Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-08-24

through the gates in approved su.
burban style, and caught on just as the
train moved out. and then Perry
shouted in a voice that sounded above
the roar of escaping steam:
We've left our Sunday dinners on
the window stand of the ticket Office.
You go on, Smead, and III take the
next train out"
He swung himself clear off the train,
turned a somersault, and waved ''all
right" to Smead, who mopped the Gin
ders and perspiration from his face and
remarked to the man standing next to
him, in a friendly way;
"Nice way to spend the summer, liv-
ing in the suburbsP''
Yes if you don't care whatyou say"
growled the man.
Then Smead took bit of pasteboard
from his pocket and began to study it.
Southeast corner, Terrace row, Oak
land"
Smead asked his gruff neighbor if he
got off at that station.
mo, / don't" said the man. .sYou
couldn't hire me to live in that swamp
go out ten miles further, where you
don't have to sift the atmosphere to
keep the mosquitoes from choking
you."
That sounded discouraghE, but
Smead was not anxious to ride ten
miles further on an accommodation
train, that slowed up for every COW on
the track, and he wrapped himself in
speculative reverie until the brake
man called ''O-a-k-la-n-d!" as if only
the deaf lived at that station.
Mrs. Smead was waiting for her hus-
band, whom she expected on the half
past six train, but the train had come
and gone, and instead of the handsome,
well-groomed Mr.. Smead, a frantic
woman, her neighbor, Mrs. Thorne,
rushed into her cottage
GIVE caught him!" she gasped. He's
locked up in the library! Oh! oh! OIL"
Caught whom?" asked the mystifed
woman. Then seeing that her dis
tracted visitor was very near fainting,
she collected restoratives and brought
back Mrs. Thorne's scattered wits.
Maud explained as soon as she could
speak that desperate looking man, a
burglar, she was certain, and con-
vict as well, by the cut of his hair
had feloniously entered her house a
moment before she came, and walk
ing boldly into her library had been
locked safely therein by herself.
1.-THE windows are nailed down: I
have been waiting for Perry to open
them, SO he cannot escape that way"
she concluded.
81 expect Amos on the last train.
don't see what is keeping him." said
Mrs. Smead, ''but he has not come
yet"
Neither has Perry, but perhaps they
will come together. Isn't it dreadful?
daren't go back with that man in the
house. know by his looks he's muir
derer. Our girl hasn't come, and I'm
all alone. Oh, if Mr.. Smead were only
| here?"
81 guess I'll do just as WE'LL" said
Mrs. Smead, coldly. ST will take our
revolver, and you can bring the stove
litter, and we will interview him
through the door,
''But what good will that do? He
may s-h-o-o-t frst!'
Come on" said Mrs. Smead, con-
temptuously. She was only young
matron herself, but she was not going
to be ANONYMOUSLY routed by one
man army, and she led the way to her
neighbours cottage. No other people
| lived in the row, SO they had all the
fun to themselves.
But a: that Identical moment the
| seven-fOrty train, sometimes called the
husbands train" so many of them
went out to spend the weeks interval
with their families, stopped at the
| nearest depot, and Perry Tborne, with
his double load of packages, hove in
sight Both women were overjoyed to
see him.
whats the row?'' he asked, drop
ping his bundles on the veranda.
ga manw said both women at once.
"Where is Smead?"
THAT is what would like to know"
said Mrs Smead; 81 expected him on
this train
81 haven't seen him. Who is the
man?"
"A burglar, and he's locked up in the
library. Don't you think was brave?"
asked Maud, who, now that her hus-
band had come, felt that she might
! pose as heroine.
Burglars already? Hal this is a
diversion. Give me the key, Maud.
I'll take your revolver, Mrs. Smead.
Now, ladies, stand as1de," and Perry
made valiant rush for the library
door, which he unlocked and threw
open, at the same presenting arms ac-
cording to the best manual practice.
Don't shoot!" cried familiar voice
that trembled, not with fear, but mer-
riment, as Mr.. Smead stepped smiling
! ~ forward, and bowed low to Maud:
Il am Mrs. Thorne's captive" he said.
'What does this mean?' demanded
Mrs Smead 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 me south
west and your wife locked me up in a
room that has no ventilation, and un-
der a criminal ban. But / forgive
her" he added, with gallant protest,
whereat Maud's cheeks grew red with