, 1891-01-09
A MIDNIGHT INTRUDER.

Soon after Mr.. Bileton left London
and resided in the country his mind
dwelt upon two necessary things for
the protection Of hisdomicile for Hare
land Cottage, Wiver Heath, was a lone
ly place, and hence he deemed that "A
dog and revolver were Indispensable
Mrs Bileton was in raptures with the
cottage and its beautiful garden during
b summer, but as the nights closed
in her enthusiasm paled. She not only
declared that the house wa damp
hopeleSsly damp-bnt that villainous
characters infested the neighborhood.
and would OF some dark night make n
raid upon the cottage and put all its
inmates to death.
IL vain her husband argued against
such an idea, pointing out thata police
man, who was met by a patrol, was
stationed not far away, and that he
CMr. Bileton), in regard to strength and
courage, was "a match for any nefarious
night prowler.
But when a lady takes anything into
her head there it remains until some
thing else of n more novel nature drives
it ont, and Mr.. Bilcton was in despair.
Il nave taken the house for three
years, Elizabeth" he said, ''and per
haps you will tell me how to get out Of
it without being sued for breach of son
tract"
Let it, Henry, :, replied Mrs. Bileton.
in a tone Of voice suggesting that She
had settled the matter out of hand.
who do you think would take the
aaffuRa AfT rnw I.aI~ .gstl, a.. u-t.s..
coming ong' lie demanded.
That's just where it is" Elizabeth
rejoined sharply, We are compelled
to live TO a place that some people
would refuse to live in rent free"
Henry Bileton leaned his head upon
his hand and groaned.
Women are so inconsiderate," he
said; they think of nothing but sun
shine n new bonnets- / suppose you
would have me sacrifice my season
ticket. paid in advance for a year,
which, my love, II you remember, you
insisted | should do"
- self IT. returned Mrs. Bileton cheer
fully.
This was too much for Henry. lie
did not stop 10 inform his better half
that season tickets were not transfer
able, but thrusting his arms into his
overcoat and his head into his hat de.
parted from Arcadia TO his grimy office
in London.
If bowling went for anything, the
dog purchased by Mr.. Bileston was cal
culated not only TO keep strangers at n
distance, but to compel the residents of
Wiver Heath to follow the example Of
Dick Swiveller and go two miles round
to get over the way. The brute, a non
descript, with a calf like head and a
tail a donkey might be proud of,
howled from early morning till dewy
eve and then went sound asleep, con
seious of having done his duty.
As for the revolver, il was kept
locked in a case for fear that the chill
dren should get at II, and although Mr..
Bleton held the secret in his innerinost
heart, he had lost the key.
In the evening, when he returned
from the city, tired and worn out with
the mental exertions of the day, the
prospect of a two mile walk was not
cheering. Once outside the town Of
Halfont there was scarcely a house, but
Mr.. Bleton did not repine-he had
taken Hareland Cottage for the sake Of
his fanily's health and his own. and it
would have been weakness to grumble.
The air was laden with a heavy white
mist that made the people wheeze and
sneeze, and a policeman TO shrug his
shoulders as he greeted the lonely way
farer with:
Nasty night for you, sir.
Henry Bileton did not need TO be rc
minded of the fact, but, clutching his
bag in one hand and his trusty Malacca
cane in the other, he commenced his
homeward journey.
Sadly and yearningly lac babe the
last lamp adieu, and then all was dark
ness and desolation; and yet on he
went as indomitably as the youth who
bore a banner with the strange device"
until he came to. or thought he had
come to, the spot where he turned Il
reach Hareland Cottage.
He could see no light, but he was not
.surpriszd at that, and making a little
Joke TO himself about getting up early
and cutting the mist for tirewood, lie
turned-and walked into a pond.
Now. Mr.. Bileton was no swimmer,
and not being quito certain 70 70 tive