The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-16

,ut the train had uos,.e and gone, and In.
ktead Of the handsome, well gloomed Mr..
snead, frantic woman, her paiehbor
Mrs Thorne, rushed into hor cottage. q
"I'ye caught himr' she gaspod.s Hes
locked up In the library. Oil Ohl 0hP'
"Caught whomf" asked the mystihed
woman. Then seeing that her distracted
visitor was very near fainting, she collect
ed restoratiyes and brought back Mrs.
Thorne's scattered wits.
Maud explained as soon rs she could
speak that desperate looking man-a
burglar, she was certain, and "a convict as
well by the out of his hair-had felonious-
ly entered her house n moment before she
came, and walking boldly into her library
had been locked safely therein by herself.
"The windows arc nailed down. / have
been waiting for Perry to open them, SO
he cannot escape that way" she concluded.
al expected Amos on the last train.
don't see what Is keeping him" said Mrs.
Smead, "but he has not come yet. i"
''Neither has Perry, but perhaps they
will come together. Isn't 1t dreadfulf
daren't go back with that man In the
house. l know by his looks he is muir
derer. Our girl hasn't come, and I'm all
alone. Oh, II Mr.. Smoad were only hereP'
81 guess IN do just as well, +" said Mrs.
Smead coldly. IL will take our revolver,
and you can bring tho stove litter, and we
will Interview him through tho door"
"But what good will that dor He may
s.h-o- OF flrstl"
"Comc on" said Mrs. Smead contempt
uously. She was only u young matron
herself, but sho was not going TO be igno-
minously routed by one man army, and
she led tho way to her neighbor's cottage.
No other people lived in tho row, SO they
had all tho fun to themselves.
But at that identical moment the TAO
train, sometimes called the husbands
train, so many of thom went out to spend
the weeks interval with their families,
stopped at the nearest depot, and Perry
Thorne, with his double load OF packages,
hove in sight. Both women were over
joyed to see him.
Whats the row. he asked, dropping
his bundles on theveranda.
"A manl' said both women at once
"Where Is Smeadl"
"That Is what l would like to know" :"
said Mrs. Sinoad. 81 expected him on
this train"
81 haven't seen him. Who is tho mani"
"a burglar, and he's locked up in the
library. Don't you think was brayop'
asked Maud, who, now that her husband
had come, felt that she might pose as a
heroine.
burglars alrcadyH Ha, this is diver
sion. Give me tho key, Maud. I'll take
your revolver, Mrs. Smead. Now, ladies,
stand aside" and Perry made valiant
rush for the library door, which ho un-
locked and threw open, at the same time
presenting arms according to the bost
manual practice.
Don't shootp' cried a familiar voice
that trembled, not with fear, but merri-
ment, as Mr.. Smead stepped smilingly for
ward and bowed low To Maud. II am
Mrs. Thorne's captive" he said.
'What does this meinf" cried Perry, his
face flaming. .....a.
"Yes, what does it meanp' demanded
Mrs. Smeud in the measured syllables OF
the divorce court
"1t means, explained Mr.. Smead, ''that
my wife has not yet learned to box the
compass. She gave mo southwest. and
your wife locked me up In n room that has
no ventilation and under n criminal ban.
But l forgive her, " he added, with gallant
protest, whereat Maud's checks grew red
with embarrassment, and Mrs Smead
said:
Como home! After this will meet
you at the train and SEQ that you don't
get into the wrong house"
do forgive mo, Mr.. Smead, said Maud
penitently, while Perry glarcd darkly like
jealous stage lover, "but you did look SC
So
"She said you looked like a convict, u
remarked his wife.
'At least 1t has mado us acquainted, -
observed Mr. Smead, truo to his oulors,
and with this parting shot no followed his
wife to the "southcast" cottage detroit
Free Press. .....