The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-10-19

the greatest COnuuenCe ms ues1Rn 70 sam, WnO, without demur or criticism-he was a military man and obeyed orders-undertook to discharge his part.
 Tommy Apes, on reaching DArklingbourne, found the other guests already assembled there, and he glanced round at them he thought of his joke, and almost laughed with delight What q sight these very distinguished individuals would present when the shaking alarm bell sounded. There was the great and Right Honorable Ashby Babler-who was accustomed to defy (from 6 safe distance) what he called the "bruta and unsuitable democracy"-how small he would look under the shock There were Captain Rammer-a lordly heavy dragoon-and Major Prodmore Of the Lan- cers, both of them the veriest carpetknights and both of them utterly detested by Lieut.. Apes, whose regiment was not quite smart theirs. If they showed the white feather, Tommy firmly believed they would, how delightful 1t would be. As for Mir. Jeremiah Mander, NJ P, late conserva- tive agent for Doltshire, and Lord de Cellar, the convivial peer and the two other nonentities who formed the rest of the company well, all that could be said was that Tommy apprehended no evil and anticipated considerable amusement from giving them bit of a fright
 Dinner was served little after eight, and 1t not finished till considerably after ten. Darkling bourne was famous tor its dinners and this one was fully up 10 the general reputation. When 1t was disposed of every body felt too comfortable to have any inclination to do anything except perhaps, go to bed. The billard-room even was deserted and all the guests assembled in the library where they read and talked and smoked, and some of the elder ones snored. Sir Charles & lenient host who, unlike most hosts, believed that what male guests enjoy most is to be allowed to enjoy themselves.
 As he felt that it was now time to begin opera tions Tommy Apes, who had been chattering & great deal of the evening, directed his talk to bnrgAres. In lone country houses this Is always fascinating topic, and SO before many minutes Tommy, for the first time that evening, had an interested audience. He told one two very citing burglar stories. In all his tales gang of armed ruffians attacked lone country house. and, when they were opposed, they shot wildly about, and left the place regular field of carnage. Then he paused, and others took up the conversation.
 "For my part" said Sir Charles Noodle, "I have always maintained that the householder has ally himself to blame for any burglary. With proper precautions burglaries simply impossi- ble It is not necessary to have small garrison in your house to keep robbers out; what is neces- sary is that you should make it impossible for a robber to enter your house without creating alarm. Noise, it may be, breaks no bones but still, there's nothing like it for frightening bur glars. That's my view and there isn't door or window in this house that can be opened after ten o'clock without sounding electric bell"
 "A very wise precaution," said MT. Mander.
 "Haw, we'll" drawled that distinguished war rior Captain Hammer. "I-haw-think it's rather overdoing it, don't you know. I-haw-would prefer to let lem come in, and then give lem & warm reception"
 "Thats my opinion, too," echoed the gallant Major Prodmore. Ut looks bit cowardly to take sucn precSutons-at Ieast 10 military HAL
 elf there were an alarm, what should you dor" demanded Tommy Apes of the last speaker.
 "Well, should rush up stairs and see who the deuce it was," replied the gallant major.
 "I think that should run out into the grounds and cut off the beggars' retreat" said the soldier like captain.
 "It you went up stairs, would you take light with you go in the dark?" Sir Charles asked Major Prodmore
 "In the dark, decidedly" answered the major. ''T take light would give the strangers the advAn tage."
 "Yes, in the dark, decidedly" drawled the cap tain. "You see, the light gives them the means ot taking aim at you."
 "Wouldn't going up in the dark to look foS an