The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-11-12
A Terrible Vengeance.


Hark, Cyrus What was that?"
Nothing, Emily. Let me 60 TO sleep,
win your"
For few moments silence reigned in
the sleeping chamber.
"Cyrus Winterbottom, there's somebody
in the house / hear a noise in the
kitchen ?"
Cyrus sat up in bed and listened.
It's the cat" he grumbled, drowsily.
A cat doesn't wear boots and 90
around opening doors. Hark,7
The baby stirred, and Mr. Winter
bottom soothed it to rest again.
/ don't see what anybody wants to
get into our kitchen for" growled Cyrus.
with yawn. There's nothing to-heigh-
no Ito steal in that part of the house, is
there?n
Nothing to steal There's plate full
Of tarts, pan of doughnuts, and sponge
cake"
"some of your-heigh-ho Your own
concoction, 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 doughnut first. You
will find his horribly distorted body in
the morning"
Hush Hark ?"
He listened again. All was quiet But
presently an unmistakable sound, as Of
somebody moving about on the floor be-
low, aroused even Cyrus's dullest senses.
Steps seemed to be approaching the stair
way he took his revolver from under his
pillow, climbed softly out Of bed, went to
the door Of the room and got behind it,
first having cautioned bis wife in whisp-
er TO make no noise and leave matters
entirely in his hands.
Softly and steadily came the steps up
the stairway, and in a 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. Wfnterbottom screamed at the
sight Of him, the baby woke up an 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 scoundrell' he hissed.
Don't you move a muscle or I'll put ball
through YOU"
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 mask y' sternly com
manded Cyrus
The burglar complied. With ashen
face, and mean, hang-dog lock. he stood
there and said not a word. Mrs. Win
terbottom had recovered her self-posses-
ion, but the baby continued to howl.
"It would serve you right, you sneak
ing, contemplate villain" said Cyrus in
deep tragic voice, 'if l should shoot
you where you stand. / believe I'll do
it anyhow"
Mercy Mercy" pleaded the tremb-
ing wretch. ats the first time ever
broke into a house. III never do it
again. Please LET me on
"Don't kill him. begged his wife.
Think Of the carpet
Listen |" said Cyrus, coming back to
the kneeling burglar. Hold up your
hands r'
While the fellows hands were up Cy-
rus rihed his pockets. He took there
from two loaded reyolyers, a bowie
knife, daggar, slung-shot, bottle Of
chloreform and sand bag.
"Your first ofense, is it," said Cyrus.
For novice at the business you carry
pretty good kit of tools. Stand up"
The burglar obeyed
"Are you man of family"
ayes sir; o please"
"Stop your whining"
A look of hard, stern relentless purpose
settled on Cyruss face. He pointed the
revolver at the abject scoundrers head
again.
Go and take that baby!7 he com
manded.
"Wh-what for ?"
"Never mind what for You go and
take that BABY"
Cyrus" exclaimed Mrs. Winterbot-
tom in dismay, what do you mean ?''
81 know what I'm about, Emily. Pick
up that squa!ling infant, you villain "
The man obeyed
Handle it carefully"
"Yes, sir"
"Now walk the floor with il.
For four long hours Cyrus Winter
bottom held that empty revolver leveled
at the head ofthe 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
villain was permitted to sneak away
from the premises, broken-hearted
man.
His raven hair had turned gray in the
one night.
1t was q terrible retribution, but who
shall say it was not deserved? And thus
We learn, my children, that crime some
times brings its own punishment ard
that the way of the transgressorc continues
to be hard.
Kangaroos to Be Imported.