The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-09-28

Oh Lne HOUSE, dlHlOSl hoping SOMEBODY
might attempt to rob or murder him
even, SO that his revolver might prove
of great avail, and thus silence Nellie,
who was ever talking about what she
called his suspicious nature, when IT
was only necessary caution he thought.
Soon baby was sleeping soundly, not
withstanding Fred's wish to the con-
trary. And Nellie, putting her into the
crib, went to tine bureau to arrange her
hair.
why, Fred has gone without his
watchI' she exclaimed. 81 don't think
he ever did it in his life before. I
wonder he has not been back again
before this!'
The hours passed swiftly by, Fannie,
with her merry heart, fully compen-
sating Nellie for Freds absence.
Eleven o'clock came before they i'm
agined it near so late. Just then they
heard the door close and a moment af-
ter Fred entered the room, and in an
excited voice exclaimed:
Now, ladies. perhaps you will ad-
NIT the good of carrying a revolver,
when L tell you that tonight I have
been robbed"
"Robbedw exclaimed Nellie and Fam
ME simultaneously.
Yes, robbed. But I did not stay so.
many minutes. thanks to my revolver.
Listen, and I'll tell you all about it.
On my way home 1 tur4ed into Four
teenth street. You know how dark
and dismal it IS there-no lights. Well
as I turned, a fellow came rushing
along, knocked against and nearly
sent me down. And saying quickly,
Excuse me, sir" hurried on. 1 suS-
pected what it waS-a dodge they
have when relieving a man of his
watch or pocketbook. I fastened to
feel for my watch. 1t was gone"
why Fred, your watch"
stop. Don't interrupt me. Wait
until l have DONE"
The girls exchanged looks-mirthful
first, anxious afterward.
''In second 1 was after him. Pres
enting my revolver, 1 bade him hand
me the watch. He resisted. 1 covered
him with my pistol, and spoke again in
| a tone which convinced him that I was
| in a dangerous mood.
Hand me the watch
"Out it came, and, without taking a
second look at me, he left. And thanks
| to my little beauty here" tapping his
| revolver, Il am home again no worse
| off than when 1 started. Now, what do
you say?"
"Oh. Fred! Oh, my dear, what have
you done? Oh, you have robbed that
man of his watch! Yours is on the
bureau. You left it at home" Nellie
! cried in a voice of real agitation.
| What? No! Surely notr' exclaimed
Fred, growing very red and starting
| toward the bureau.
| Fannie handed to Fred his own
watch, at the same time fairly shaking
with the laughter she had tried SO
hard to repress.
| "Oh, Fred! Forgive me, I'm only
human; 1 must laugh or die
Peal after peal came from the merry
girl, who could not RESTRAIN herself.
| although Nellie looked so reproach-
| fully ard Fred really angrily at her,
the former saying:
Indeed, Fannie, I'm too much fright
ened to laugh
Fred was too mortified to say an
other word for some time. At length.
| turning to Fannie, who had grown a
little quiet, he snappishly said:
Pray don't step; I'm very happy to
afford you such amusement"
OF course Fannie began anew; and
Nellie, trying to stop her by looks and
| motions, said:
What shall you do, Fred?'
"It is not a matter Of such vital i'm
portance that you need look so worried
Nellie. I'll go to the police headquar-
| ters, explain the matter and leave
| the watch. That will be the end of it,
said Fred, trying to assume a light
careless tone.
Nellie hoped it might be the end of
| 1t; but still fearful Of something un-
pleasant, asked:
| rs it too late tonight to go, Fred?"
Certainly it is," Fred answered.
| Seeing Nellie's face still retain its
| anxious and frightened expressionI
Fred broke out laughing to himself
saying:
you look as mucn frightened, Nell,
as 1 imagine that man did when
| went for his watch"
| Next morning Fred was longer than
| usual getting off from home, and all
| Nellie's urging haste seemed to have
| the tendency to retard instead of ac-
celebrating his motions. But at last, to
| her great relief he was off. After
getting few rods from home he drew
forth the stolen watch, and found, of
course, that 1T had run down. Having
| no key to fit it, he approached jew
elery shop. intending to have 1t wound
up. He failed to notice the very par
| ticular attention with which a police
| man was regarding him. Just as he
| was about to enter the store, he was
| tapped on the shoulder. Turning, he
| beheld the officer. a total stranger to
| him, so he knew it was not a bit of
use to explain the case to him. So, to
| attract as little attention as possible,
he walked quietly along with his not
very agreeable companion, until they
reached the police headquarters.
There he began his explanation. All
| were strange faces around him, on
| which he saw unmistakable signs of
merriment when he said 1t was a mis-
take. And to his immense surprise,
after he had handed over the dreadful
| watch ard was turning to leave, he
was a prisoner-the accusation. rob
berry and assault, with intent to kill"
He sank on he bench for a moment.
so overwhelmed with surprise and NOR
tification that he could with difficulty
| collect his senses enough to know what
to do. just then a gentleman entered