The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-03
t,ut now was a re,-

BROOKS cold. cTifiUai eyes fulf ON nun,
and the amused curve of his lip varying
Mt every word spoke?
/ I'll was thinking Of asking yon,
Fanny
"Yes, Mr. Thistledown."
But my courage failed me at this event
full instant.
"If you're much troubled with mos
quitoes in this neighborhood'- tE
mot at all.
Bruce was laughing-l knew he WAS,
but / scorned to look to him. felt as il
l had been taking bath in liquid fire.
Was l. to be trifed with thus? Never!
Fanny" resumed. resolutely. II am
| in"
But she jumped up with an agonized
little scream.
Hush! wasn't that u mans step in
Kathleen has left the door unbolted and
the house is full of robbers and murder
ers! Oh, Mr.. Thistledown. do-do run
| and seer
She shrank into corner with the
prettiest cowardice had ever seen. Now
I'm not. rs general thing, particularly
partial to the company of burglars and
housebreakers, but what was a man to
do thus charmingly appealed to?
Don't be afraid, Fanny" said |.
| catching up the guitar case valiantly
making for the lower part of the house
with that weapon of aggression. Come
on, Hardenbrook-well make 'em stir
round pretty lively. or we'll know the
reason whyr' . 49,. K
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 kitcl n. Thistledown,
and I'll examine the cellar. he said. and
promptly obeyed 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 the cat, Harden
brook" bawled |, ''for-the deuce, how
came this door shut
gave the handle Of the door an ener
getic turn-it was fast lockedl
And now the truth began to dawn
dinly upon my perturbed and excited
brain-the coast was clear, and victory
| belonged to Bruce Hardenbrook!
In vain 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 invit-
ing. 1t was dark. close, and intensely
hot-a circumstance easily accounted
| for by the fact of white hot fire glow
ing away in the range and no particular
circulation except that OF Croton bngs
across the floor! sat down on the brass
kettle and wiped the streams of perspl
ration from my forehead-a modern St
Bartholomew. 1859
Ignashed my teeth and upset u 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
II 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 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
IN let girls and matrimony alone!"
So the time crept away every moment
seeming like an hour. and heard the
sharp little kitchen clock strike 4. and
10, with a keen sensation of despair at
every time. Should never escape? Was
doomed to be roasted alive?
At length the monotony of silence was
relieved by the sound of footsteps coming
down the narrow stairs. and Job Cor
don's voice exclaimed:
Mary Hannah - Kathleen where
the mischief are you all What's the
kitchen door locked for? I'll discharge
every skin of you. r-hellol--thieves!
murder!--poiice!'
And honest Job fired his revolver aim
lessly into the kitchen and flung heavy
chair after it.
i "Cordonl stop-hold on-its Tor
quatus Thistledownr'
'Thistledown in my kitchen! don't
believe word of it! Police. sayr
/ 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
Shing down to nothing at all. "Let me
ont where there's breath of fresh air
and I'll explain things,
The astounded old gentleman led ne
up stairs into the gas lighted hall. mar
Yelling much 1T the wilted appearance
that presented.
Now. then, will You be good enough
to tell me what all this is about? ie.oni.
home at 10 o'clock and find my house
open and empty. | 20 down into my
kitchen and find the president Of the
. Thistledown Petroleum company INJURED
. up among the pots and pans! Am
!, asleep and dreaming. or have been bt
reft of his senses"
: First. interrupted. where are
} Hardenbrook and Fanny
Where. How should known An
other mystery. ipresume
mo mystery at all, sir. said well
known voice as Bruce Hardenbrook came
| uryiptIy mn the front stafss and into fhs