Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-04

actions greatly belle you, for what noble
bler,an, be he Spanish, French or Irish,
would have The unblushing effrontery 70
disturb the solitude of perfect stranger
rs you have done'"
My answer on the pad was briefly this:
"Gad to make your acquaintance.
The fact is fancied at the time he was
non compos meptis, some escaped bed
lamite, and thought my safest plan would
be to humor him until he could be secure
,y placed in the custody of his keeper.
A gain the fantastic nobleman used the pad
and placed the following terse sentence in
my hand, Cant return the compliment"
EnraGed Mt this wanton insult | started
TO my feet and flung the pad in his face
My next design was to secure the poniard.
but the fiond, anticipating my action, had
the advantage of me, for in the twnkling
of an eye the mysterious villain stood
erect before me nourishing the glittering
weapon over his head in brigandlikc and
menacing position. | had no weapon Of
defense not even IL backthorn stick. He
perceived my trepidation and seemed to
exult in it, | was about to call for help,
but on receiving another basilsklike
glance from the eyes Of the demoniacal
Spaniard my tongue refused it's Office Ny
bell. BY simple motion of his deadly
poinard he next indicated that he would be
happy to relieve ne of my watch. / ac-
coded to his polite request, and would have
given all possessed to escape from such "a
frightful dilemma The burglarious ruff
fan, having obtained possession Of my
thermometer, seemed to be fully satisfied.
A grim, sarcastic smile lit up his pale
features as he pocketed my watch, strode
slowly to the door and placed the KEY in
the lock.
After surveying me in apparent derision
for some moments he made use of the fol-
lowing unmeaning and nonsensical ejacu-
lations as he took his leave:
"Hai hal no! hol hu, hui hel he! hill hip'
After his departure | thought of alarm
ing the house at once, but after mature
consideration ! concluded to let bygones
be bygones. "Who knows" reasoned L,
"but even now the mscreant may have a
dozen confederates, each armed with q
deadly stiletto and thirsting for my blood "
Having thus satisfied myself, l immedi-
ately locked myself in and the assassin
out. At length sought the repose of my
peaceful couch wiser if not richer man.
But my rest was disturbed. In my dreams
l saw midnight specters. Unpleasant
phantasies haunted my brain. The next
morning l arose with an aching head.
related to mine host all that had occurred.
He evinced great surprise and shortly aft
erward announced the arrival of my friend,
Tom Power The next moment Tom
rushed into the dining room. His face was
wreathed in smiles.
Glad to see you, old boy" said he "You
look pale and worn; what's the matter
Did you not sleep well?" / described to
him my strange nocturnal visitor of the
preceding night. should you behold this
Spanish noble again, he asked, would
you remember the face" "Rememberp
exclaimed. Thunder and lightning Tom,
can | ever forget IT,"
Excuse me for one moment" said he, as
he approached the door leading to the bar,
while at the same time he drew some dark
material from his coat tail pocket. He next
raised his hands, as | thought, to adjust
his neckerchief, but, wonder of wonders,
what was my unutterable amazement on
beholding, as he turned his face toward
me, the facsimile, the exact counterpart
of my Spanish torturer.
'Sold!'' cried Tom in stentorian voice.
"Ha! ha! Io! hol iIu! hu! Hell Hei
Hi! Hip
Tom" said [, 81 Il nand an instant ex-
PLANTATION. What induced you to-
Calm yourself" interposed Tom; 'quell
your anger-my explanation is this: You
remember OF the night OF the masquerade
ball in Dublin a few months ago you per
petratcd practical joke at my expensei
Well, / resolved then to return the com
pliment some day, and you see how beauti-
fully | have succeeded. 1t is simply IA case
of diamond cut diamond. My sole reason
for not accompanying you on the train yes
terday was that might purchase this wig
and beard. arrived here late last night,
and hearing you were about to retire con-
cocted scheme, in which the landlord,
who is fond of a joke, admirably assisted
me"
Tom" said l, your thespian skill is
proportionate TO your ability as painter
! readily admit that | made grand faux
pas last night in mistaking an old friend
for Spanish robher, Return my chro-
nometer and accept my forgiveness, for al
though turned the laugh against you IN
Dublin, must candidly confess that you
outwitted me in Glendalough. "--Barry
OConnor in New York News.