Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-02-13

CACNs uPSA tASu1 duu We III LIARS Wa
equally interesting. The ladies each
gave a start and a little! scream and
huddled themselves close TO me, and the
three burglars gazed at them with faces
that expressed more establishment than
any had ever seen before. The stout
fellow gave vent to a smothered ex-
clamation and the face of the young
man flushed, but not one Of them spoke.
"Are you sure they are tied fast?''
whispered my Aunt Martha to me.
Perfectly" answered; ''if had not
been sure should not have allowed you
to come down"
Thereupon the ladies picked up cour-
age and stepped further into the room.
ibid you and David catch themP'
asked my aunt, 'and how in the world
did you do ftp"
''I'l tell you all about that another
time, ;" said, land you had better go up
stairs as soon as you two have seen what
sort of people are these cowardly burg
lars who sneak or break into the houses
of respectable people at night and rob
and steal and ruin other peoples prop
erty with no more conscience or human
feeling than is possessed by the rats
which steal your corn, or the polecats
which kill your chickens"
81 can scarcely believe" said Aunt
Martha, ''that that young man is real
burglar"
At these words the eyes of the fellow
spoken of glowed as he fixed them on
Aunt Martha, but he did not say word,
and the paleness which had returned to
his face did not change.
''Haye they told you who they are?''
asked my wife.
81 haven't asked them" said, ''and
now don't you think you had better 60
upstairs?"
SIT seems to me-" said Aunt Martha,
shat those ropes must hurt them"
The tall man now spoke. ''Indeed
they do, madam" he said, in low
voice and very respectful manner, ''they
are very tight"
and see if any of them were too tightly
drawn.
Its all nonsense, SIR" said he, when
he had finished the examination; "not
one of the ropes is a bit too tight. All
they want is chance to pull out their
ugly hands,"
''Of course" said Aunt Martha, ''if it
would be unsafe to loosen the knots l
wouldn't do it. Are they to be sent 10
PRISON."
YES" said 1; ''as soon as the day
breaks 1 shall send down for the po-
lice"
1 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 found the
ladies had gone down to see what it was
thought I 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 l 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.
81 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 1 think that he did not approve of
her being there.
''Have they stolen any thing?" asked
Aunt Martha.
''They have not had any chance to
take any thing away" 1 said; and my
wife remarked that whether they had
stolen any thing or not they had made
a dreadful mess on the floor, and had
broken the table. They should certain
ly be punished.
At this she made 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. l 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 beverage; but
weary and chilled as we were when we
arrived, madam, we were glad to par
take of it, supposing it ordinary wine"
l 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 few
moments, am sure l would make you