The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-09-28

mutation tickets. They went Looping
through the gates in approved su-
burban style. and ca ught Oh just as the
train moved out, and then Perry
shouted In a voice that sounded a bove
the roar Ct escaping steam:
We've left our Sunday dinners on
the window stand of the ticket office.
You go on, smead, and III take the
ncxt train out"
lie swung himself clear off the train.
turned n somersau1t, and waved ''all
right" to Slnead, who mopped the Gin
ders and Precipitation from his face ana
remarked to the man standing next to
him. in n friendly way:
mice way to spend the SIMMER. liv-
ing in the suburbs?''
Yes, il you don't care Whist you s::y; I"
growled the thah.
Then Smcad took a bit of pasteboard
from his pocket and began to study it..
''Southcast corner, Terrace row, Oak
l:nd.''
Smead asked his gruff ncigtbor If he
got off at that station.
mo, don't" sail the man. ''You
couldn't hire me to live in that swamp.
l go out ten miles further. where you
don't have to sift the atmosphere to
keep the mosquitoes from choking
you."
That sounded discouraying, 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
n speculative rcvcrie until the bralsc-
man called 'O-a-lz-l-a-n-d!' as if only
the deaf lived at that sutton.
Mrs Slncad was waiting former hus-
band, whom she expected on the half
past six train, but the train had come
and gone, and instead Of the handsome,
wc1l-groomed Mr.. Sinead, a frantic
woman, her neighbour, Mrs. Thorne,
rushed into her cottage.
I've caught him!" she gasped. Hes
locked up in the library! Oh! oh! oh!'
Caught whom?' asked the mystitied
woman. Then seeing that her dis
tracted visitor was very near fainting,
she collected rcstora tivcs and brought
back Mrs Thornc's scattered wits.
Maud explained as soon as she could
speak that \ desperate looking man, q
burglar, she was certain, and a con.
vict as wctl, by the cut of his hair
had feloniously entered her house b
moment before she came, ar<i walk
ing boldly into her library had beer
locked safely therein by herself
The windows arc nailed down;
have been waiting for Perry to oper
them, so he cannot escape that way
she concluded
II expect Amos on the last train. !
don't sec what is keeping him." said
Mrs. smead, but he has not conc
yet"
Neither has Perry, but perhaps the,
will come together. Isn't it dreadful?
daren't go back with that man in tho
house. know by his looks he's a 1r,ur
derer. Our girl hasn't come and I'm
all alone. Oh, il Mr.. Smead were o,>ly
here?'
II guess I'll do just as WE'LL" said
Mrs Smead, coldly. II will take our
revolver, and you can bring the stove
litter, and we will interview him
through the door,
Tut what good will that do? lie
may s-h-o-o-t first!'
Come on" said Mrs. Smead, con
temptuously. She was only young
matron herself. but she was not going
to be ignominiously routed by n one
man army, and she led the way to her
neighbours cottage. No other people
lived in the row, 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 Thorne, with
his double load of packages, hove in
sight. Both women were overjoyed to
sec him.
whats the row?" he asked, drop
ping his bundles on the veranda.
"A man." said both women at once
"Wherc is Smead?'
That is what would like to know"
said Mrs. Smead; II expected him on
this train"
II haven't seen him. Who is the
man?'
"A burglar, and he's locked up in the
library. Don't you think l was bravc?''
asked Maud, who, now that her hus-
band had come, felt that she might
pose as heroine.
"Burglars already? Hn! this is n
diversion. Give me the key, Maud.
I'll take your revolver. Mrs. Smead.
Now, ladies, stand asldc,' and Perry
made 4 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 n familiar voice
that trembled. not with fear. but mer-
riment, rs Mr.. Smcad 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!cs
of the divorce court.
1T MEANS" explained Mr.. Smead.
''that my wife has not yet learned to
box the compass She gave me south.
west and your wife locked me up in q
room that has no ventilation, and I'M
der a criminal ban. But forgive
her. he added, with gallant protest.
whereat Maud's cheeks grew red with
embarrassment. and Mrs. Smead said:
Come home! After this I will meet
you at the train and see that you don't
oct into the ko1Se.'