The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-01-11


in"-
But she jumped up with an agonized
little scream.
"Hushl wasn't that a mans step in
the basement hall? l am sure heard it.
Kathleen has left the door unbolted and
the house is full of robbers and murder
ersl Oh, Mr.. Thistledown, do--do run
and seer
She shrank into corner with the
prettiest cowardice had ever seen. Now
Pm not, as a general thing, particularly
partial to the company of burglars and
housebreakers, but what was man to
do thus charlningly appealed to2
Don't be afraid, Fanny" said l.
catching up the guitar case valiantly
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 whyw
Hardenbrook followed, rather contrary
to my expectations; had half feared
his remaining behind to comfort the
frightened dove in the blue muslin feath.
ers.
''You look in the kitchen, Thistledown,
and I'll examine the cellar" he said, and
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.
sit must have been the cat, Harden
brook" bawled |, ''for-the deuce, how
came this door shut?n
gave the handle of the door an ener-
getic turn-it was fast locked
And now the truth began to dawn
dimly upon my perturbed and excited
brain-the coast was clear, and victory
belonged to Bruce Hardenbrookl
In vain l shouted until my lungs were
hoarse-in vain ratified the relentless
door; nothing but the echo rewarded my
efforts. Nor was the scene of my invol-
untary confinement particularly inyit-
ing. 1t was dark, close, and intensely
hot--a circumstance easily accounted
for by the fact of a white hot fire glow
ing away in the range and no particular
circulation except that of Croton bugs
across the foorl | sat down on the brass
kettle and wiped the streams Of perspi-
ration from my forehead--a modern st.
Bartholomew.
CRASHED my teeth and upset whole
colony of frying pans in despair.
| sprang up and ratified the door once
more, shouting at the top of my lungs
but all to no avail. / kicked at the walls
Il beat tattoo on the brass kettle with
the guitar case. Vain efforts. might
as we'll have attempted to make myself
heard from the great dungeon of the Bas-
tile. And then l remembered the proba-
BILE turn that affairs were taking mp
stairs and uttered hollow groan.
"If ever get out of this fiery furnace
alive" said ! to myself energetically,
"Tll let girls and matrimony alone!''
So the time crept away, every moment
seeming like an hour, and heard the
sharp little kitchen clock strike s, and
10, with keen sensation of despair at
every time. Should never escape? Was
doomed to be roasted alive2
At length the monotony of silence was
relieved by the sound of footsteps coming
dewnethe Narrow stairs. and job Cor
don's voice exclaimed:
the mischief are you allP What's thu
kitchen door locked for? I'll discharge
every skin of you, or-hello!-thievesl--
murderl-policep
And honest Job fred his revolver aim
lessly into the kitchen and flung heavy
chair after it.
"Cordonl stop-hold on-it's Tor
quatus Thistledownp
"Thistledown in my kitchen! don't
believe word of it'll Police, sayl"
"But it is /, and I'm nearly dead. STOP
your bawling and listen to reason"
said rather vindictively, for the slender
thread of.my patience was rapidly dimin-
ishing down to nothing at all. LET me
out where there's breath of fresh air,
and I'll explain things"
The astounded old gentleman led me
up stairs into the gas lighted hall, mar
Yelling much ct the wilted appearance
that presented.
"Now, then, will you be good enough
to tell me what all this is about? leone
home at 10 o'clock and find my house
open and empty. | go down into my
kitchen and find the president of the
Thistledown Petroleum company INJURED
up among the pots and pansl Am
asleep and dreaming. or have been be-
reft of his senses?"
"First," / interrupted, where are
Hardenbrook and Fanny"
"Where? How should l know? An
other mystery, presume"
"No mystery at all, sir" said well
known voice as Bruce Hardenbrook came
| quietly up the front steps and into the
hall, with Fanny leaning on his arm, the
pomegranate cheeks shade redder than
ever, and the bright hair glistening
around her face; ''here we both are"
| "And where have you been%
"Only to be married, sir!"
Married. cried /.
Married. echoed Mr.. Gordon.
"You told me in your note, papa, Il
| accept him promptly" faltered Fanny.
"But didn't suppose you We're COINS
to be as prompt as all this" said the dis
comfted papa.
| remained to hear no more. What de
feated general cares to linger and surve,
the scenes of his rout and discontinue
Turning deaf ear to Gordon's apologize
and notwithstanding Bruce's hypo
critical coincidence and Fanny's melting
eyes, where laughter and compassion
blended into bewitching lights-I put Oh
my hat and shook the dust of that man
sion off my feet at once and forever.
And that was my last courtship.-Buf
falo News.