The Yale expositor., 1896-01-10

This time the voice was a growl. Gill
bert saw the form Of n man, but 1t did
not resemble his friend Bob.
What will We carry the swag In"
asked the voice with growl.
Good heavens! a burglar! Gilbert
felt that his only safety lay in keeping
up the delusion OF the other that he was
pal-he must get out and find Gussie.
"Give it to me-" he said in disguised
tone, as rough as he dared make it.
"Stow that, pard, amt soin' to run
no risk OF that sort-I've got the silver,
but the jewelry-"
Flash went pistol, and the report
had scarcely ceased when Gilbert's
hands were pinloned, and the police
man was calling for help. The real
burglar had made dash for liberty,
and escaped through the window.
"W-w-h-a-t does this mean?" de-
manded old man Marston, as. purple
with rage and excitement, he came hur-
rying in with light.
One Of ems got off," said the po-
liceman. "but here's t'other rascal safe
enough" and he bowed UP the sickly
features of Gilbert Harding, who was
ready to faint, but made bluff to meet
Gussle's father.
"Ha, ha, Mr.. Marston; quite joke,
taking me for a burglar; ha! ha!'
at doesn't look very much like
joke to me, young man." said the father
sternly; what were you doing entering
my house feloniously in the night?"
Sure enough it didn't lock much like
a joke now that he saw it on both sides.
Where was Bob Kennedy, that he did
not step forward to help his friend out?
Where was Gussie? Where was his
own Wanted courage? He dared not
look Gussie's father in the face, and
say: 81 came to steal your daughter"
"Will You kindly explain to the po-
liceman that you know me, sir, and
that l am not a burglar?" he managed
to say at last.
II know you, certainly" croaked tho
old man, "but IL you are not burglar
what are you doing with my family sill
yer piled up there? You can explain
the matter in court. officer, do your
duty. Take this man to the station!'
Did Gilbert hear Alright? He had not
time TO discuss the matter, or indeed
to say another word. Some philoso-
pher has remarked quantity that when
man begins to go down hill, it seems
as IL all creation was creased for the
occasion. So the way for the depar-
ture of the policeman and his prisoner
was made very expeditions. The other
members of the family made tEem-
selves invisible, so there was no one to
whom he could appeal, and doors
opened and shut like magic for them TO
pass through. And 1t seemed no time
at all before the unhappy lover was
locked In a cell at tho police station.
But he did not languish there all
night. Bob Kennedy, who had been
late in keeping the appointment, ap-
peared to bail him out, and after rous-
ing several officials-each Of whom was
the wrong one-from their beds, he
rescued his friend, and then consoled
him with cold bottle and hot bird In
the early morning hours.
He took Bob's advice TO leave town
on business tour and to remain until
such time as Father Marstons wrath
had cooled. There was no notice Of
the burglary or his arrest in the news
papers, and he left 1t to Bob to explain
away any lingering suspicion against
him.
He was to say that Gilbert saw the
open window, and followed the burglar
10 intercept him, or any other harmless
untruth that seemed to fit in.
Bob did his part so we'll that before
Gilbert's return he read in the society
columns an announcement of that
saithless friends engagement to tho
versatile Gussie. And then 1t dawned
upon him that there had been 70 burg
lar as we'll as no elopement. And he
Immediately wrote himself down
name of three letters.