River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-10-02
A TERRIBLE VENGEANCE.
Verify. the Way of the Transgressor Con-
tinues To lie Hard.

| IidFk OyfuS. w nat was bndbs
Nothing, Emily. Let me go to sleep,
will you?"
For few moments silence reigned in
the sleeping chamber.
Cyrus Wintcrbottom, there's some
| body in the house! / hear a noise In
the kitchen!''
Cyrus sat up in bed and listened.
"It's the cat" he grumbled. drowsiiy.
"A cat doesn't wear boots and go
around opening doors. Hark!'
The baby stirred and Mrs. Winter
bottom soothed it to rest again.
II don't see what any body wants to
get into our kitchen for" growled
| Cyrus, with a yawn. There's nothing
to-heigh-ho!--to steal in that part of
the house, is there?"
Nothing to steal! There's plate
full of tarts, pan of doughnuts and a
sponge cake"
''Some of your-heigh own
connection, Emily?"
Eyes, some of my own making. Then
there's all the silverware, and"
Hell never get to the silverware,
Emily, if he tackles the doughnuts first.
You will find his horribly-distorted
body in the morning"
"Hushl Harkr'
lie listened again. All was quiet
But presently an unmistakable sound,
as of somebody moving about on the
floor below, aroused even Cyrus dulled
senses Steps seemed to be approach
ing the stairway. Cyrus took his re-
volver 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 a whisper
to make no noise and leave matters en-
tirely in his hands.
Softly and stealthily came the steps
up the stairway, and in a few moments
the dim light of the night lamp on the
dressing-case fell upon the stalwart
form of a man whose face was con.
cealed by mask.
Mrs Winterbottom screamed at sight
Of him, the baby woke up and howled,
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 scoundrel y 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 Cyrvs knew it, but
the burglar didn't
The pitiful wretch stood perfectly
still.
Take off your maslxl'' sternly COM
manded Cyrus.
The burglar complied. With ashen
face and mean, hang-dog look he stood
there and said not word. Mrs. Win
terbottom had recovered her self-pos-
session, but the baby continued to howl.
at would serve you right you sneak.
ing, contemplate villain" said Cyrus,
in a deep. tragic voice, 'if 1 should
shoot you where you stand. / believe
I'll do it, anyhow"
Mercy! Mercy" pleaded the trem-
bling wretch. Its the first time | ever
broke into a house. I'll never do it
again. Please let me 60"
It's the first time you were ever
caught at i'll It'll be the last Down
on your knees!'
Don't kill him, Cyrus!" begged his
wife. Think of the carpet!'
'Listeni'' said Cyrus, coming closer
to the kneeling burglar. "Hold up
your hand!"
While the fellows hands were up
Cyrus rified his pockets. lie took there
from two loaded revolvers, a bowie
knife, a dagger, a slung-shot, a bottle
of chloroform, and a sand-bag.
'Your first offense, is it?" said Cyrus.
For a novice at the business you carry
a pretty good kit of tools Stand up!'
The burglar obeyed.
Are you man of family?"
Yes, sir; o, please"
''Stop your whining"
"A look of hard, stern, relentless pur-
pose settled on Cyrus face. He pointed
the revolver at the abiect scoundrers
head again.
go and take that baby" he com
manded.
"Wh-what FORE"
"Never mind what for! You go and
take that baby"
''Cyru.r' exclaimed Mrs. Wintecbot-
tom. in dismay. what do You mean?"
Il know what | am about Emily.
Pick up that squalIing infant, you viii
laini"
ne man oDcyeu
Handle il carefully"
''les. sir,''
wow walk the floor with it,"
For four long hours Cyrus Winter
bottom held that empty revolver
leveled at the head Of the miserable |
man and compelet him to walk up and |
down the room with the crying, squirm- |
ing infant IN AIS arms
At darbreae the bringing. crawling |
villain ,.a' rmi,tnd to sneak away |
lrom Tue Ir misses, bcoken-hearted |
nan
Ills raven hair had turned gray in
lhat one ght.
1t was horT BILE retr button, but /
no si-eii So it xas not deserved? |
nj ihus We learn, ny children. tha
me sonnet ms brings its own punish
at -ad t.sat the way OF the trans
eeSsor continues 10 be hard. -Chicag,
ribune.