The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-09-22

Aroused from their slumbers, the
girls rubbed their eyes and failed to un-
derstand the situation.
"Oh, be quickl" cried Mrs. Wylks,
wringing her hands.
"What is it, ma ann" asked the girls
in the same breath.
"The burglar I've got him down
stairs in the closet. Oh, hurry He'll
break out, and then we're lostr"
At the name of burglar" both girls
hid themselves under the bedclothes
and paid not the least aELontiOn to Mrs.
Wylks' pleadings.
"He'll break out, l know he will,
and kill the baby Oh, dear, aren't you
going to get the police?'' And Mrs.
Wylks tugged at the bedclothes.
"Och! Och'' answered the girls,
holding on to their night coverings.
ooh, dear, I'll go myself won't be
killed. won t have the baby killed. I
leave you to your fate. y And Mrs.
Wylks fed, closely followed by the
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 the
| 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 a
| 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
come!' she said to herself, Nesting her
baby close in her arms 'I knew some
thing was going to happen. How glad
he will be that baby and are safe. Oh,
am so glad you have comeW
This last exclamation was caused by
the appearance of the two girls and half
a dozen police.
you've captured burglar, under
stand, ma 'am," said the captain, ad-
dressing Mrs. Wyllzs.
"Oh, yes. He's i'll the closet up
stairs-that is, if he has not got out, "
and Mrs. Wylks pointed the way fol
them to go and followed closely in the
rear. ...
''Sure, they think you're a hero
ma am, whispered Ann to her mistress
as they went up the stairs.
Into the sitting room they marched
and arranged themselves before the
closet door.
The captain unlocked and opened it
two officers sprang forward and dragged
for their victim.
Mrs. Wylks peered from behind the
open door, where she had hidden, and
looked at the prisoner.
She then came out to get closer look,
and with rather shamed expression on
her face she observed:
"Why, Mr.. Wylks, is that you?'
After short and entirely satisfactory
explanation the officers withdrew, and
Mrs. Wylks fondly embraced her cap
tured burglar, who faithfully promised
he would never, never, never, never do
so ally more.-New York News.