Wichita eagle., 1889-12-11

4uoJ ~ 3ht6op VI dIIeoO~. oxa6Wct0a AokAa-
my, and away he marched to the stairs with
. candle In his hand. With an effort Capt.
Rammsr and Maj. Prodmore managed to
raise enough courdke to follow him. They
picked up whatever they could find in the
shape Of weapons. and keeping well behind
Tommy, crept up the stairs
"Histl" whispered Tommy in an awe in
spring tone, ''there are several of them. !!
hear their footballs No doubt they have re-
volvers-we must take them by surprise or
there'n be bloodshed. quietly-quiet-
ly-oh, Lord!" And with this Tommy blew
out the candle. There was a momentary 81
leuee, and then Tommy heard the gallant
Hammer and the soldierly Prodmore tum-
bling recklessly over one another IN their
blind rush down the staircase.
The two warriors had just safely reached
the library, and were there explaining to tie
Mortified guests that Tommy had been muir
dered, and that they themselves had barely
escaped the same fate, when Tommy himself
entered the room laughing! Everybody gazed
at him for q moment in silent amazement
Then the truth flashed upon them. The whole
thing was a joke.
Tommy roered with delight. The others
did not seem SO well pleased. Lord de Cellar,
Mr.. Mander and the two noneniries were Wis
IDLY annoyed. So was Sir Charles Noodle at
first. But it was the two military men who
were the most furious. They were so angry,
but at the same time looked and felt SO small
that soon the rest of the company forgot
their own annoyance in amusement at that
of the gallant Hammer and the soldierly
Prodmore, and the evening ended by every
l1oJxy nth Nd iosv ipb ic
laughter at the expense of the two officers.
Tommy's windows were then reclosed and
the bells reset. and he went to bed and slept
soundly, feeling, with satisfaction. that he
had exalted himself and taken Capt Rammer
and Maj. Prodmore and the rest Of the COM
pany down very considerable peg" The
next morning, however, to his amazement, he
found himself suddenly awoke by nobody else
than Sir Charles Noodle himself.
Look herel' said that gentleman in any
thing but pleased tone to the bewildered
Tommy think, Mr.. Apes, that you have
carried this joke of yours quite far enough.
1t had better cease now"
'I-I don't understand you, Sir Charles, !"
stammered out Tommy.
''Oh, nonsense" answered Sir Charles,
roughly. There's no use in keeping it 60
ing; Pm getting thoroughly tired of it,"
but, Sir Charles, I-really, I'm doosed
sorry" said Tommy, 'but, truly, I don't
know what you mesh"
Sir Charles looked very steadily and sternly,
and then said, "Mr. Apes, if you trife with
me any further, shall lose my temper. Your
trick last night Of frightening the company
was unmannerly enough, still l forgave it;
but when it comes to breaking open dressing
tables and abstracting diamonds
''Abstracting diamoudsl" exclaimed the
Mortified Tommy.
"Yes, abstracting diamonds. Then the mat
ter ceases to be merely unmannerly. and be-
comes-I say it notwithstanding very
different"
"Abstracting diamonds" repeated Tommy,
in dazed way. "But, Sir Charles never
distracted any diamonds. l never thought
of such a thing I swear to you the idea
never entered my mind. swear it didn't"
Sir Charles locked keenly into the young
mans face, and ne saw that he was speaking
earnestly and truthfully. Tommy Apes
might be very silly youth-Sir Charles
thought he was-but he was not thief. The
banker felt that he knew nothing of the dis
appearance Of the diamonds, and he was per-
picked He stood in silent reflection for
moment, while Tommy collected his wits.
do you mean to say" Tommy then asked,
'that any of Lady Noodles diamonds are
missingF
eyes; about $4,000 WORTH" replied Sir
Charles, laconically.
Good heavens,' exclaimed Tommy 'sWho
could have done ita Not Sam Pipeclay-
he's as honest as steel can't understand it,
doosed if l camp And the young nan lay
back bewildered.
Sir Charles then explained matters as well
as he could. That morning one Of the maids
had noticed that the window into Lady
Noodles boudoir was open. As, during her
ladyships absence, the room was kept locked,
Sir Charles himself having the key, he was
communicated with. On unlocking tie door,
it was seen that robbers had been there. The
cabinet and dressing table had beep riied.
and all the jewels which Lady Noodle had
left there were taken.
Tommy Apes was Mortified. He protested
his innocence of all knowledge in the matter,
and explained all he had done.
LET me see," said Sir Charles. ''Now, l
think Of it, 1t struck me at the time that
three bells sounded"
Yes" replied Tommy, a bit startled, 81
remember somebody saying that there were
three, but | thought it was mistake
Its devilsh queer" said Sir Charles, sus-
piciously, granting that there were three,
that the burglars should select as the time for
forcing the boudoir window the very mo-
ment you chose for perpetrating your joke.
Ii is most strange coincidence. And it is
stranger still that the sound OF the other win
dows opening didn't alarm the thieves
81 don't understand it," said Tommy
gloomily MAY go and have q look at the
boudoirf'
Tommy dressed hastily, and then he and
bis host went to Lady Noodles room. 1t was
just es Sir Charles had described-the win
dow was open, the cabinet and dressing table
were rifed and the floor was strewed with
fragments of jewel boxes.
AS Tommy was looking into one of the
dressing table drawers little piece of paper
his attention. Noticing his name
inscribed upon it, he took it up and, opening
1t, read as follows:
DEAR Mr.. APEs-Wasn't it rare good
joksl We enjoyed it; didn't youl
your GRATEFUL FELLOW JoKERsn
Tommy has spent good deal of time look
Ing out 1or the Two agreeable gentlemen VINO
travelled with him the previous day, but he
>asat found them as yet-London Truth.
In Newspaper Parlance.
McFipxle-What are you going to call
your paperi
McFangle-The Ladle.
What strange name! Why are you
going to call it thatF'
so that il will be able TO scoop its contem
poraries. Burlington Free Press.
The Child Is Father of the Man."