The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-07-30

Maurice was heavy sleeper, and.
consequently, apt to be a bit bemud-
died on first tawakcning-nore eSnecial-
~ in the dark On this particular night.
after apparently dreaming for q fun
fortnight of excursions and aIarurns' -
lac awoke with a violent start. The
room, to him, was pitch dark. There
WAS not even the suspicion of moonlight
on this side of the house Besides. the
blinds were down He sat up. every
nerve and sincw taut now. He was
fully awake.
by jingo," he breathed. and he felt
the cold sweat start to his brow. she
was right They've come,~ lie put
out his hand To wake his wife. He felt
her form under the bulgins bed clothes
at his side. He could hear the
baby breathing huskily There WIS
only one other person in that house un-
accounted for. That was the little
servant maid But why should she be
trying drawers in the spare bedroom? d?
No, they had come after all. Mrs. Green
was right 1t was burglars
Maurice withdrew his hand. which
rested on the hillock by his side. with
the thought: III not wakcn her. door
soul. She'd be scared to death. IN
know the worst first So thinlliugr- and
with Il sort of infatuation-whic lvas
perhaps bravery-to get "A glimpse of
the marauder. he stole out of bed hint
toned up his dressing jacket. took the
little bedside chair by the hack. and.
thus armed. his heart beating like a
mutiied drum, stealthily turned the
corner between the two rooms
\ faint light came through the land
ing skNlight- Heavens, the villain was
at the other end of the room. right on
posite the door. What he was DOING
he could not make out. for he looked
like a man seen through a mist The
wretch just then the drauChr along
the landing took Maurice shreyvdIv on
the bare legs. The influenza asserted
itself He fought against IL desperate.
y for "a moment. 1t but augmented
the force Of the explosion. Like a
thunderclap he sneezed-
There was a muffied exclamation in
the room Maurice rushed forward
with uplifted chair. The burglar. too.
had chair, and was making al him
with equal fury. Crash, The house
seemed to have fallen. There was a
fearful clatter OF falling glass. picrc-
ing shrek. the sound of a body falling
on the floor, and all was still. but for
the wall of the frightened babe in the
room he had left.
What had he done? He kneeIed
down. careless of the broken glass. and
his hand rested on a bare foot. SicE
with apprehension. he CROPPED else.
where and encountered a r,Iafral ba.f
and few curling pins. a match,
a match. My kingdom for a match
he would doubtless have said. had n,
not been 50 terribly upset.
Just then a rectangle of light ap
peared and increased until. pale anC
trembling, stood the little maid in tn,
doorway. farthing dip in her hand
amazed to see the following tablcau
| vivant: \ -ardrobe door. swinging
upon its hinges, with its long mirror
| smashed to fragments: chair. witt
broken leg. lying close hy; a horri,
man in a night shirt and dressing jack
| ct, kneSling at the feet of "a proStrat.
! woman in a dead faint. a dressing gowI
and plaits. who was none other thar
the Mortified mans wife
| Maurice Green never turns the ga
| off at the meter now. except when n
takes his wife and family away for th
summer holiday Mrs. Green still
looks under the bed for possible bur
| glars before retiring for the night. hu
| Maurice has never dared To- chatf he
| since he mistnok his own faint refleC
tion in the wardrobe mirror for a des
| perate burglar-Tit-Eits.