The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-02-24

Never
"Fanny,"I resumed, resolutely, Il
am in-"
But she jumped up with an agonized
little scream.
Hush wasn't that a mans step in
the basement~hall ? I am sure | heard
it. Kathleen has left the door unbolt-
ed, and the house is full of robbers and
murderers Oh, Mr.. Thistledown, do
do run and see p
She shrank into corner with the
prettiest cowardice had ever seen.
Now I'm not. as q general thing, par
ticularly partial to the company of bur-
glars and house-breakers, but what was
q man to do thus charmingly appealed
to.
Don't be afraid, Fanny" said L,
catching up the guitar case valiantly,
and making for the lower part of the
house with that weapon of aggression.
Come on, Hardenbrook-we'll make
em stir round pretty lively, or we'll
know the reason why +
Hardenbrook followed, rather con-
trary to my expectations. [ had half
feared his remaining behind to comfort
the frightened dove in the blue muslin
feathers.
You look in the kitchen, Thistle
down, and I'll examine the cellar" he
said, and l promptly obeyed. L looked
under the dresser, behind the tables,
even beneath the great brass kettle in
the corner. but there was no burglar
there.
ut must have been cat, Harden
brook, bawled I, for The deuce
how came this door shut p
[ gave the handle of the door an en-.
ergetic turn-it was fast locked!
And now the truth began to dawn
dimly upon my perturbed and excited
brain. The coast was clear and VIC
tory belonged to Bruce Hardenbrook!
In vain I shouted until my lungs
were hoarse-in vain l ratified the re.
lentless door; nothing but the echo re-
warded my efforts. Nor was the scene
of my involuntary confinement particu-
larly inviting. 1t was dark, close and
intensely hot-a circumstance easily
accounted for by the fact of white
hot fire glowing away in the range
and no particular circulation except
that of Croton bugs across the floor.
1 sat down on the brass kettle and
wiped the streams of perspiration from
my forehead-a modern st. Bartholo-
new
I Ignashed my teeth and upset whole
colony of frying pans in despair.
sprang up and ratified the door
once more, shouted at the top of my
lungs; but to no avail. I kicked at the
walls-I beat tattoo on the brass ket-
tie with the guitar case. Vain efforts.
I might as well have attempted to make
myself heard from the great dungeon
cf the Bastile. And then remembered
The probable turn that affairs were TAX
ing up-stair, and uttered hollow
groan.
IF ever get ont of this fiery fur
mace alive T. said to myself, energetic
ally, III let girls and matrimony
alone J.
So the time crept away,s every
moment seeming like an hour, and I
heard the sharp little kitchen clock
strike eight, nine and ten, with keen
sense of despair at every stroke. Should
never escape Was L doomed to be
roasted alive ?
At lergth the monotony of silence
was relieved by the sound of footsteps
coming down the narrow stairs, and
Gordon's voice exclaimed:
Observation-Disclosures - where
the mischief are you all What's the
kitchen door locked for? TIL discharge
syery skin of you or-Hallo thieves
--murder -police p
Aud honest Job fired his revolver
aimlessly into the kitchen and flung g
heavy chair after it.
"Gordon ! stop-hold on-it's /
rorquatus Thistledown r
"Thistledown in my kitchen don't
believe word of it ! Police, say =
But it is I and I'm nearly dead,
Stop your bawling and listen to rea on. "
| sal rather vindictively, for the s en-.
der thread of my patience was RAPIDLY
diminishing down to nothing at all
Let me out where III res breath OF
fresh air and I'll explain things
|
upstairs into the gas lighted hall, mar.
Yelling much at the wilted appearance
tia l presented
Now, then, will you be good enough
to tell me what all this is ahout
come home at 10 o'clock and find my
house open and empty. I go down
into my kitchen, and find the Preside nj
of the Thistledown Petroleum Com
pany INJURED up among the pots and
pans f.! Am 1 asleep or dreaming? o.
have been bereft of my senses p
First" 1 interrupted, where are
Hardenbrook and Fanny p
Where ? How should I know
Another mystery, presume.
No mystery at ALL sir, said we'll
known voice, as Bruce Hardenbroot
came quietly up the front steps ant
into the hall, with Fanny leaning OF
his arm, the pomegranate cheeks :
shade redder than ever, and the bright
hair glistening around her face, "her'
we both are,
"And where have you been ?"
"Only to be married, sir"
married p cried 1.
married O. echoed Mr.. Gordon.
You told me in your note, papa, tc
accept him promptly" faltered Fanny
But I didn't suppose you wer,
going to be aS prompt as all this, sale
the discomfited papa.
l remained to hear no more What
defeated general cares to Hnger ant