Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-07-25
TWO GOOD TURNS.
BY WALTER LEON SAWYER.

ne llhiu SNhllOMCu hNh No'
not his way, and Mrs. Balcom wondercd;
but, being good wife, she asked no
questions. Before she had fully accom-
modated herself to the novel event, the
man-of-nll-work gave her another sur
prise, presenting a telegram which set
forth that his sister was i'll 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 it had she would have
smiled at the idea of danger. She did
not know that there was a 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
caretalSer had been sojourning in that
other foreign land, drunlkard's para
disc; but as soon as he came out of it
he discovered the robbery and fastened
to ask Jones' advice. Jones, who had a
nervous mother-in-law, suggested that
the matter be kept as quiet as possible;
and he wanted to know if Mr.. Balcom-
"You did just right" Mr.. Bacom in
terrupted, when the story had gone
thus far. "These country constables
would frighten every woman into hys-
terics, but they wouldn't catch
burglar once in thousand times. Pro-
fessional, is he?"
$50 suppose. He seems to have gone
into the house and through it as though
he knew his business"
"I'll back my burglar alarm against
him!" Mr.. Balcom chuckled, conf
IDENTIFY.
"How about Ben Ezra ?" the neighbor
asked.
mo fear of him. You see my stable
is as we'll protected as my house." Mr..
Balcom explained. Fact is, I'd sooner
lose half there is in the house than that
horse Little off his feed, the poor fell
low is. 1 had a veterinary out yesterday
to look at him, but can't drive him for
week. guess L"
II 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 burglar-and the listener-died a
natural death.
"0h, of course we must trip the fellow
before he goes any further. Tell you
what: l know private detective who
was on the Boston force for years
long enough to get acquainted with
every rascal in the country. I'll bring
y - L.
over the ground. 1t would be 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 dryness of the season and the
need of rain, Mr.. Balcom sauntered
homeward, calm in the contentment
which 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 horrid
stolen; that he had expended his for
tune in seeking the horse; that finally,
when he had sunk to beggar's outcast,
he found the wreck of Ben Ezra hauling
garbage cart! The dream so wrought
upon Mr.. Balcom that he awoke in d
cold perspiration. He rushed TO the
stable, and proved it only dream. But
it might be a warning! 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 it. 1t hurried him to the city, as
has been told.
Looking at it in the light of his new
knowledge, Mr.. Balcom 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. it has four churches
and the aristocratic residents cu-
themselves off from all these blessings
by building on the farther side of Green
leafs hill. AS Maple Park holds aloot
from Seekonket, Seekonket keeps away
from Maple Park; and Mr.. Balcom won
dered, the longer he thought of it, tina
some frowsy Napoleon did not organic
hisarmy of tramps and obliterate Mapl
Park.
Mrs. Malcolm was not imaginative
and no such terrors ever oppressed her
She was young enough to enjoy he
money, and old enough to appreciat
her health; and since her daughters hat
not reached manageable age, neithe
her health nor her money seemed il
danger. OF course, she should hav
been, as she was, happy woman. Sh
spent her day as the truly happy mus
in small activities that amuse one an
make one feel useful but not fatigued
So accustomed was she to the routin
of quiet that when Abbie, the cook, aI
pcared excitedly before her she wa
slow to realize that this particular da
might prove an exception.
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