Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10

This time the voice was growl. Gil
bert saw the form of 4 man, but it did
not resemble his friend Bob.
What will We carry the swag in?"
asked the voice with a 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 Guss!e.
Give it to me-" he said in disguised
tone, as rough as he dared make it.
STOW that, pard, amt goin' 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 pirioned, and the police
man was calling for help. The real
burglar had made a dash for liberty,
and escaped through the window.
"W-T-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 tother rascal safe
enough" and he bowed u3 the sickly
features OF Gilbert Harding, who was
ready to faint, but made bluff to meet
Gussie's father.
''Ha, Ia, Mr.. Marston; quite a joke,
taking me for burglar; ha, hal"
1T 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 look much like
joke now that he saw it on both sides.
Where was Bob Kennedy, that he did
Where was Gussie? Where was his
own Wanted courage? He dared not
look Gussies father in the face, and
say: Il came to steal your daughter"
"Will you kindly explain to the po-
liceman that you know me, sir, and
that l am not burglar?" he managed
to say at last.
Il know you, certainly" croaked the
old man, but if 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 if all creation was creased for the
CiOp Co tha for tho Gpn9r-
ture of the policeman and his prisoner
was made very expeditions. The other
members CT the family made them
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 it seemed no time
at all before the unhappy lover was
locked in cell at the 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 Marston's wrath
had cooled. There was 10 notice Of
the burglary or his arrest in the news
papers, and he left it to Bob to explain
away any lingering suspicion against
him.
He was to say that Gilbert saw the
open window, and followed the burglar
to 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
faithless friends engagement to the
versatile Gussie. And then 1t dawned
upon him that there had been 70 burg.
lar as well as no elopement And he
Immediately wrote himself down
name of three letters.