The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-09-07

work and little thanks from a callous
public. Billy did not pause to think
that these men had no Saturday night
off, and that they were most industrious
while other people were sound asleep.
We generally think that our own partic-
ular occupation has the most drawbacks,
giving little heed to the discomforts of
others.
One man was holding a bag open and
the other two were creeping about fill
ing the receptacle with various articles
priced by connoisseurs and collectors.
Il think we've got as much as we can
carry" whispered the man who was
holding the bag.
This remark caused Billy to reflect
that if he was going to do anything in
the matter it was time to set about it.
So he emulated the conduct Of the cele-
brated Duke of York, who marched men
up the hill and straightway marched
them down again. Billy crept down the
stair with the unused poker still in his
fist. He realized that if he went to the
police station, which was some distance
away, the burglars would be gone be-
fore help came.
Then the brilliant idea occurred to
him that he might follow the thieves ST.
lently on his bicycle, mark their lair,
come with an ample police force at his
back and capture the whole outfit, thus
earning the eternal gratitude of the en-
tire neighborhood. Then the item would
be headed, "Clever Capture of a Band
Of Burglars-The Silent Cycle Follows
Them to Their Rendezvous.
Billy got his machine out from it's
shed, noiselessly unlocked the back gate,
closed it again as silently as he had
opened it and waited in the shadow of
a tree across the way. In a very few
moments the burglars came out, each
carrying a bag. They peered up and
down the deserted street, and then
slipped out, walking rapidly away to-
gether. Billy had no difficulty in fol-
lowing them. His only trouble was the
street lamps, which he avoided as we'll
as he could by keeping on the opposite
side OF the road from them. He hoped
he would meet a policeman, so that he
might give the alarm, and his wish was
gratifed. The officer stepped unexpect-
eddy out from beside a tree, and he
grasped Billy by the arm.
"Why are you cycling out at this
time Of night without your lamp lit?'
my lamp lit, you fool!" gasped
Billy, taken by surprise, and therefore
not having time to choose his language
with the care a man should use when
addressing SO important a parsonage as
a policeman. "How the -- could I
chase burglars with a lit lamp?"
"That's all very fine," said the off,
Ger. "I've heard that kind Of a story
before. A man doesn't get up and dress
himself in a full bicycling suit to chase
burglars at 2 in the morning"
"But I slept in my bicycling suit,
you ass!' protested Billy, feeling, as he
said it, that it sounded rather thin and
unbelievable in the keen morning air.
"I'll report the language you are
using to the magistrate," said the po-
liceman calmly, knowing the whole ma
chinery of the law was with him.
my house has been burglarized, "
cried Billy. 1.-THE three thieves passed
you with their swag, and I don't sup
pose you ever saw them. Precious lot
Of good you idiots are, not only letting
the rascals slip, but arresting a MAJ
who is robbed and who is trying to dc
the work you are paid for doing"
"Cone and tell all this to the officer
on duty at the station. You're bicycling
without a lamp at night, and that's all
I have to deal with, and I'm going to
deal with it,"
Billy broke into language that was
both deplorable and indefensible, but
the policeman merely noted it down anc
took the unfortunate man to the station.
Billy speedily convinced the night MAJ
at the police station that a mistake hat
been made, and two of the force were
sent to investigate. They reported tina
the house had been burglarized will
neatness and dispatch, but the burglins
birds had flown.
The magistrate told Billy next morn
ing that if he had been moro moderat,
in his talk his miscarriage Of justice
might not have happened. He shoult
not use such language, the magistrate
said, and when Billy asked what els
he could have used, seeing that he ha,
no club with him, the magistrate re
marked that he would fine him for con
tempt of court if he tried his flippanc,
on the bench.
So the item appeared as Burglary a
Lonelyville,' and another paragraph
stated that Billy Sims, a we'll know
journalist, had been fined for ridin,
about the streets at 2 in the morning o.
q hicycle with an nnlit lamn and tha