Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-04

reference to his family and the possible
effects on his own moral nature, we
shall assume great responsibility III
deliberately subiecting such a person to
criminal prosecution, and perhaps con-
viction.'
This was enough. "Well," said I, I'VE
will release the young fellow and send
the two other rascals to jail
THAT was not well expressed" said
my wife, ''but We will not criticise words
at present
We returned to the library and l an
nounccd my decision. When he heard
it the stout burglar exhibited no emo
ton. His expression indicated that,
having been caught, he expected to be
sent to Jail, and that was the end of it.
Perhaps he had been through this eX-
perience so often that he had become
used to it. The tall man, however, took
the announcement in a very different
way. His face grew dark and his eyes
glittercd. You are making 4 great
mistake" he-said to me, "a very great
mistake, and you will have to bear the
consequences.
VERY good" said /, Il will remember
that remark when your trial comes on
The behavior of the young man was
uneyceptional. He looked upon us
with Y face full of happy gratitude, and,
as he thanked Us for the kind favor and
the justice which we had shown him,
his eyes seemed dim with tears. Aunt
Martha was much affected.
~ wonder ii his mother is Iiving.'
She whispered to me. "A wife is great
deal, but mother is more. If l had
thought of her sooner ! would have
spoken more strongly in his favor.
And now You should unite him at once
and let him go home. His wife must he
getting terribly an xious,"
Tho young man overheard this last
remark.
You Will confer a very great favor on
me, slr," he said. If You will let ms
depart as soon as possible. | feola great
repugnance to being seen in company
With these men, as you may imagine,
I'm wearing mask on coming here.
ii leave Immediately l think / can
catch the first train from your station
l considered the situation. Ii | did
what 1 was asked there would be two
ho'nu burglars to guard. three women
and a child to protect, an uncertain
stranger at liberty. end only David ana
mo, sir" said +, Il shall not unite you
until the officers l sent for are near at
hand; then l will release you, ard you
can leave tho house by the back way
without being seen by them. Ther>
are other morning trains which will
take you into tho city early enough"
Il think you are a little hard on
him." remarked Aunt Martha, but the
young man made no complaint.
Il will trust myself entirely to you,
sir" he said.
The officers arrived much sooner than
I expected. There were five of them.
including the chief of police, and they
were accompanied by several volunteer
assistants, among whom was the milk
man who had been my messenger. This
morning his customers might wait FOR
their milk. for all business must give
way before such an important piece OF
sightseeing as this.
/ had barely time To unite the young
man and take him to the back of the
house before the officers and their fol-
lowers had entered thu front door.
There was nov great deal Of question
Ing. y great deal of explanation, a great,
deal of discussion as to whether my way
III CtttCit1iAS t'iil Lars vas Nis'stpit vi
not, and q good deal of talk about the
best method of taking the alen to town,
Some of the officers were in favor of re-
leasing the two men and then deciding
in what manner they should be taken to
town; and If this plan had been adopted
l believe that these two alert and prac-
teal rasrals would have taken them
selves out of my house, without the as
IA
have caused a great deal Of trouble and
perhaps injury in endcavoring to do SO.
But tho onief OF police vas Of my
mind, and before the mcn we've entire
ly released from the ropes by which
had tied them they were securely man
acled.
A requisitlon made on David and my
self to appear as witnesses, the two
men were taken from the house to the
wagons in which the officers and their
followers had come. My wife and Aunt
Martha had gore upstairs before the
arrival OF the police, and were doubt
less watching the outside proceeding
| from window.
Standing in the hallway, glanced
| into the dining-room, and was surprised
| to see the young man still standing by
| q SIDE door. had thought him gone,
hut perhaps it was wise in him to re-
main, and not show himself upon the
road until the coast was entirely clear.
He did not see me, and was looking
backward into the kitchen. cheerful
and animated expression upon his face.
This expression did not strike mo
pleasantly. He had escaped q great
danger, it was true, but it was no reason
for this rather obtrusive air of exulta-
ton. just then Alice came into the
diningroom from the kitchen, and the
young man stepped back, so that she
did not notice him. AS she passed he
gently threw his arm quietly around her
necl, and kissed her.
At that very instant, even before the
girl had time to eXclaim, in rushed
| David from the outer side door.