The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-09-05
A TALE FROM CHICAGO.

and RetHibution.
"Hark, Cyrusl What was thati"
Nothing Emily. Let me 90 to sleep,
will your"
For a few moments silence reigned in
the sleeping chamber.
'Cyrus Winterbottom, there's somebody
in the housed hear a noise in the kitch-
enp'
Cyrus sat up in bed and listened.
TITS the cat" he grumbled drowsily.
"A cat doesn't wear boots and 90 around
opening doors HarkI"
The baby stirred, and Mrs. :. :nterbottom
soothed it to rest again.
Il don't see what anybody wants to get
into our kitchen for" growled Cyrus with
yawn. There's nothing to-heigh-ho-
to steal in that part of the house, is there"
Nothing to steal There's plateful of
tarts, a pan of doughnuts. and a sponge
cake"
Some of -heigh-ho-your own con-
coction, Emily?'
Yes, some of my own making. Then
there's all the silverware, and"-
He'll never get to the silverware, En-
lily, if he tackles the doughnuts first. You
will find his horribly distorted body in the
morning.
"Hushl Harkv'
He listened again. All was quiet. But
presently an unmistakable sound as of
somebody moving about on the floor be-
low aroused even Cyrus dulled senses
Steps seemed to be approaching the stair
way Cyrus took his revolver out from
under his pillow. climbed softly out of
bed, went to the door of the room and got
behind it, first having cautioned his wife
in u whisper to make no noise and leave
matters entirely in his hands.
Softly and stealthily came the steps up
the stairway, and in few moments the
dim light of the night lamp on the dress
ing case fell upon the stalwart form of a
man whose face was concealed by mask.
Mrs. Winterbottom screamed at the
sight of him. the baby woke up and howl
ed, and before the burglar could recover
from the momentary confusion into which
this unexpected reception had thrown him
Cyrus confronted him with the revolver.
"You Internal scoundrelp' he Kissed.
Don't you move a muscle or I'll put
ball through your
The revolver hadn't been loaded for
year or more, and Cyrus knew it, but the
burglar didn't.
The pitiful wretch stood perfectly still
Take off your maskp' sternly COM
manded Cyrus
The burglar complied. With ashen face
and mean. hangdog look he stood there
and said not a word Mrs. Winterbottom
had recovered her self possession. but the
baby continued to howl.
st would serve you right, you sneaking,
contemplate Villain" said Cyrus in a
deep, tragic voice. "if should shoot you
where you stand believe I'll do it any
how"
Mercy! mercy" pleaded the trembling
wretch. ITS the first time ever broke
into house, I'll never do it again. Please
let me GO
Its the first time you were ever caught
at it! It'll be the last Down on your
kneesr
Don't kill him, Cyrusp' begged his wife,
Think of the carpet?'
Listen" said Cyrus. coming closer to
the kneeling burglar. Hold up your
hands!''
While the fellows hands were up Cyrus
rifled his pockets. He took therefrom two
loaded revolvers. a bowie knife, dagger,
& s. III g=shot a hntts - ehloroform and
sandbag.
Your first offense. is it?" said Cyrus
TOT d uONlCc dG UuO UuSlucSS YOU carry
pretty good kit of tools. Stand upl''
The burglar obeyed.
Are you Il man of family?"
Eyes. sir. Oh, please"-
Stop your whining"
A look of hard, stern, relentless purpose
settled on Cyrus face. He pointed the re-
volver at the abject scoundrel's head again.
go and take that babyl'' he COM
manded.
"Wh-what for?''
Never mind what forl You go and
take that babyI''
"Cyrus" exclaimed Mrs. Winterbottom
in dismay, what do you mean?"
II know what l am about, Emily. Pick
up that squalling infant, you villain!'
The man obeyed.
"Handle it carefullyi'
Eyes, STRIP
Nov walk the floor with it!''
For four long hours Cyrus Winterbottom
held that empty revolver leveled at the
head of the miserable man and compelled
him to walk up and down the room with
the crying, squirming infant in his arms.
At daybreak the cringing, crawling vii
lain was permitted to sneak away from the
premises, a broken hearted man.
His raven hair had turned gray in that
one night.
1t was horrible retribution, but who
shall say it was not deserved? And thus
we learn, my children, that crime some
times brings it's own punishment, and that
the way Of the transgressor continues to be
ard.-Chicago Tribune
Didn't Require 1t.
Miss Parvenu Showing poor relation
over the poultry yard attached to the Stuc
CO villa)-And those are black Spanish.
Pa got the eggs on purpose from Madrid,
so that the breed should be quite sure. and
we 'atched them out ourselves.
Friend enthusiastically pretty
things And do they lay every day?
Miss Parvenu-Well. l dare say they
could. but our position, you know. is such
that we don't require them to lay more
bor throo or q -Cbof<or