Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-13

led the way through the grounds to
the rear of the house and. moving
softly. tried window. ut Is unfas.
tened" he whispered. nolslessly slid-
ing up and crawling in.
The guitarist followed. At the foot
OF the staircase Red motioned slightly
with his bullseye 10 remain. and went
up stairs alone. A painful period of
suspense passed. till he glided down
and handed him over locked box. A
moment later q grip on his collar, ac-
companied by rough jerk, landed
him on tho floor, sprawling, where he
realized that he was engaged in a de-
cisive struggle. 1t was silent but
fierce. In few minutes he was forced
PROSTATE on his stomach, hands up
over his back. and held so by no other
than the guitarist his new pal.
wake up, there! Burglars! Burg
larsw called Bill. 'What--are you
trying to do?" painted Red. ''You
confounded-p uff-rascal you-puff-
you didn't know that the owner OF this
house was my nephew-puf, puff
did youP Burglars! Burglars" shouted
Bill. Red was too much dazed to re-
ply.
"Oh, yes, said the guitarist sitting
on him and throwing in an extra
thump or two, 1--WE met such fellows
as you before and | hate the breed.
Yes sir. the owner of this house is
William Richey, my namesake, who
will be down stairs in couple OF
minutes TO deliver you into custody,
and if he does not prosecute you to
the full extent OF the law. I'll leave
him out of my will"
sYBy Il sudden wrench, strain of
trained muscles and rare oppor-
tunity, Red reversed the situation. II
beg your pardon" he said respec-
fully. Burglars! Burglars!" II
beg your pardon" Burglars! Wake
up there" Il beg your pardon, sir
for this force. but | am taking the
shortest way to straighten n misunder-
standing" said Red holding him still
Wake up!" There is not a soul
in the house besides ourselves"
How do you know" Il am Will
liam Richey. In proof of it, you viii.
find that the box gave you contains
only bricks and that the window
through which we entered is now
closed by a mechanical iron shutter. l
intended to trap you, not deeming you
other than blackleg. And now we
will proceed to light up the house and
give you better welcome"
Mr. Richey, the younger, relaxed
his grasp, arose and lit couple Of
Temps. Uncle Bill followed about
till the whole house was gone through
and the statement verified; then TAX
ing couple of seats in the library
near a decanter and glasses they
silently surveyed each other. but
what did you turn tramp for?" asked
Uncle Bill.
For the same reason that you prob
ably did to take observations on char
acter. There is no occupation that
pleases me better, so am a trampolo-
gist You were expected some time
in the day, but my messenger private
ly informed me. while with you. that
you had not yet come, three different
times. My reason for making your
acquaintance this morning was gen.
eral prepossession in your favor. l
intended TO investigate and in case
your character was what | thought
aid you 10 respectable employment
but before you had declared honestly
you will remember making some gen.
eral observations which could not fail
to be prejudicial to you, and to see il
it were possible for me to have been
so badly deceived in my estimate, /
made the proposal of robbery" ST.
lence, broken by Uncle Bill. will
anybody know Of this absurdityP"
Not unless we tell it." More silence.
"Confound it boy, you gave me the
worst tussle ever had" The same
TO you, sir. Fill again. "Ahem.
thanks "-Arkansaw Traveller.