The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-02-16
the arms upward, and sat down on
his back

u : 'sf +
The burglar struggled, evidently
striving to free one hand to use. his
knife; but the colonel was now fighting
for his life; his clutch of the wrists did
not relax. When the struggle grew
weaker, and Pitblado had got back
his breath, he hissed:-
"You villain! Ii you don't keep
your hands still, I'll drive my knife
through your heart. One motion and
you are a dead man."
The burglar made no reply. He
painted, and sounds came from him
which to .Pitblado's ear sounded
like a sob. The colonel derived a
qualified satisfaction from his still
ness. II he had dared to loose his
clutch Of the fellows wrists, he would
have tried to throttle him; but the dan
ger ola stabin the side, if he moved his
hands to the burglars throat, was
too obvious. He thought Of shout
ing fer help. But that would have
betrayed his presence in Constance's
drawlng-room after the lights were
out and when her uncle was in bed.
He would rather risk the knife
than get her into a scrape. He sup
posed that she had He'd upstairs,
whereas, in fact, she was in q dead
faint on the sofa.
What was he to do? Was he to
stay sitting on that burglar all night?
While he ransacked his brain for an
expedient, a deep groan came from the
man under him. The burglar gasped
and at last muttered:-
"1f you'll let me up, I'll show
you"
eyes, I daresay," said Pitblado;
''you'll show us lots of things. That
cock won't fight, It's l that am
going to show you the door of the
other world"
The colonel could feel culver go
through the frame on which he sat
The burglar went on
"l,ll show you-"
"Haven't I told you that I am
going to do all the showing in this
menagerie?"
."1f,you'll only lift your wei2ht off
my lungs: so can BREATHE" said
the burglar,
you'd make use OF your breath
to drive knife into me, wouldn't
you? Not much. Pm just thinking
how I shall kill you so as not to ruin
the carpet"
"Oh! oh! oh!'' came from the
PROSTATE body.
"What an unreasonable fellow you
are!" said the colonel; ''here I've let
youlive for ever so many minutes while
I have been studying how to put you
to DEATH"
"Spare my life," gurgled the burglar.
"Why should I?'
"1'll-l'll show you where the silver
u.s."
"You'll show me?" repeated the
colonel, puzzled.
II will. 1 give you my honor, I
will"
ooh, 1 see," said Pitblado; "you
want to divide. 1t won't do"
What more do you want?'
II don't intend,' said the colonel,
that you shall have a single spoon"
"Take them all; take them all.
Only let me keep Comics christening
cup"
"By George!" muttered Pitblado,
you're a romantic sort OF chap to be
a burglar" 49,
It had by this time become mani
fest to the colonel that the situation
could not be prolonged for ever. He
could not sit on that burglars back
till morning-the tension of the
muscle OF his arms was weakening.
He must somehow get him to the
nearest police-station. If he only
had ray OF light!
!, At that moment faint groan
came from the sofa.
"By jingo!" muttered the colonel;
'he's got an accomplish"
Another sound from the'sofa, and
Pitblado saw that time was up. The
newcomer might cat any moment
rush to the rescue OF his accomplice.
Pitblado had noticed poker and
shovel in front of the drawing-room
CRATE. With sudden spring be re-
gained his feet, let the burglar go,
leaped to the CRATE, and seized the
poker.
A wild shrek came from the sofa,
| and simultaneously the colonel
struck a match. By it's flare he saw,
to his amazement, Constance sitting
| upon the sofa and the burglar lying
motionless on the floor. Had he kill.
ed the scoundrel?
Another match lit the gas, and
Constance ~sprang to the bur lar
took his head in her arms. and
screamed to Pitblado:-
"You have killed my uncle!"
"YouI uncle? Why, that's thu
burglarr'
Its my uncle, and you have choke6
him to death. He's insensible. Oh
help me to bring him round!"
The PROSTATE man revived, and
seeing Constance, muttered:-
"Let him take all the silver, Con
stance. except your ch-istening-cup
If he will spare our lives Well no
prosecute"
It did not take long to get Mr.
Timmins upon tho sofa, and, as h
was not hurt, glass of rum admins
tered by the tender hands of Con
stance, restored him to his senses
His mind was still confused. HI
mrFmured:-
Il have had q narrow escape, m,
poor Constance. I seemed to hear
| IL