Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-11-19

upon the pavement dead drunk at that
moment or being hailed of 20 the police
station.
GOOD heavens, thought the hapless
colonel, what viii become Of ne? /
can't call out couldn't break one of
these internal straps TO save my life.
It's as much as 1 can do to breathe.
Was ever a man left to perish in such
miserable, uncalled for, ridiculous way
before?"
He stamped and drummed with his
feet. but nobody appeared to be within
hearing. He struggled and kicked,
though, Of course, he knew that that
would be of no avail Finally, with the
cold sweat running down his cheeks,
he let his head fall back and gave him
self up for lost. Life under such condi-
tions could not be maintained much
longer, he supposed.
In this quiescent and seIniconscious
state he remained for what seemed to
him to be many hours. In reality it was
about half an hour later that he was
aroused to renewed hope by the repeated
violent ringing of the outer bell. Some
body began to batter the panels of the
door, calling loudly upon the name of
Mr. Wainwright. Somebody-oh, joy!
was so determined to get in that at
length, with crash Of breaking wood
or bursting locks, he effected an en-
trance and penetrated into the adjoining
room, whence a confused murmur of
voices, male and female, reached the
colonel's expectant ear. He himself re-
sumed the drumming with his feet,
which was the sole means open to him
Of attracting attention, and presently,
to his unspeakable relief, the hall porter
who had admitted him on his arrival
stepped in from the neighboring room.
"Well, I never!" exclaimed that
amazed funotionary. "Iwas just saying
to them ladies' as told me they'd called
by appointment, / know Mr.. Vain
wright's in, says, and l half expect
he's engaged, for there was q gentle
man come III about an hour ago, says,
and I amt seen him leave But, lor,
l didn't think for to find you like this,
sir. Whatever did you let him strap
you down for?'
The colonel, being unable to reply,
frowncd and kicked until his bonds
were loosod, whereupon he freed his
jaws, not without some difficulty, and
gasped out, "Where is that internal
scouIdrel?"
Laying on the sofy as drunk as you
please, sir" answered the porter plac-
idly. 'The ladies will have it that he's
in a fit, and they're trying for to bring
him round with smelling salts; but,
bless your soul, I've seen him in fits of
that kind afore now. Drops down quite
sudden like as soon as he's had all he
can carry and keeps on talking as sensi-
BILE as you Or me up to the very last.
Dear, dearl What pity it is, to be sure!
Clever dentist, too, sir, they tell me-"
81 don't know so much about that"
growled the colonel, who had risen and
was eagerly searching for the set of
teeth of which he had been deprived.
"He hasn't done very clever days
work this time, can assure him. He
shall be exposed and ruined tomorrow,
cost me what it may! I'll break every
bone in his rascally carcass as soon as
ever he comes to his senses! Pip
But what further form of punishment
was in store for the Incorporate dentist
the porter was not privileged to hear,
for at that moment Colonel Byng's elo-
quence was arrested and his blood was
made to run cold by peal Of laughter
the ring Of which was only too familiar
to him.
II knew it'' that horrid girl ex-
claimed triumphantly. "Come and look
at Colonel Byng, mamma Perhaps you
will be convinced now. Oh, how glad
I am that I persuaded you to consult
Mr. Wainwright today!"
The unhappy man had not word to
say for himself. He stood silently facing
his astounded betrothed and her merci-
less daughter-the personification of de-
tected and abject guilt. To wear false
teeth is not criminal, but we are all of
US apt to judge of the blackness Of sin
by rho consequences which it entails,
and this poor sinner foresaw that his
punishment would be q severe one.
Colonel Byrg." said Mrs. Atherton