Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-01-15


voice and very respectful manner, "they
are very tight"
told David to look at all the cords
and see if any of them were too tightly
drawn.
cts all nonsense, SIR" said he, when
he had finished the examination; mot
one of the ropes is bit too tight. All
they want is a chance to pull out their
ugly hands"
''Of course" said Aunt Martha, eff it
would be unsafe to loosen the knots /
wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent TO
PRISON."
''Yes," said 1; ''as soon as the day
breaks l shall send down for the po-
lice.''
now heard slight sound at the
door, and, turning, saw Alice, our maid
of the house, who was peeping in at the
door. Alice was a modest girl and quite
pretty.
81 heard the noise and the talking,
SIR" she said, land when l found the
ladies had gone down to see what it was
1 thought would come, too"
"And where is the cook?" asked my
wife; ''don't she want to see burglars?''
Not bit of it," answered Alice, very
emphatically; "as soon as told her
what it was she covered up her head with
the bed-clothes and declared, ma'am,
that she would never get up until they
were entirely gone out of the house."
At this the stout man grinned.
''I wish you'd all cover up your
heads" he said. The tall man looked
at him severely, and he said no more.
David did not move from his post near
the three burglars, but he turned toward
Alice and looked at her. We knew that
he had tender feelings toward the girl,
and think that he did not approve of
her being there.
"Have they stolen any thing2" asked
Aunt Martha.
'They have not had any chance to
take any thing away" said; and my
wife remarked that whether they had
stolen any thing or not they had made
dreadful mess on the floor, and had
broken the table. They should certain
ly be punished.
At this she made a motion as If she
would leave the room, and an anxious
expression immediately came on the
face of the tall man, who had evidently
been revolving something in his mind.
MADAM" he said, 1--WE are very sorry
that we have broken your table and
that we have damaged some of your
glass and your carpet. I assure you,
however, that nothing of the kind would
have happened but for that drugged
wine, which doubtless was intended for
a medicine and not a beverage; but
weary and chilled as we were when we
arrived, madam, we were glad to par
take of it, supposing it ordinary wine. :"
could not help showing little pride
at the success of my scheme.
''The refreshment was intended for
fellows OF your class, and ] am very glad
you accepted it."
The tall man did not answer me, but
he again addressed my wife:
Madam" he said, ''if you ladies
would remain and listen to me a few
moments, am sure would make you
aware that there is much to extenuate
the apparent offense which have COM
mitted tonight"
Ny wife did not answer him but turn
ing to me said, smiling: "If he alludes
to their drinking your wine," she said,
che need not apologize.
The man looked at her with an express
sion as If her words had pained him.
s'Madam," he said, ''if you consent to
listen to my explanations and the story
of this affair, am sure your feelings
toward me would not be so harsh
ssNow, them" said my Aunt Martha,
''if he has story to tell he ought to be
allowed to tell it, even in case like
this. Nobody should be judged until he
has said what he thinks he ought to say.
Let US hear his story"
T Laughed, lazy statement he may
make, . said. will probably deserve .
much stronger name than stories"
sI think that what you say is tFue,n
remarked my wife; 'but still, IL he has
story to tell I should like to hear 1t. =
think heard David give little
grunt, but he was too well bred to cay
any thing.
Every well.n said /. .sif you choose
70 sit up and hear him talk It Is ypun
affair. ! shall be obliged to remain
here any way, and viii not object to any
fhfpg HAT VIII help . pass away the
time. But these men must not IS ia