The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-08-29

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 .rept down the
stair with the unused poker still in his
fist. He realized that if he ven TO the
polio. station. which was solne distance
away the burglars would he gone be-
fore help came.
Then the brilliant idea occurred to
him that he might follow the thieves 81
lently on his bicycle, mark their lair,
n with an ample police force at his
back aud capture the whole outfit, thus
earning the eternal gratitude Of the en-
tire neighborhQod. Then the item would
be headed, "Clever Capture Of a Band
Of Burglars-T4o Silent Cycle Follows
Them to Their Rendezvous"
Billy got his machine out from its
shed, noiselessly unlocked the back gate,
closed II again rs silently as he had
opened it and waited in the shadow of
a tree across the way. In u 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-
gethor. Billy had no difficulty in fol
lowing them. His only trouble was the
street lamps, which he avoided as well
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
grAtitied. The officer stepped unexpect-
eddy ont from beside a tree, and he
grasped Billy by the arm.
Why are you cycling III 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 4 man should use when
addressing so important IA parsonage as
a policeman. How the -- could l
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 u full bicycling suit to chase
burglars at 2 in the morning"
But I slept i'll my bicycling suit,
you asst protested Billy, feeling, as he
said it, that it sounded rather thin and
unbelievable in the keen morning air.
IN report the language you are
using 10 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't 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 q 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 %deplQrable and indefensible, but
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 a mistake had
beer made, and two Of the force were
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, tho magistrate
said, and when Billy asked what else
he could have used, seeing that he had
no club with him, the magistrate re-
marked that he would fine him for con
tempt of court if he tried his flippancy
on the bench.
So the item appeared as BURGLARY al
Lonelyville,' and another paragraph
stated that Billy Sims. a we'll known
journalist, had been fined for riding
about the streets at 2 in the morning or
q bicycle with an unlit lamp, and ina
Billy was supposed to have been intoxi
Gated at the time, whereas the truth
was that the magistrate let Billy of
with the reprimand aforementioned.
AS the police have not yet succeeded
in capturing the thieves, although the,
are always coming Oh a new and graft
flying clew, Billy thinks this is II hare
world. -Luke Sharp in Detroit Ere
Press.