The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-07
A BURGLAR CAUGHT.


"There is no use talking, Mr., Wylks,
I cannot stand this much longer. You
have been out every night this week un-
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 man to talk so.
Go to sleep, indeedl I presume you
would and leave the house to take care
of itself, to DO 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 IN,
strung" ,,.a
"It is necessary that I should attend
to these things, my dear. The country
must be governed, and its growing
needs require constant watchfulness and
new laws I don't mean to be out any
more than am obliged to. You must
be willing to sacrifice q 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 ~
1.-THE idea Of me coolly making up
my mind to go to sleep while you are
out is perfectly preposterous. Wouldn't
be SO heartless.
"Well, won't go out tomorrow
night. I'll stay in with you, but tonight
I must"
"Oh, dear, I suppose must stand it,
but I'm sure something will happen. I
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 DO
surprised"
I'm Try not to be-" replied Mr..
Wylks, as he put on his oyercoat and
smiled down at the troubled face of his
wife Then he gave her q goodby kiss
and left her, and she hurried through
the house to mako 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
al. III 1npn,,, 81, ,ricitoI oil
tho windows and doors and warned the
girls against removing q single bolt or
bar. Then she returned to her coy 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
II 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
tic one to soothd him to sleep. The clock
struck IL, and then Mrs. Wylk5 heard
a noise Broathlcssiy she listened. Soft
footsteps were creeping up tho stairs.
They paused u moment at her door aud
then she heard the knob turn, but as
the door did not open tho midnight ma
rauder passed softly on. She heard him
enter the sitting room, and for q mo-
mont all was still.
Something must be DONE" solilo-
quized Mrs. Wylks, as she softly raised
herself from beside her sleeping infant.
II can't lie here and let everything be
carried out Of tho 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 Ct
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
tho closet. An idea suggested itself to
her mind She claspcd 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:
"I'vc got him! I've got tho burglarl
Now, quick for the policc Ann, lfidg-
ct. He'll burst open the doorI Quick
Get up and run"
Aroused from their slumbers, the
girls rubbed their eyes and failed to I'M
derstand the situation.
ooh, be quick!" cried Mrs. Wylks,
wringing her hands.
"What is it, ma 'am?" asked the girls
in the same breath.
1.-THE burglar! I've got him down
stairs in tLe closet Oh, hurry! He'll
break out, and then we're lostn'
At the name of burglar" both girls
lid themselves under the bedclothcs