Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-26

by the shoulder. Wake up. Dave.
there Is some one n the house."
Branseome sat up In bed. slsepily
rubbing his eyes The sound was re-
peated and he was wide-awxks Ia an
instant
He placed his hand over his wife's
mouth and said Ia . whisper. Lilo
perfectly still, and whatever happens
do not strike light Or make sound
until call % you
''oh. Dave" began his trembling
wife.
Be siler.." he whispered. ssernly.
s'snd obey"
Branseome arose softly and CROPPED
his way 10 the corner of the room
where he knew he would ind pair OF
Indian clubs. He seized one firmly and
softly entered the hall Again he heard
the sound OF footstep. He stole to
the end of the hall and listened at the
door of the room where Bridget. their
one servant, slept A heavy snore pro
claimed 20 him that she was within and
sound asleep. Softly descending the
stairs no entered the parlor all was
dark and silent The storm had ceased
and the night was still, the darkness in
tense.
Dranscone stood several minutes lis
tening; then came the sound again, and
this time he was able 10 locate it in the
6ining-room. directly below where hc
stood IL was evident that the burglars
felt themselves safe, knowing that the
entire parlor-foor interviewed between
them and the slceping-rooms of the
family. and they went about their work
with no little noise. Branscome heard
a chair overturned and then the ciink of
silver.
Now Branscome was IN enthusiast in
regard 10 antique silver. His sideboard
was laden with choice early Italian and
old English plate, which he used every
day upon his table and never locked il
the safe at night The thought that he
was about TO be robbed OF these reused
him 10 grim fury against the vandals
who had invaded his home TO despoil
him of his possessions lie set his
teeth hard, grasped the Indian club
tirnly and made his way toward the
basement stairs
The door crealted loudly as he opened
it, end for ten or fifteen seconds there
was silence, then directly below him.
apparently approaching the foot of the
stairs. he heard sound like mufned
footsteps
The burglars were frightened, he
thought, and were about to escape.
The basement hall was enwrapped in
- h,1 AAc-
cended the stairs when he heard again
an approaching sound. The miscreant
seemed about to ascend. Raising his
Indian club. Branscomo sprang for
ward, striking at the same time blow
that would have killed an OK.
The blow feil-on empty air, and
Branscorne fell. face first, into ice-cold
water, which dripped from his single
garment as he rose, sputtering and
cursing and called to Mrs Branscoms
to bring light
What Mrs. Branscome had suffered.
lying silent in the darkness. expecting
any moment to hear the sound of q
struggle and the cries of the wounded.
may be imagined At the call OF her
husband she sprang from the bed, Lit
the lamp and with trembling limbs
hurried downstairs Bridget, too, had
been aroused, and in o picturesque COM
bination of rcd flannel and green plaid
shawl followed her mistress.
At the head of the basement stairs
Branscome, shivering and swearing,
with streams Of dirty clay-colored
water streaking his features and drip
ping from his robe dw nvit, dswped upon
them.
grieve to relate II, but those two
heartless women laughed long and loud
at the sight, while Branscome in Of
Tended dignity sought the seclusion of a
dry nightgown, and the spare room,
and was seen no more that night.
The heavy rain had so overlushed
tho sewer that the water had backed
up" and laid tho basement floor four
teen inches under water. The move
ment Of this miniature food had pro-
duced the sounds resembling footsteps,
and the overturned chairs and light
tables, floating on tho surface of tho
water, humping against each other and
coming in contact with the walls had
been mistaken Tor the movements Of a
burglar.
Branscome likes to tell good story,
but he never relates this nights expert
ence, and l venture to say that when
next he goes on still hunt for bur
glar he will take Mira B. advice and
first strike light-Lou v. Chaplin, in
Chicago Graphic.