Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-11-02


and cursing at every step, and with
the energy Of despair, caught the
boat In my arms, and with wild
strain tried to shove 1t into the water
But IL would scarcely bulge, Again
and again tugged, the blood almost
bursting through my ears by the exer-
ton and tho skin tearing from my |
hands and bare arms.
So near thought to safety, and still |
the danger increasing every second,
then rs | heard an oath, more wicked |
than the others, rs one of tho bur |
glars fell over stone, felt the boat |
move and little wave rolled In and |
lifted II, so that with one more push IL |
slid off into deep water. jumped in,
caught the oars, and as the burglars
dashed down through the darkness TO
where they heard the noise, the boat
shot out into the water and was safe.
They might have shot me from the
shore, but they had either left their re-
volvers in the house or had none, the
revolver being too noisy weapon for
burglars as n rule.
Whatever the cause they did not fire,
and did not wait for IL, at least that
close hundred feet out began 10 be
myself once more and stopped rowing.
"Why don't you come on2" I shouted
back half Historically.
Hold on" they yelled, and l could
hear them running up and down the
shore In the darkness
ooh, you're all right" | laughed
shrilly. I'm como and take you on In
the course Of few hours" and then,
fearful that they might get their guns,
l rowed away as fast as could for the
mainland.
| think I made that three miles In
half the record, and when | found the
first policeman, he was for running me
In as n lunatic or a sleep-waltcr, but
he knew me, and as soon as | told my
story, force of ten men boarded a tug
and we returned to the island. by this
time the first gray streaks of dawn were
showing in the summer sky, and US we
cautiously ran up 10 my wharf, II was
almost light enough To see the house.
We saw no burglars, however, nor
any signs of them, though knew | had
them penned up ON the island and es.
cape was impossible. We waited until
daylight, and then, deployed as slsir-
mishers, the policemen began TO move
across the island, expecting any mo-
ment TO nush burglar or get shot
from ambush.
As we came up TO the house one OF
the burglars appeared In the doorway
and was covered on the instant by a
dozen guns.
Come in, gentlemen, come right In,
he said, chcerily. I'VE were expecting
you and we've got nice breakfast
ready"
The mans GOODNESS almost gave III,
the Mysteries, for knew by the sounC
of his voice that he was the fellow whC
wanted TO fix" me.
But he was uttering the truth-they
did have a nice breakfast for us tout o
my larder), and not that only, bat the,
had found that Henry was not dead
and they had washed him and dom
what they could in caring for him, ant
had done IL so well that he Is alive "a
day with only an ugly soar on his nee
as a memento.
There were four In the lot and W
soon had them handcuffed, and the
we sat down TO breakfast and enjoye
IL, though l must confess that by thi
time the condition | was In PHYSICAL
was not pleasant
You're IA queer gang" said tn
lieutenant OF police TO the leader, VIII
had invited us to breakfast. what di
you do this for2'
} "The breakfast. you mean2'
"And all the rest OF It," said I'll
officer.
"Well cap'n, "hc replied, Its like THU
We wuz here fer de swag, kill err nj
and we thought we had killed the fu,
one, and, OF course, the other one ha
10 go, to stop talk Then when he "
away and had us penned up like RAJ
Dbl we came 10 the conclusion that we ha
better git out the best way we coul'
The one we thought was dead onl
! needed repairs, 30 we repaired him, an
y we lSnowcd you'd be here Dimeby
L look fer ms, aud probably coming OF
r so early in the morning you might
hungry. So, bcggin' the gents pardo
fer trespassin', we turned In and hXt
/ you up a nice breakfast Now, WASH
\ that about the white thing 10 do2"
had had enough 10 put most men
y a bad humor, but this candid statemei
struck my funny-bono somehow, and
laughed until the tears ran down N
!. checks, and even the policeman smile
~ OF course. the burglars had done Il
T, best thing possible for themselves al
.ct the very unique plan they had adopt'
~, Of necessity was in their favor, al
~, they only got ten years apiece, Hem
tr testifying so earnestly 10 their polit
ness and care that that part Of II WI
not taken into the count at all.
- But can assure you | did not s
back TO the island again. gave IL
Henry, as II stood and he lives the
with his wife, respected and admired
do believe, by every burglar In q
guild, for hc holds them In the highc
esteem.
On, yes, almost forgot When II
story came out In the papers, and n
part Of 1t was set forth, as only repoi
"A ers know how 10 do such things, IL
~ bella. Of course, heard Of II, and o
moonlight night she said 20 me!
~ major, / thought once you were II
10 the kind Of man for woman 10 mi
ry, but I've changed my mind"
a. feel under obligations 10 those bl
= glars myself.-W j. hampton, In
troit Free Press