Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-27
HEIRLOOM
BE FLORENCE MARRyAr.
.ehor Of "Hcr Lord and Master" Etc.

Copyright, 1896, by Bachelor Johnson and
Baoheller.1
1 suppose nobody has forgotten the
Feat Manchester swindle. when Jonas
ears and Theodore Allcock managed
abscond with twenty thousand
bunds of their employers and bolted
ean across the Atlantic before we
,uld get on their trail. 1t took me
x weeks of my time and regular
,ase and no mistake before ran the
NO scoundrels to earth in Chicago,
here they were giving themselves out
English lords. However, succeeded
catching their lordships, and didn't
Ire how much trouble it had cost Inc.
had brought Messrs. Mears and ALI
bck back safe to their native country
nd delivered them over to the proper
hthorities, and thought had earned
few days rest. We had had wretched
hssage s,with head winds against
eight days out of the ten. and, my
llty done, / thought with keen salts
Iction of my little place at Fulham
nd my own comfortable feather bed
nd my wife waiting to welcome mo
pine with tasty little supper.
The reality was us good as the antici-
hilton. 1t was beastly autumn after
BON, with q driving rain and n cold
Duthwest wind, but the cottage looked
right and coy and warm, and Nancy
as as red as a peony from pleasure at
icing me.
1t was early when reached home, not
ore than five o'clock, but was II reg
lar beat, and when l Ind had my din
er off tripe and onions felt good for
othing but to go to bed and sleep. l
as neither fit to talk nor think. I
Puldn't keep my eyes open, and my
ife's chatter sounded like confused
hcdley of sound. couldn't even relish
pipe, but took drop of Scotch hot
pd staggered up to my own room.
whatever you do, my dear l said
b Nancy, don't disturb me till you
ear I'm awake again, for I've got sew
raj nights rest to make up. I'll lock
by door, and don't come up till l UNI
bcl it-unless, indeed, tits something
,ry particular, like message from the
hicf, or such like"
"Lor', Jark!" exclaimed Nancy
henever my wife uses the affectionate
iminutive of my name she always pro-
ounces it as if she were a jackdaw,
baking known its desire for food
Lor'! lark! he'd never be sending
ster you 30 soon as this, and you just
N board ship You go to sleep and
hink no more Of such foollshness!"
Nancy" l replied, 1.-THE business of
be state must be attended to, at any
bst. l don't expect anything Of the
brt, but if wire should arrive must
ave it without delay"
"Drat the stated" cried Nancy, at
on't pay you over and above so much
nat it has any call to rob you of your
atural rest. Go TO sleep, John Dusby,
Or you will be ii for nothing to-mor.
bw morning."
II find it difficult to convince my wife
I the enormous Importance OF my Of.
&c, and the dignity of my employers.
he is always drafting" the govern.
lent, and blowing" the superintend-
1t of police, in a manner which would
bst me my appointment If overheard,
int she is n good wife to me and she
Eeans well. l suppose it is hard
b woman to have her hus.
and called away ut all manner
times, and never to know
hen to expect him back again. But
had no inclination TO argue the mat.
Pr then. crawled upstairs to my
BEDROOM and was soon between the
lankets, sunk in a profound slumbel
so profound that became utterly un
onscious to all external things, and
ad not even the power to dream. /,
eemed as if l had been sleeping fol
ours, or days, when l was reused b,
be sound of an uncertain tapping Oh
by bedroom door, and an apologize
oice, calling in loud whisper:
Jark!" AS soon as became sufficient
conscious to recognize the voice,
as sure something of jmportanc,
iust have occurred, and was on the
lcrt in moment, for we detective,
barn to sleep with our ears open.
what is it, Nancy?" l exclaimed
urrying to open the door. My wifi,
las half-crying outside it, with vel
bw envelope in her hand.
20, Jark!" she said, there's a mast,
elegram come for you. and wouldn't