The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-02

thing that there was in the house. His
confidence somewhat revived the cour-
age of the ladies.
Now, while all this was going on the
man who had caused all the trouble
might have assembled to the roof and
walked to Harlem over the housetops,
or he might have walked down the front
stairs without molestation from any
body. But he had made no sign. Mrs.
Hawkins had no doubt that he was the
same man who had entered the house
across the way; and, remembering the
proof he had there given of being a
most deliberate and painstaking thief,
she pictured him slowing away all her
treasures while we delayed. She was
now somewhat calmer, and was able to
give partially coherent description Of
the villain. 1t was so dreadful that
even the tough young man was visibly
moved. He bit off another piece of to-
bacco and admitted that he would like
to have good, reliable club. But his
disposition was naturally too prone to
strife to admit of his losing the chance
of fight. He advanced up the front
stairs, and we followed in his wake.
AS we marched up the stairs I took q
position at the end of the column,
where l could cheer the faint-hearted
and drive deserters back into the ranks.
At least, that was the way / explained
it afterward. Thus it happened that
when Billy Murphy, the tough young
man, entered the third floor front room,
/ was not above the second story. When
he pushed the door open the excitement
among our boarders reached such an
uncomfortable frenzy that they all
the stairs bearing me with them. From
above there came presently the noise of
conflict, and then Billy was heard COM
ing down the stairs with heavy tread,
and dragging something after him.
Say, did him up," said Billy. "He
wasn't in it,see! De chump was sittin'
In chair, and give him me right an
left fore he knew where he was.
Dere's de remains of him, see, an say,
dere amt no flies on Billy Murphy"
He cast his victim on the floor as he
spoke. The man didn't appear-so far
as we could perceive in the dim light of
the hall-to be capable of doing any
further damage, and after moment
airy scattering we all rushed toward
him.
Suppose you try a little moral sua-
sion," l ventured to suggest to Mrs.
Hawkins. But she had something else
on her mind. The man had got upon
his feet by this time, and was looking
around.
What the blooming blazes does this
mean?" he shouted. Has everybody
gone clear crazy? Here | go to sleep in
my own room, and this big tough
breaks my head and drags me down
stairs. Then you all stare at me like
an asylum full of idiots What in"
''Oh. George cried Mrs. Hawkins, in
a voice choled with misery, ''how did
you ever get in without my seeing you?
It's all your fault for creeping up there
alone by yourself"
Yes, it was Mr. Hawkins, sure
enough. He had got into the house un-
perceived: had fallen asleep in his chair,
and had been mistaken for a burglar
by his own wife. When we saw the
Hawkinses last that night the power of
moral suasion was being exerted, not
by the person who originally advocated
it, but by old man Hawkins himself.
lie was trying by severely logical
process, founded on hard facts and
dislocated ear, to convince his wife that
she did not know enough to go in out of
the wet HOWARD FIELDING.