The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-12-25

through the window with the agility
of fireman.
''H-i-s-t" came from within.
"W-h-i.s-t."
These we're the pass words.
'Js il you?"
'Yes--it's me-" was the hasty and
ungrammatical reply.
"Wbere's GussieI'
"Gussie who ?'
This time the voice was growl,
Gilbert saw the form of man, but it
did not resemble his friend Bob.
"what will we carry the swag in9"
asked the voice with growl.
Good heavensl burglar Gilbert
telt that his only safety lay in keep
ing up the delusion of the other that
he was pal-he must get out and
find Gussie.
"Give it to me, he said in die
guised tone, as rough as he dared
nuke it.
"Stow that, pard, amt goin' to
run no risk of that sort-Tve got the
silver, but the iewelry-"
Flash went pistol. and the report
had scarcely ceased when Gilbert's
hands were pinioned, and the police
man was calling for help. The real
burglar had made dash for liberty,
and escaped through the window.
"W-w-h-a-t does this mean?" de-
manded old man Marston, as, purple
with rage and excitement, he came
hurrying in with a light.
"Ono of ems gone off," said the
policeman, "but here's t'other rascal
safe enough" and he showed up the
sickly features of Gilbert Harding,
who was ready to faint, but made
bluff to meet Gussie's father.
"Ha, ha, Mr.. Marston; quite n
joke. taking me for burglar; ha
hal"
at doesn't look very much like
joke to me, young man," said the
father sternly; "what were you doing
entering my house feloniously in the
night ?"
Sure enough it didn't look much
like joke now that he saw it on both
sides. Where was Bob Kennedy, that
he did not step forward to help his
friend out ? Where was Gussie
Where was his own vaunted courage
He dared not look Gussie's father in
the face, and say: 81 came to steal
your daughter.
"Will you kindly explain to the
policeman that you know me, sir, and
that am not burglar?" lie managed
to say at last.
81 know you, certainly" croaked
the old man, "but if you are not
burglar what are you doing with my
family silver piled up here? You can
explain the matter in court Officer,
do your duty. Take this man to the
stationW
Did Gilbert hear Alright? He had
not time to discuss the matter, or in
deed to say another word Some
philosopher has remarked quantity
that when a man begins to go down
hill, it seems as if all creation was
creased for the occasion. Sc the way
for the departure of the policeman
with his prisoner was made very ex-
peditious. The other members of tho
family made themselves invisible, so
there wus no one to whom he could
appeal, and doors opened and shut
like magic for them to pass through.
And it seemed no time at all before
the unhappy lover was locked in cell
at the police station.
But he did not languish there all
night. Bob Kennedy, who had been
late in keeping the appointment ap-
peared to bail him ont, and after
rousing several officials--each of whom
was the wrong one-from their beds,
he rescued his friend, and then con-
soled him in the early morning
hours.
He took Bob's advice to leave town
on "A business tour, and to remain un-
til such time as Father Marston's
wrath had cooled. There was no no.
tice of the burglars or his arrest in
the newspapers. and he left it to Bob
to explain away any lingering sns-
picion against him.
He WAS to say that Gilbert saw the
open window, and followed the burg
lar to intercept him, or any other
harmless untruth that seemed to fit in.