The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-04-06

Don't be afraid, Fanny" said |
catching up the guitar case valiantly
and making for the lower part Of thu
house with that weapon of aggress
ion. Come on Hardenbrooll-we'l
make 'em stir round pretty lively, O
we'll know the reason why."
Hardenbrook followed, rather con.
trary to my expectations; | had hal
feared his remaing behind to com
fort the frightened dove in the blue
muslin feathers
"You look in the kitchen Thistle
down, and III examine the cellar" he
said, and l promptly obeycd. | looked
under the dresses, behind the tables
even beneath the great brass kettle
in the corner, but there was no bur
glars there.
at must have been the cat Har-
denbrook," bawled |, "for-Thc
duce. how came this door Shut?"
| gave the handle of the door ar
energetic turn-it was fast locked.
! CRASHED my teeth and upset
whole colony of frying pans in de-
spair.
Burglars, indccd-a pretty story!
Gracious! how hot it is, and fellow
can't move his head without bringing
down a lot of tin things.
[ sprang up and ratified the door,
shouting at the top Of my lungs; but
all to no avail. | kicked at the walls
i beat tattoo on the brass Kettle
with the guitar case. Vain efforts
So the time crcpt away, every mo-
ment seeming like an hour, and |
heard the sharp little kitchen clock
strike s, Q and 10, with a keen SEN
saition Of despair at every time
Should | never escape? Was
doomed to be roasted alive?
At length the monotony of science
was relieved by the sound of foot
steps coming down the narrow stairs,
and Job Gortlon's voice exclaimed:
"Mary-Hannah-Kat hlcen-where
the mischief are yon all? What the
kitchen door locked for? I'll dis
charge ever skin of you, or-Hallo
thieves !-mur'ler!-police."
And honest Job fired his revolel
aimlessly into the kitchen and flung
a heavy chair after it.
"Gordon! Stop-hoIt on-it's J.
Torquotus Thistlcdown!"
"'Thistledown in my kitchen!
don't believe word Of it'
"But it is and I'm ncarl " dead.
Stop your bawlirg and listen to rea-
son." [ said, rather vindictivelv, fol
the slender thread of my patience was
rapidly diminishing down to nothing
at all. "Let me out where there's a
breath Of fresh air, and I'll explain
things -
The astonishcd old gentleman led
me upstairs into the gas-!ighted hall.
marveling much at the wilted ap-
pearance that | presented.
"Now, then, you will be good
enough to tell me what all this is
about. | came home at 10 o'clock
and find my house open and empty.
| go down into my kitchen and find
the President of the Thistlcdown Pc
troleum Company INJURED up among
the pots and pans! Am / asleep and
dreaming? or have ! been bcrcft Of
my senses?'
dFirst," / interrupted, "where are
Hardenbrook and Fanny?'
"Whcrc? How should know:
Another mystery, | presume.
"No mystery at all SIR said q
well-known voice, as Bruce Harden.
brook came quietly up the front steps
and into the hall, with Fanny lean.
ing on his arm, the pomegranatt
cheeks a shade retdcr than ever, ant
the bright hair glistcnlng around hel
face; "here we both are
"And where have you been?"
"Married!!"
"Married?" echoed Mr.. Gordon.
"You told mo in your note, papa
to accept him promptly" faltere'
Fanny New York News.
The Smith Family to Erect Il Monument
to IN Historic Event.