Wichita eagle., 1889-12-11
A GOOD JOKE.

voice loud enough to be heard all over Eus-
ton; "Daralingbourne-Sir Charles Noodles
place-are you deaf~
Eyes, sir; no sir" answered the porter.
"I'll have it put all right, sir; only l thought
you said Rottenboro." And he ran off to get
the luggage reiabeled.
"Confound Rottenboror' grumbled Tommy
Apes, with an affectation of anger, as he
scrambled into a first class compartment. AS
matter of fact the young subaltern, instead
of being annoyed. was delighted by the por-
ter's blunder, for it had given him an oppor-
tunty of letting those about him know that
he was bound for place no less fashionable
than the country house Of the great banker
and distinguished politician, Sir Charles Moo
die
''These porters are very stupid, said one
of two gentlemen, who, coming into the same
compartment as Tommy, had noticed his ap-
parent annoyance
''Stoopid, doosed stoopidl" replied Tommy,
fixing his glass in his eye and gazing earnest
ly at the speaker. Just imagine, he didn't
know where Sir Charles Noodles place was
thought it was at Rottenhoro!'
Absurd" said the stranger, at the same
time depressing smile, they'll be wonder
ing next where Windsor Castle is"
"Ya-as. downright monstrous!n said Tom
my, as he flung himself into a corner Of the
carriage and turned his attention to the
perusal Of a sporting paper.
The two other gentlemen in the compart-
ment also devoted themselves to their news
papers, until the train had steamed out of the
station and was well into the country. Then
the same gentleman who had before addressed
Tommy, lowering his newspaper for a mo-
ment, said;
Pardon me, sir, but isn't Braxby Hall
somewhere near DarklingbourneT
ooh, old Squire Cherry's place." said Tom
my, eager to show his knowledge of country
people 'Well, it's in Doltshire, too; but
you could hardly call linear Darlingbourne.
"Ahl only inquired because l see here"
said the gentleman, pointing to the newspa-
per, ''that there has been burglary there"
"By George!" exclaimed Tommy Apes, in
tensely Interested 'You don't say So"
'Oh, yes; but nothing seems to have been
stolen" added the gentleman quickly.
~ suppose" cried Tommy, with loud
laugh, that was because there was nothing
worth stealing. Old Cherry is as poor as
church mouse"
The stranger laughed quietly at Tommy's
little joke. Then, he said, after moments
keep valuables at their country houses; it
seems to me so dangerous. Yet l believe
many people do"
Eyes, of course they do" said Tommy
Then, DESTROYS of showing his intimate knowl-
edge of the domestic arrangements Of the
fashionable Noodles, he proceeded: Now,
there's Lady Noodle, for instance. She keeps
the bulk of her jewels at her town house, but
some of them are always at Darklingbourne,
even when she herself is not there. She told
me so herself" And Tommy lay back in his
chair with a consequential air. He felt that
be was deeply impressing the stranger.
DO you think that's wise?n asked that gen
tlemsn ''If were in her position certainly
should not keep such valuables in a lone coun-
try house. Why, it seems to me almost like
holding out an incentive to burglary"
AZ, but precautions can be taken against
burglary said Tommy.
We'll, of course they can" replied the
stranger, with dubious shake Of the head,
''but should not rely ON them. No precau-
lions. to my mind, can be sufficient"
''Oh, yes, they can" said Tommy, very
positively. For instance, Sir Charles Noodle
says that he defes Il mouse TO enter Dark
linghourue at night without his knowledge"
What precautions hes he taken, thenf
asked The stranger
"Well, be has had electric bells put to every
door and window in the house These are all
duly set at 10 O'Clock each night, and after
that not a door or shutter can be removed
without an alarm being given"
"A very sensible device" said the stranger.
approvinClv, land one which | should GER
tainly adopt if ! were so fortunate as TO own
a country seat"
So far the second stranger had taken no
part in the conversation. BE had, however,
been listening to it with some interest. Now
at last he spoke.
Il remember he said, smiling slightly at
the recollection, Il remember once, when |
was stopping at a country house, an amusing
practical joke being played by clever young
fellow who was staying there, too. The
House was got up just as you say Sir Charles
Noodles is-every window and door was Sc
cured by alarm bells Wei, one night, just
before bedtime, this young fellow started a
conversation about burglars All the men
were loud in protesting what they should do
if the alarm sounded-they'd dash up stairs
in the dark. or rush out into the lawn, or DO
something else very brave and reckless Just
in the middle OF their boastlng TWO or three
alarm bells went of, and Won never saw such
a panic Not a soul Of them showed sign
of doing anything except shivering with fear,
until the young fellow, bursting into loud
laugh, explained how il was all a joke He
had bribed the page boz 10 set off the two
bells in his bedroom at II O'Clock precisely.
by George," cried Tommy, roaring with
laughter, THAT'S what l call a rare good
ioke-doosed good! Pom my word, should
ike TO try it on tonight"
IF | were you. shouldn't" said the first
stranger, who seemed 10 be a very unlid
man.
"whyl" asked Tommy. 1t could do no
harm
We'll" said the gentleman, hesitating, Il
don't know so much about that-s;lll II would
hardly be fair. 10 tue ladies, would 1t, 70 give
them such frightf'
bourne iast unw,r re d Tommy. Its
mans rartv-aalf IN Of Us down for
-a-f-. s.-.--i-- l. Noodles in town
~ srI said. I'm too old and ner-
eds 10 appreciate practical jokes such
. thst. presume, however, that 70 young
elbow Ike you they're very amusing; but
must say that don't like them"
Well. = said the second stranger, Il don't
know much about the right and the wrong OF
the affair, but l do know that the young fell
low spoke of gained great deal of kudos
BY mis- trick Ii was talked of among his
friends and acquaintance for months after"
81 alnooss. though said the 6rsy STRANGER.