Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-10-03

i Harry Seymour disappeared during
the afternoon-went for long tramp,
he said-and had the indignant
Lambsworthy all to myself till he re-
| turned.
When he did come back, he said he
had noticed a card with Apartments
to Let" on it in window just round
the corner, and suggested to Stephen
obtaining room in the house.
This looks good. substantial kind
of domicile," he said; zone not likely
to be burglarized Wouldn't do For
the next place you choose to be broken
into, you know, Lambsworthy; that
would be really damning."
| Lambsworthy, who shuddered at the
bare idea, thanked him, and sailed
forth to see if he could arrange. h
He came back and told us he had
settled.
But" he said, 'do you know, I'm
nervous? What Seymour said is true,
and it might happen that the same
kind of thing occurred there. What
should do if there were a robbery in
there, too, tonight? Why, l should
be taken up; am certain should"
"Sure thingr' said Seymour, explod-
ing afresh. Console yourself by re-
Numbering that condolences like that
don't happen!"
He was very amiable to Lambswor-
thy that evening, pressing him to try
his tobacco after supper, and shaking
hands with him warmly when they
said "Good night" He, however, did
not want to go to bed after the others
departure; he said he should sit up and
smoke, and begged me to do likewise.
"It's quite early" he said, not
eleven. Sit up with me, and wen turn
in, if you want to, as sooE IS Two fn-
ished this pipe"
consented. AS matter of fact, he
had never been better company, and I
was just laughing heartily at story
he was telling me when
"Good Heavens!" l exclaimed, turn
ing pale, that can't be Lambsworthy
come back again tonight? Who
is it?"
Better open the door and see," re-
piled Seymour, philosophically.
1t was being beaten wildly as bolt
ed into the passage. Another instant,
and my worst fears were verified.
Lambsworthy stood before me with
chattering teeth, the portmanteau-
the accursed portmanteau-by his
side.
MOT"
"Burglars!" he gasped; Eyes! For
the Lords sake, give me some whisky,
old man, I'm feeling I'LL"
He followed me into the sitting
room and fell into a chair.
''It is the same thing" he muttered,
lust the same thing! The house had
been broken into when got there, and
no clew-no clew. The man showed
me the room; everything sea tered and
upside down. Seymour, 1 shall go
madr'
He seemed in measurable distance of
it-even Seymour was concerned 1t
seemed like fatality Wherever the
poor fellow went there was a burglary;
his name would be on the tongues of
all Wicketsfeld directly. There was
never anything known like it!
We gave him whisky, and more
whisky, and, after that, whisky again.
Whether he slept when we left him
at last on the couch do not know, but
his face was as white as sheet in the
morning, and when Mr.. and Mrs. Car
donnel called, with their daughter,
they were aghast at his appearance.
ut is perfectly extraordinary" ex-
claimed Norah, 'and as to the police,
who can allow such things" Words
failed her to express her contempt for
the stupidity of the police.
II tell you what" said Mr.. Carbon
mel, 81 should go down to the station
myself if were you'll will go with
you. Confound it all, we will go at
once. Something must be done, and
without delay" ........
noticed that in moment Seymour
was almost as pale as Lambsworthy; 1
was even prepared to hear him offer an
objection.
II should OF do that sir, tiff may
presume to advise" he said. 81 should
wait day or two" ...
"And why, sir?" demanded Mr.. Car
doHnel, peremptorily; why should we
wait an hour?"
EYES," echoed Norah, haughtily;
''why should we wait five minutes, Mr..
SEYMOUR" .. "a .
"We VIII go now" cried Stephen; ST
thank you for the suggestion. We will
go at once, and will see the inspector
myself" .a. ..arf .t
Seymour sat playing nervously with
an ash-tray on the table. He seemed
to be trying to spcGk, and to have lost
his voice. At last he said jerkily, and
with an attempt at laugh:
ITO tell you the truth, everybody,
you are spelling practical joke of
mine. Lambsworthy was so very con-
cerned at the first burglary that 1
thought how funny it would be if the
same thing occurred in the next house
he tried. The landlord is my tobac-
conist, and-well, there wasn't a bur-
glary last night at all; it was just ar
ranged between us for a larlk!-er-
that's all. +"
If 1 live to be hundred shall never
! forget Miss CardonnePs look of con-
| tempt as he finished speaking; and
don't think Seymour will forget il
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