The Worthington advance., 1898-10-27

But Fred only smiled grimly on hear
ing these entreaties, more than ever
convinced of his man from the Eng
lishy way in which he spoke. However,
as he did not wish to do the youth any
bodily harm, he raised the sash trife.
The robber luckily had his hands on
a stair inside, and was thus enabled to
support his head and shoulders, other
wise serious consequences might have
ensued. AS it was, Fred already began
to feel sort of compassion for the not
ill-looking boy, so early taught to walk
in the paths of evil, when suddenly his
sister Maud, attracted by the repeated
shouts for Mike, came stealing eau
tiously around the corner of the house.
"Fred, Fred!" she called, in a timid
voice, what is the matter?"
eve got him!" replied her brother.
And at the same instant Miss Maud
caught sight of the burglars heels.
"O-h-h!" she screamed, and started to
run home.
But Fred called her back, and told
her to bring him piece of rope as
quickly as possible.
She vanished at once, and then Mike
appeared on the scene.
Speedily breaking in upon all the old
Irishman's exclamations of wonder,
Fred briefly explained how he had cap
tured young Englishman in the very
act of entering the house by force, and
that as soon as the fellow was bound
he was to guard him until constable
could be summoned.
"An' indade that I will, sur!" an
swered Mike, cheerfully. "An' yez say
he's afther bein' an Englisman? Och,
sure an now ould Ireland can pay back
a bit av the grudge she owes ag'in 'em!"
| mo, Mike, don't want any violence
used if it can be helped. The fellows
quite young, you see, and may be re-
formed yet. But here comes my sister
with the rope"
And Fred dextrously caught the
clothesline Maud threw him at safe
distance. where she had taken up a
post of observation in company with
Mrs. Appleby; who was full of commits
seration for the prisoner, coupled with
entreaties to her son to be careful and
not break his back with the window
sash.
''Now, Mike, you hold his legs while
L raise the window and slip this moose
around his body"
"Oh, do look out, Fred," cried Maud
at this point, cor it will catch about
his neck and hang him!''
"An'shure, 'tw ould only be bit afore
| ic fni1, =
Fred continued:
"Are you ready, there? Hold him
tight now."
And the window shot up, the moose
went in, and the next moment Fred and
his prisoner were brought face to face.
"Why, how very respecta ble-looking
he isl" whispered Maud to her mother
"What a shame!" said Mrs. Appleby
II wonder if he can't be sent to sort
of reformatory school, instead of to
jail?"
And, indeed, the burglar was quite
a handsome youth, very neatly dressed
But how angry he was to think be had
been caught
what authority have you here, ]
would like to know?" he demanded OF
Fred, slashing about him at such rate
that the latter had hard work to keep
him under control. II tell you I'm a
friend of the family!''
$50 am l." put in Fred, "and fol
that reason I don't want you to get
away. It seems to me, though, that
for friend you have a rather queer
way OF visiting-coming down when
nobody's been at home for week, and
then trying to break in the house,
"But [ was sent here for a gun, anc
told to open this very window"
. "Ha, ha! a likely story!" laughed
Fred. Here, Mike, hold this char
while go for the constable.'
"One moment frst," interposed the
thief, in more conciliating tone. I'll
you'll just unbind my arms second,
think l can show you proofs of what
L assert. It's letter which I'm prett,
certain I put into one of my pockets
yesterday"
; (which one?" asked Fred. "I prefer
to take it out myself"
GAS you please" replied the other
MY inside coat pocket, right hand"
!, Sure enough, there was a letter tbt~.e
and Fred loosened his hold a trifle vkse1
he perceived the address in Tom vii
sons handwriting:
MR.. SHERMAN BROWN.
No. - West Thirty-sixth Street,
, New York City.
"See what it says inside" continued
the prisoner, calmly.
And to his utter CONSERVATION, Free
read as follows:
my Dear Sherman: Awfully sorry Tn
not going to be at home; but I'll lend yo,
the gun with pleasure If you'll take tn,
trouble to go down to our house at Lake
Beach and get it yourself. I'd send you thu
key, but father doesn't think it's safe tt
put it in a letter. However, with your slim
fingers you can easily squeeze your hani
through one of the shutters and lift tht
latch. Nothing's nailed up The gun stand.
) in q corner Of the dining-room, which /:
in the wing on the side next the woods
Would write more, but am scribbling this
while on the cars so as to mail it at tn,
next stop. Your everla sting old chum,-
tom WILTON"
It was now Fred's turn to be the vic.
tim, and think he suffered more dur
ing his attempts to explain matters
than Sherman Brown had under the
window sash.
P,1+ tho vo,no T., ri; cb,noc ffo~