The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-08-22

come with an ample police force at his
back and capture the whole outfit, thus
earning the eternal gratitude of the en-
tire nei2hborhood. Then the item would
be headed, Clever Capture of Band
of Burglars-The Silent Cycle Follows
Them to Their Rendezvous. y
Billy got his machine out from its
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 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
gratified. 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 man should use when
addressing so important a parsonage as
a policeman. "How the = could l
chase burglars with u lit lamp"
That's all very fine, said the Off
Ger. I've heard that kind of n 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 | slept in my bicycling suit,
you asst" protested Billy, feeling, as he
said it, that it sounded rather thin and
unbelievable in the keen morning air.
I'm 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 l don sup
pose you ever saw them. Precious lot
of good you idiots are, not only letting
the rascals slip, but arresting a man
who is robbed and who is trying to do
the work you are paid for doing.
Come and tell all this to the officer
on duty at the station. You re bicycling
without lamp at night, and that all
have to deal with, and l IN going to
deal with it. y
Billy broke into language that was
hot Al 1,1D h,,t
the policeman merely noted it down and
took the unfortunate man to the station.
Billy speedily convinced the night man
at the police station that mistake had
been made, and two of the force We're
sent to investigate They reported that
the house had been burglarized with
neatness and dispatch, but the burgling
birds had flown.
The magistrate told Billy next morn.
ing that if he had been more moderate
in his talk his miscarriage of justice
might not have happened. He should
not use such language, the magistrate
said, and when Billy asked what else
no club with him, the magistrate re-
marked that ne would line HIM for con-
tempt of court if he tried his flippancy
on the bench
So the item appeared as Burglary at
Lonelyville, . and another paragraph
stated that Billy Sims, we'll known
journalist, had been fined for riding
about the streets at in the morning on
bicycle with an unlit lamp, and that
Billy was supposed to have been intoxi-
Gated at the time, whereas the truth
was that the magistrate let Billy off
with the reprimand aforementioned
AS the police have not yet succeeded
in capturing the thieves, although they
are always coming on u new and graft
flying clew, Billy thinks this is hard
world. Luke Sharp in Detroit Free
Press.