Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-01-24

carry" whispered the man who was
holding the bag.
This remark caused Billy to reflect
that IL he was going to do anything in
the matter it was tine to set about II.
So he emulnted tho conduct Of the cele-
brated Duke of York. who marched men
mp the hill and str.ightway marched
them down again. Billy crypt down the
stair with tho unused poker still in his
fist. He realized that il he went TO the
police station, which was some distance
away, the burglars would be gone be-
fore help came.
Then tho brilliant idoa occurred to
him that he might follow tho thieves 81
lently on his bicycle. mark their lair,
come with an ample police force mt his
back and capture the whole outfit. thus
earning the eternal gratitude of the CD
tire noighborhood. Then the item would
be headed. "Clever Capture Of a Band
Of Burglars-The Silent Cycle Follows
Them to Their Rendezvous"
Billy got his machine out from its
shed, noiselessly unlocked the pack cato,
closed it again rs silently as no had
opened it and waited in the shadow Of
q tree across the way. In a very few
moments the burglars came out, each
carrying q bag. They peercd up and
down tho deserted street, md then
slipped out, walking rapidly away to-
gether. Billy had no difficulty in fell
lowing them. His only trouble was the
street lamps, which he avoided ~ we'll
as he could by keeping on tho opposite
side Of the road from them. lie hoped
he would meet q policeman, SO that he
might give tho alarm, and his wish was
gratified. The Officer stepped %unexpeot-
eddy out from beside q tree, and he
graspcd Billy by tho rrm.
"Why are you cycling out at this
time Of night without your lamp lit2"
my lamp lit, You fool!' gaspod
Billy, taken by surprise, aud therefore
not having time to choose his language
with the care n man should uso when
addressing 30 important a parsonage as
a policeman. "How the - could l
chase burglars with a lit lamp"
"That's all very fine, " said the off,
Ger. eve heard that kind Of o story
before. A man doesn't get up and dress
himself in a full bicycling suit to chase
burglars at 2 in the morning"
"But l slept i'll my bicycling suit,
you assI'' protested Billy, feeling, as he
said it, that it sounded rather thin and
unbelievable in the keen morning air.
"I'l report the language you are
using to the magistrate" said tho po-
liceman calmly, knowing tho whole ma
chinery Of the law was with him.
my house has peer burglarized, ~
cried Billy. 1.-THE three thieves passed
you with their swag, and 1 don't sup
! pose you ever saw them. Precious lot
of good you idiots are, not only letting
i, the rascals slip, but arresting n mar
who is robbed and who is trying to dc
the work you are paid for doing"
. Come and tell all this to the officer
! on duty at the station. You're bicycling
, without a lamp at night, and that's al
1 have to deal with, and I'm going to
deal with it."
Billy broke into language that wa
both deplorable and indefensible, but
the policeman merely noted it down and
took the unfortunate man to the station.
Billy speedily convinced the night mar
at the police station that a mistake had
/, been made, and two of the force were
, sent to investigate. They reported thai
the house had been burglarized witt
neatness md dispatch, but the burgling
= birds had flown.
The magistrate told Billy next morn
ing that if he had been more moderate
: in his talk his miscarriage of justice
|, might not have happened. He should
= not uso such language, tho magistrate
= said, and when Billy asked what els,
! be could have used, seeing that ho ha(
: no club with him, the magistrate re
marked that he would fine him for con
> tempt of court if he tried his fippancy
, on the bench.
! So the item appeared as burglary n
L~onelyville, " and another paragraph
: stated that Billy Sims, a we'll know
Journalists, had been fined for riding
about the streets at 2 In the morning Oh
= n bicycle with an unlit lamp, and tina
. Billy was supposed to have been intoxi
/ Gated ut the timo, whereas the trutl
: was that the magistrate let Billy of
: with tho reprimand aforementioned.
, AS the police have not yet succeeds
. in capturing the thieves, although the,
arc always coming on n new and graft
flying clew, Billy thinks this is a har
= world. Luke Sharp in Detroit Ere
Press.
"A -.ut-- - T-at