Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-08-22

packages and had just time to make
the train, after purchasing their com
mutation tickets. They went Looping
through the gates in approved SUI
burban style, and caught on just as tho
train moved out, and then Perry
shouted in voice that sounded above
the roar of escaping steam:
"We've left our Sunday dinners on
the window stand of the ticket Office.
You go on, Smead, and I'll take the
next train out"
He swung himself clear off the train,
turned somersault, and waved "all
ders and perspiration from his face and
remarked to the man standing next to
him, in friendly way:
"Nice way to spend the summer, liv-
ing in the suburbsp'
Eyes, if you don't care what you say"
growled the man.
Then Smead took bit of pasteboard
from his pocket and began to study it.
southeast corner, Terrace row, Oak
land"
Smead asked his gruff neighbor if he
got OH at Lnat station. E#.
mo, / don't" said the man. "You
couldn't hire me to live in that swamp.
go out ten miles further, where you
don't have to sift the atmosphere to
keep the mosquitoes from choking
YOU"
That sounded discouraging, but
Smead was not anxious to ride ten
miles further on an accommodation
train, that slowed up for every cow on
the track, and he wrapped himself in
a speculative reverie until the brake
man called "O-a-k-l-a-n-d" as if only
the deaf lived at that station.
Mrs. Smead was waiting for her hus-
band, whom she expected on the half
past six train, but the train had come
and gone, and instead of the handsome,
well-groomed Mr.. Smead, frantic
woman, her neighbor, Mrs. Thorne,
rushed into her cottage.
'T've caught himl" she gasped. "He's
locked up in the libraryl Oh! oh! ohr'
Caught whom?" asked the mystified
woman. Then seeing that her dis
tracted visitor was very near fainting,
she collected restoratives and brought
back Mrs. Thorne's scattered wits.
Maud explained as soon as she could
speak that desperate looking man,
burglar, she was certain, and con-
Wet as well, by the cut of his hair
had feloniously entered her house a
moment before she came, and walk
ing boldly into her library had been
locked safely therein by herself.
1.-THE windows are nailed down; l
have been waiting for Perry to open
them, so he cannot escape that way"
she concluded.
II expect Amos on the last train.
don't see what is keeping him." said
Mrs. Smead, but he has not come
yet" ......
Neither has Perry, but perhaps they
will come together. Isn't it dreadful?
l daren't go back with that man in the
house. know by his looks he's muir
derer. Our girl hasn't come, and I'm
all alone. Oh, if Mr.. Smead were only
here?'
81 guess I'll do just as WELL" said
Mrs. Smead, coldly. 81 will take our
revolver, and you can bring the stove
litter, and we will interview him
through the door"
But what good will that do? He
may shoot firstv'
Come on" said Mrs. Smead, con-
temptuously. She was only a young
matron herself, but she was not going
to be ANONYMOUSLY routed by one
man army, and she led the way to her
neighbor's cottage. No other people
lived in the row, SO they had all the
fun to themselves.
But at that identical moment the
seven-forty train, sometimes called the
husbands train" so many of them
went out to spend the weeks interval
with their families, stopped at the
nearest depot, and Perry Tborne, with
his double load of packages, hove in
sight Both women were overjoyed to
see him.
whats the row?" he asked, drop
ping his bundles on the veranda.
"a mani" said both women at once
"Where is Smead?"
THAT is what would like to know"
said Mrs. Smead; ~ expected him on
this train"
81 haven't seen him. Who is the
mani"
"A burglar, and he's locked up in the
library. Don't you think l was brave?"
asked Maud, who, now that her hus-
band had come, felt that she might
pose as heroine.
Burglars already? Ha! this is n
diversion. Give me the key, Maud.
I'll take your revolver, Mrs. Smead.
Now, ladies, stand aslde," and Perry
made valiant rush for the library
door, which he unlocked and threw
open, at the same presenting arms ac-
cording to the best manual practice.
Don't shoot" cried a familiar voice
that trembled, not with fear, but mer-
riment, as Mr.. Smead stepped smiling
ly forward, and bowed low to Maud:
II am Mrs. Thorne's captive" he said.
what does this mean?" demanded
Mrs. Smead in the measured syllab,es
of the divorce. court.
1T means" explained Mr. Smead,
that my wife has not yet learned to
box the compass. She gave me south