The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-07-05

not the dressing room for which he was
looking. Before he could step back and
turn down the corridor again the unex-
pected happened. He received a sudden
and violent push from behind, which
flung him forward out Of the doorway
into the room, the door was instantly
locked upon him, and he was q prisoner.
"Smythe luck - said the poor man
as he tried in vain to open the door and
knew by the rumpus he could hear out
side that the house was in a state Of ex-
element. II suppose they will think I
was trying to steal something"
And to add to his terror he heard the
alarmed household coming up stairs,
and the next moment the door Of his
Don was opened, and his host, backed
by all the male guests, stood in the open
doorway.
What are you doing here?" was the
first question his host propounded. Tell
the truth now as you would hope for
mercy"
= came here to get my hat and
coat" said the professor, the dignity of
all the Smythes since Mount Ararat in
MS tnln, raSplng tones.
"A likely story. Turn your pockets
inside out, commanded the host.
Il refuse to do it."
"Then I will send for the police. l
was willing to give you a chance, but
if you refuse to be searched you are
guilty"
II am not a thief"
Il do not know. Your actions are
very suspicious. You can explain mat
ters to the chief Of police. There must
be reasons why you refuse to be search
ed. If you are honest, you can have moth
ing to conceal"
A hollow laugh rang through the
room. Was it possible the bold intruder
dared to laugh at them? 1t was the
laugh Of despair, and as such it smote
upon the heart of the host, who looked
troubled and perplexed. His enforced
guest saw the look, and it suggested a
line Of action to him.
Send these men away" he said,
pointing to the group of alarmed guests
crowding in at the door. He was glad
the women had remained below stairs
and not come to gaze upon his discom-
future. He did not know that they We're
locked up in fear and trembling in a dis
tant parlor.
"We won't CO." c!loruseG&.he group.
HE may want to murder YOU"
Idon' t think he w;;ll," said the host,
who was really soft hearted. ''I'll trust
him, and you fellows can 60 to the Ia
l;oo T,1l coll - r ,ool Lo1-
They went, rather glad to be out Of it,
and the two men, left together, eyed
each other, one waiting for the other to
speak. They were exactly opposite in
appearance, II rosy and rubicund, the
other thin and anxious-a meager tray
esty on a successful man.
"Irefused to let you search me, " said
the professor slowly, "because-oh, my
God, how can I acknowledge it am
q thiefr'
The other man started and moved to-
ward the door. Then he waited.
"Ihave stolen from you-here, let me
show you, and you will know why I
could have died easier than to have these
people gloating over me. See here-and
here and hers"
He took the valuables out Of his peck
ct one by n They made a strange ex-
hibit as he piled them up on the table
in front Of him. They were a roll Of
dinner bread, q pate, a sweetbread roll
ed in a leaf Of lettuce, a chicken breast,
a bit Of toasted bread and a caviare
sandwich. He brought them out to the
last crumb, with the manner of one who
lays his life on the altar Of sacrifice.
"Great heavens, man, what does this
mean?" asked the astonished host.
1T means, replied the other solemn
~, that my sick wife and my little
children are starving, and that I pilfer-
ed from my share Of food at your table
to give them, for my rent is overdue,
and the money I earned is already
spent"
but what did you eat yo~urself?"
more than l have eaten for many a
day. But now do with me what You
will"
Would You mind putting these things
back into your pocket?" inquired his
host vaguely. "Now come with me-"
He took him by the arm and led him
down stairs and into the presence Of the
shaking guests. IL made a bad mis-
take, my friends" he said. "This gen.
tleman has proved himself perfectly in
nocent Of any attempt at crime, and I
must beg you to remain silent as to the
events Of this evening. He is under my
protection from this time, and you will
all agree with me that we are extremely
sorry that such a mistake should have
occurred"
OF course they all agreed with the
sentiments Of their host, whatever they
were, and Professor Smythe was allow
ed to take his leave amid profuse apollo
gies. -Mrs. NJ. l. Rayne in Detroit Free
Press.
Conan Doyle on Cycling.
rpro~ norln ~rH1 &, ~~ >-Al-: -