The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-06-28
A BURGLAR CAUGHT.

WOulu anu leave bIl6 uOuSo W ttth6 Ctl1O
of itself, to be broken into by burglars,
and maybe the whole family would be
murdered. IF you loved me as you used
to when we first were married, You
would not be willing to leave me every
evening for the clubhouse, while wor-
ry and fret and get my nerves all un-
strung"
"It is necessary that l should attend
to these things, my dear. The country
must be governed, and its growing
needs require constant watchfulness and
new laws 1 don't mean to be out any
more than am obliged to. You must
be willing to sacrifice little for the
good of your country. Just make up
your mind that you will go to sleep,
and you won't be troubled any further
with wakefulness.
"The idea of me coolly making up
my mind to go to sleep while you are
out is perfectly preposterous. Iwouldn't
be so heartless.
"Well I won't go out tomorrow
night I'll stay in with you, but tonight
! must. -
"Oh, dear, suppose must stand it,
but Pm sure something will happen. l
have presentiment, and when did my
presentiments ever fail? We may never
see each other again. If you come home
and find baby and me killed, don't be
surprised. -
''I'll try not to be-" replied Mr..
Wylks, as he put on his overcoat and
smiled down at the troubled face of his
wife, Then he gave her a goodby kiss
and left her, and she hurried through
the house to make sure that the win
dows were all fastened down and the
bolts of the doors pushed into their fas-
Jennings, and then she sat down and
read all the startling accidents, the ter
rible burglaries and the frightful muir
ders that the daily papers furnished SO
plentifully, and when she had got her.
self wrought up SO that she could sit
still no longer she once more visited all
the windows and doors and warned the
girls against removing single bolt or
bar Then she returned to her cozy sit
ting room and sat down in silence, lis
tening for the sounding of some thiev-
ing wretch and trying to imagine what
she should do if one of the Villains
should confront her and demand her
jewels and the key to the silver closet.
Time went on and the clock struck
IL; still she was undecided what she
had better do if anything unusual should
happen. The girls had gone up to bed
and were undoubtedly sound asleep.
Half an hour crept by. Baby cried
out in his sleep, and Mrs. Wylks has
tened to him, for there was no nurse to
attend him. Mrs. Wylks never would
trust the little darling with any one but
herself She shut and fastened the bed
room door, and lay down beside her lit
tie one to soothe him to sleep. The clock
struck IL, and then Mrs. Wylks heard
a noise Breathlessly she listened. Soft
footsteps were creeping up the stairs.
They paused moment at her door and
then she heard the knob turn, but as
the door did not open the midnight ma
rauder passed softly on. She heard him
enter the sitting room, and for a mo-
ment all was still
Something must be done" solilo-
quized Mrs. Wylks as she softly raised
herself from beside her sleeping infant.
81 can't lie here and let everything be
carried out of the house. 1 must do
something.
Softly she turned the key and gently
opened the door and noiselessly crept
into the hall, determined to do some
thing. Tremblingly she crept toward
the sitting room door, expecting every
moment to be met by the monster of
lawbreaker. She gained the sitting
room door and peeped cautiously in. No
one was in sight, but she heard-yes,
she very distinctly heard-some one in
the closet. An idea suggested itself to
her mind. She clasped her hands to-
gether for a second, then springing
quickly forward she pushed the closet
door to and turned the key. Only few
seconds work and she had him safe.
She heard his cries to be let out as she
fed up the stairs to the girls room
screaming:
1--WE got himl I've got the burglarl
Now, quick for the police Ann, Bridg
ct He'll burst open the door Quick
Get up and runl'
Aroused from their slumbers, the
girls rubbed their eyes and failed to I'M
derstand the situation.
"Oh, be quickP' cried Mrs. Wylks,
wringing her hands.
''What is it, ma amp" asked the girls
i'll the same breath.
1.-The burglarl I've got him down
stairs in the closet. Oh, hurry He'll
break out, and then we're lost p
At the name Of burglar both girls
hid themselves under the bedclothes
tnd paid not the least attention to Mrs
Wylks' pleadings.
Hell break out, know he will,
and kill the baby Oh, dear, aren't you
going to get the police?'' And Mrs
Wylks tugged at the bedclothes
"Ochl Ochl'' answered the girls,
holding ON to their night coverings.
"Oh, dear, I'll go myself 1 won't be
killed. l won't have the baby killed 1
leave you to your fate" And Mrs
WyIks fed, closely followed by tho
girls, who objected to being left to their
fate, and springing from their beds they
had caught up whatever articles of
wearing apparel lay conveniently at
hand and followed their mistress down
the stairs, past the door of the sitting
room, on to Mrs. Wylks' room, where a
/ pause was made long enough for tho
anxious, loving mother to grasp her ba
| by and wrap blanket, which she hasti
! ly drew from the bed, around it, and
the girls arrayed themselves in whatev
er they had brought with them, enliv-
ening the time while making their
/ toilet with little shrieks and screams,
as they heard a voice from the closet
demanding in no gentle tone to be let
out. Then the three women and the ba-
by took up their onward rush down
stairs. They halted to open the front
| door, and the young heir of the house
hold, so rudely aroused from his slum-
| bers, entered protest in loud and angry
/ tones.
The door was opened, and Mrs. Wylks
took her stand on the steps, while the
girls hurried away for help. What
long time, it seemed to Mrs. Wylks,
they were gone. She could not hear the
captured burglar banging on the door
and calling to be released, not even
when she stepped into the hall and lis
tened. He had undoubtedly resigned
himself to conquering circumstances
"Oh, how wish Mr. Wylks would
comer' she said to herself, nesting her
baby close in her arms. IT knew some-
thing was going to happen. How glad
he will be that baby and I are safe. Oh,
1 am so glad you have comeP'
This last exclamation was caused by
the appearance of the two girls and half
a dozen police.