The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-07-09

pulled up al,ogside, . qualmsof, aNtul
doubt cana over him. The othe4aau
turned his head A. tho. ssrae innmenti
and gave an exclamation Of surpri6e.
''It's not Jim," thought Mr.. Watkins,
and simultaneously the stranger flung
himself, as it were, at Watkins knees.
and they were forthwith graphing on
the ground together. "Lcnd hand,
Bill" cried the stranger, rs the third
man came up. And Bill did two hands,
in fact, and some accentuated feet. The
fourth man, presumably Jim, had up
parently turned aside and made of in
different direction. At my rate, he
did not join the trio ~
Mr.. Watkins memory of the incidents
vague. He has a dim recollection of
having his thumb in the corner Of the
mouth of the first man. and feeling
anxious about it's safety, and for some
seconds at least he held the head Of the
gentleman answering to the name Of
Bill to the ground Ivy the hair. He was
also kicked in a great number of diff
ferent places. apparently by vast null
titude of people. Then tn" gentleman
who was not Bill got his knee below
Mr.. Watkins diaphram and tried to
curl him UP upon It. -
When his sensations became less en-
tangled, he was sitting upon the turf
and eight or ten men-thc night was
dark and he was rather too confused to
count-standing round him, appar-
emily waiting for him to recover. He
mournfully assumed that he was cap
tured, and would probably have made
some philosophical reflections on the
ficklencss of fortune, had not his inter-
nal sensations disinclined him for
speech.
He noticed very quickly that his
wrists were not handcuffed, and then a
flask of brandy was put in his hands.
This touched him little-it was such
unexpected kindness.
"He's a-comin' round,' said voice,
which he fancied he recognized as be-
longing to the Hammerpond second
footman.
''We've got 'em, sir, both of 'em," said
the Hammerpond butler, the man who
had handed him the flask. Thanks
to you."
No one answered this remark, yet he
failed t. see how it applied to him.
"He's fair dazed," said a strange
voice; "the villains half-murdered him"
Mr.. Teddy Watkins decided to remain
fair dozed until he had a better grasp
of the situation. He perceived that
two of the black figures round MIN
stood side by side with detected air,
and there was something in the car
riage Of their shoulders that suggested
to his experienced eye hands that were
bound together. Two! In a flash he
rose to his position. he cmptied the
little flask and staggered-obsequi
hands assisting him-to his feet. There
was sympathetic murmuz.
"Shale hands, sir, shake Aands,' said
one Of the figuers near him. "Permit
me to introduce myself. I am very
greatly indebted to you. It was the
Jewels Of my wife, Lady Aveling, which
attracted these scoundrels to 'tghbs
house." ~
''Very glad to make your lordship's
acquaintance" said Teddy Watkins.
> Il presume you saw the rascals. maxi
ing for the shrubbery, and dropped
down on them?"
THAT'S exactly how it happened"
said Mr.. Watkins.
'You should have waited till they got
in at the window" said Lord Aveling;
"they would get it hotter if they had
actually committed the burglary. And
it was lucky for you two of the police
men were out by the gates and followed
up the three of you. I doubt if you could
have secured the two of them-though
it was confoundedly plucky Of you, all
the same"
Eyes, ought to have thought of all
that" said Mr.. Watkins; "but one can't
think of everything"
"Certainly not" said Lord Aveling.
II am afraid they have mauled you lit
tle," he added. The party was now
moving toward the house. "You walk
rather lame. May offer you my
arm?"
And instead of entering Hammer
pond house by the dressing-room VIM
dow, Mr.. Watkins entered it-slightly
intoxicated and inclined now to cheer
fulness again-on the arm of real
live peer, and by the front door.
"This," thought Mr.. Watkins, lis
burgling in style!" The "scoundrels,"
seen by the gaslight, proved to be mere
local amateurs unknown to Mr.. Wat
kins, and they were taken down into
the pantry and there watched over by
the three policemen, two gamekeepers
with loaded guns, the butler and q
hostler, until the dawn allowed of their
removal to Hazelhurst police station.
Mr.. Watkins was made much Of in
the drawing-room. They devoted q
sofa TO him, and would not hear of a
return to the village that night Lady
Aveling was sure that he was brilliant
ly original, and said her idea Of Turner
was just such another rough. half
inebriated, deep-eyed, brave and clever
man. Some one brought up remark
able little folding-ladder that had been
picked up in the shrubbery, and
ahorraI him how II was nut fOpether.