The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-09-11
TWO GOOD TURNS.
BY WALTER LEON SAWYER


but, being good wife. she asked no
questions. Before she had fully accom-
modated herself to the novel event. the
man-of-all-work gave her another sur
prise, presenting "a telegram which set
forth that his sister was ill and needed
him. OF course Mrs. Balcom let him go.
It. did not occur to her that the double
departure left her and the children un-
protected, and if il had she would have
smiled at the idea of danger. She did
not know that there burglar in
town.
Mr.. Balcom did know. As he came up
from the train the evening before, his
neighbor Jones had stopped him to
whisper that the Hartshorne house had
been entered and judiciously ransacked.
The Hartshornes were in Europe. Their
caretaker had been soiouTning IN that
other foreign land, a drunkard's para
disc; but as soon as ne came out ~ il
he discovered the robbery and hastened
10 ask Jones advice. Jones, who had
nervous mother-in-iaw, suggested thaC
the matter be kept as quiet possible;
and he wanted TO know if Mr.. Ralcom-
You did just right" Mr.. BaIcom in
terrupted, when the story had gone
thus far. These country constables
would frighten every woman into hys-
terics, but they wouldn't catch d
burglar once in a thousand times. Pro
fcssional, is he?''
SO | suppose. He seems To have gone
into the house and through ii as though
he knew his business
I'm back my burglar alarm against
him" Mr.. Balcom chuckled. conf
IDENTITY
''How about Ben Ezra ," the neighbor
asked.
mo fear of him. You see my stable
is as we'll protected as my house." Mr.
Balloon explained. Fact is. I'd sooner
lose half there is in the house than that
horse. Little off his feed, the poor fel-
low is. | had a veterinary out yesterday
to look at him, but l can't drive him for
a week. guess /"
Il suppose we ought to do some
thing" Mr.. Jones ventured to hint. He
knew if allowed to go on, Mr.
Balcom would talk about his horse until
the burplar-and the listener-,lied a
natural death.
"Oh, of course we must trip the fellow
before he goes any further. Tell YOU
what: | know a private detective who
was on the Boston force for years
long enough to get acquainted with
every rascal in the country. I'll bring
him home with me tomorrow to look
over the ground. 1t would Toe better to
pay him hundred than have the thing
get out and bedevil the women
Yes, indeed" said Mr. Jones, fer
vently.
SOitwas decided. And after the neigh
bors had exchanged the usual remarks
on the drynesSs of the season and the
need of rain. Mr.. Balcom sauntered
homeward, calm in the contentment
which "A managing man has right to
feel. He kissed his wife and children.
and then he went out and caressed his
horse. He looked carefully To the locks
and the alarms. They were perfect and
in order. He went to bed in peace
That night, however, he had a horrid
dream. 1t seemed that Ben Ezra was
stolen; that he had expended his for
tune in seeking the horse; that finally.
when he had sunk to Il beggar's outcast
he found the wreck of Ben Ezra hauling
garbage cart The dream SO wrought
upon Mr.. Balcom that he awoke in
cold perspiration. He rushed Ia the
stable, and proved it only a dream. But
it might be warningi That supersti-
tious fancy fingered with him through
the hours of dusk and dawn, and the
early glare of an August sun did not
dispel il. 1t hurried him to the city, as
has been told.
Looking at it in the light of his new
Knowledge, Mr.. Ba lcom could see many
reasons why Maple Park should attract
a burglar. Its isolated and unguarded
location is one; the smallness and sleep
mess OF the town that it fringes is an
other. Seekonket has only two cou-
stables and one hand fire-engine--
though, to be sure, ii has four churches
- and the aristocratic residents cut
themselves off from all these blessings
by building on the farther side of Green
leafs hill. As Maple Park holds aloof
from Seekonket, Seekonket keeps away
from Maple Park; and Mr. Balcom won
dered, the longer he thought of ii. that
some frowsy Napoleon did not organize
his army of tramps and obliterate Maple
Park.
Mrs. Malcom was not imaginative.
and no such terrors ever oppressed her.
She was young enough to enjoy her
and old enough to appreciate
her health; and since her daughters had
not reached n marriageabl age, neither
he.' health nor her money seemed i'm
danger OF course, she should have
been, as she was, a happy woman. She
spent her day as the truly happy must
in small activities that amuse one and
make one feel useful but not fatigued
So accustomed was she to the routine
of quiet that when Abbie, the cook, ap-
pcared eNcitedly before her she was
slow to realize that this particular day
might prove an exception.
1.-The stables afire, Miss Balcom." the
cook proclaimed.
Is it?' the mistress absentlv an
swered. Tell Henry to put it out.
please. Oh. L remember; | allowed
Henry to visit his sister, She closed
her writing-desk and stood considering.
Can't you throw some water on it?''
she asked, presently.
Its the roof. 1 s'pose it caught
with spark from one o. them pesky
ingines; bein's IS everything's dry's tin
Ter. Amt nothtin' to git seairt about.
cause the winds away from the house.
what little the is. But the hoss is in
the stable, you recollec'.'
"Oh, myi" Moved beyond her wont,
Mrs Baicom swept electrically through
The kitchen and out of the back door
'Oh, my!" she repeated, as she came in
sight of the blaze. Ben Ezra will be
burned, won't he? What will Mr.. Bal
com say? What can we do?"
"Dknow," was the depressing answer.
Il sent Jane to the corner a'ter the fire
men; but the land knows how long it'll
AXE to git 'em here"