The Somerset reporter., 1898-06-09
A BURGLAR CAUGHT.

There is no use talking, Mr.. Wylks,
l cannot stand this much longer You
have been out every night this week I'M
til after ~, and | haven't slept wink,
fretting and worrying about you until
am almost tired out "
"Well, don't worry about me, dear.
Go to sleep tonight and get good rest "
THAT is just like a man to talk so.
Go to sleep indeed l presume you
would and leave the house to take care
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 I'M
strung
lit 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 l don't mean to be out any
more than l am obliged to. You must
be willing to sacrifice a 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 90 to sleep while you are
ont is perfectly preposterous. Iwouldn'
be so heartless.
"Well, l won't go out tomorrow
night. III stay in with you, but tonight
| must.
ooh, dear, l suppose must stand it,
but I'm sure something will happen. l
have presentiment, and when did my
presentimer - ever fail? We may never
see each other again. If you come home
and find baby and me killed, don't be
surprised. ;"
I'm 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
rible burglarips 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 a 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 H. and then Mrs. Wylks heard
noise. Breathlessly she listened. Soft
footsteps We're 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.
Il can't lie here and let everything be
carried out of the house | 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 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
fled up the stairs to the girls room
screaming:
1--WE got him I've got the burglar
Now, quick for the police Ann, Bridg-
ct He'll burst open the door Quick
Get up and runp'
Aroused from their slumbers, the
girls rubbed their eyes and failed to I'M
derstand the situation.
"Oh be quickl" cried Mrs. Wylks,
wringing her hands.
"What is it, ma ann" asked the girls
in the same breath.
1.-The burglarl I've got him down
stairs III the closet. Oh hurry He'll
break out, and then we're lost -
At the name Of burglar" both girls
hid themselves under the bedclothes
a.other. "A more shiftless body than
Jim ain t come across, always trapes-
ing round in searching work and never