The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-05-11

ne questions BEFORE she nau luily ac-
commodated herself To the novel event,
the man-of- all-work gave her another
surprise presenting a telegram which
set forth that his sister was Ill and
needed him. OF course Mrs Balcom
let aim 20. 1t aid not occur to her
that the double departure left her and
the children unprotected, and If 1t had
she would have smiled at the idea of
danger She did not know that there
was q burglar in town
Mr.. la loom did know. As he came
up from the train the evening before.
his neighbor Jones had stopped him To
whisper that the IIartshorne house had
been entered and jrdiciously ransacked.
The IIartshornes Were in Europe. The
care aker had been sojourning in that
other foreign land. drunkard's para
disc. but as soon as he came out Of it
he discovered the robbery and fastened
10 ask Jones advice. Jones, who had
nervous mother-in-law. suggested
that the matter be kept as quiet as pos
siple; and he wanted to know II Mr..
Bacom-
You did Just right" Mr.. Balloon in
terrupted. when the story had gone thus
far These country constables would
frighten every woman into Mysteries,
but they wouldn't catch a burglar once
in thousand times Professional. is
he?"
80 ! suppose. He seems TO have
gone into the house and through it as
though he knew his business"
''Ill back my burglar alarm against
him." Mr.. Balloon chuckled, confident
~.
How about Ben Ezra?" the neigh
Dor asked
No fear of him. You see. my stable
is as well protected rs my house" Mr..
Balcom explained. Fact is, I'd soon
err lose half there il in the house than
fellow is. had veterinary out yes
terday to look at him. and | can't drive
him for week. l guess l."
II suppose we ought 10 do some
thing" Mr. Jones ventured TO hint.
He knew that II allowed to go on Mr..
Balcom would talk about his horse I'M
Ill the burg lar-and the listcner-iicd
natural death
"Oh. Of course we must trip the fell
low before he goes any further. Tell
You what: l know private detective
who was on the Boston force for years
long enough to get acquainted with
every rascal in the country III bring
him home with me tomorrow 10 look
over the ground. 1t would be better to
pay him hundred than have the thing
get out and bedevil the women"
Yes, indeed said Mr.. Jones. fer
vently
So it was decided And after the
neighbors had exchanged the usual re-
marks on the dryness Of the season and
the need of rain. Mr.. Balloon sauntered
homcward calm in that contcntment
which managing man has a right to
feel. lie kissed his wife and children
and then he went out and carcsscd his
horse With the burglars accomplish
ments in mind he looked carefully to
the locks and the alarms. They were
perfect and in order. He went to bed
In peace.
That night. however, he had horrid
Dream. II seemed that Ben Ezra was
'''n, tnat ne nau EXPENDED MS Tor
tune in seeking the horse: that finally,
when ne had sunk to bcggar outcast,
ne found the wreck Of Ben Ezra haul
ing garbage cart. The dream so
wrought upon NJ. Balloon that he
awo'sc in cold perspiration. He
rushed TO the stable and proved ii only
adream. But it might be warning.
mat superstitious fancy fingered with
nm through the hours of dusk and
uawn, and the early glare Of an August
suh GID not dispel it. 1t hurried him
Y thc city, as has been told.
Looking at it in the light OF his new
knowledge, Mr.. Balcom could see
many reasons why Maple Park should
attract burglar Its isolated and un-
guarded location is one; the smallncss
ano slcerincss of the town that it
r'hgcs Is another Scckonket has
why two constabes and one hand fire
sug'ne- though 10 be sure. IL has four
suurches-and the aristocratic resi-
sents cut themselves off from all these
y'esslnys by building on the further
ue Of Greenlcafs hill. As Maple
a'x holds aloof from Scckonket -