mouser hastened out to "nip
Oh stick or two before breakfast" but
soon came in looking quite angry and
puzzled.
what In the world has become Of that
iackf' II was gone. ''Sueh infamy--to
steal ones very implements OF toilr' he
cried in rage, as he sent for the old wood
sawyer again.
Mr.. MouseF, Of course, grieved over his
loss. but managed to conquer the regret
sufficiently to display some Of his old wit
and mirth.
But this good feeling received sudden
check the morning after the burglary Of
the ..jack"
He had Just opened the daily paper,
when his glance was arrested by leading
paragraph.
'Lixbeth, look at thisr'
Mrs. Mouser became alarmed. Her
husband was pale as death and trembling
In every limb as he handed her the paper.
She read:
1.-THE residence Of she Hon. Oliver was
broken into night before last and large
sum of money and valuable plate and
1ewelry stolen. The robbers en-
tered by the garden window, from which
they removed the iron grating while
standing on . singular looking wooden
object, recognised By old fashioned eoun-
try folks as sswbuck.' 1t Is painted
estGfts- .H snodssziu SfoIAhfh swwasu
offered for return of jswslry or inforna-
ton leading to the arrest Of the robbers"
"Why this Il splendid You can st
onee notify the authorities that the Jack
Is yours-the thieves who carried 1t
err
'.Oh, my-oh, myW groaned Mr..
Moussr; "don't talk to me about thieves
II mny be arrested any moment when
they diseoyer''--
Discover WHAT How can they arrest
an innocent man because he owns an
article stolen from him and used BY
wretches''---
''Oh, Lzbeth, may not even DO able
to prove an aiibt. Oh, what shall dol
I tell you wife, am entirely limo
cent
"Ahi we nab you confessing. my fine
bird" rude voice here interrupted, fol-
lowed BY the entrance Of the minious Of
justice- r.
Mrs. Nouser begged, cried, stormed
aud implored. Mr.. Moussr was mute
and totally crushed, but the bold minions
OF authority led him away to q dungeon, 4
where he languished for three days be-
fore his friends could obtain Q hearing for
him. In the meantime the real eulprits
had been caught, but the Law required an
explanation Of the language that APP
pearsd 10 the police like question OF
completely, notwithstanding Mr.. Mouser's
unQuestionabls social standing and per-
feet respectability.
The court room was crowded with bis
friends and neighbors. His wife gaxed at
him tsarfully and lovingly, but Mr.. Moussr
was very much east down. There was no
escape. He had 70 tell how distastsful
wood saving had proved to him, how he
feared the ridicule Of wife and friends n
after ali the Boosting he gave It up. But
when he related his midnight elopement
with his green saving jack, even the
court Joined in the broad smile that
ripened into roar Of laughter from the
- A. nm n
humiliation came, however, when he left
the prison for the coach TO be taken home.
There he saw the green sbomination rest
ing ut the drivers feet on tina front Of the
carriage. His wife has not stopped laugh
ing yet at his midnight ADVENTURE
Adapted FROM the German, by Mrs. Miles
II. McNamArs In Boston Budget