The Winslow mail., 1898-12-03

ANA ~ III il4S li4414 a DlCCC vi IOpC oS
quickly as possible.
She vanished at once, and then Mike
appeared Cn the scene
Speedily breaking in upon al the old
Irishman's eXclamations Of wonder.
Fred briefly explained how he had cap
tured a young Englishman in the very
act Of entering the house by force, AID
that as soon as the fellow was bound
he was to guard him until constable
could De summoned.
"An' indade that I will, sur!" an
swered Mike, chcerfully "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 EN-"
NO, Mike, l 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 I'D
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
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. tax ould only be bit afore
his toime," declared Mike.
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 espectable-looking
he isl" whispered Maud to her mother
What a shame!" said Mrs. Applcby.
81 wonder if he can't be sent to a sort
jail?"
And, indeed, the burglar was quite
handsome youth, very neatly dressed.
But how angry he was to think he had
been caught
What authority have you here, I
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. 81 tell you I'm a
friend of the family!"
$50 am l." put in Fred, "and for
that reason / don't want you to get
away. 1t seems to me, though, that
for a friend you have a rather queer
way of visiting down when
nobody's been at home for q week. and
then trying to break in the house"
"But 1 was sent here for a gun, and
told to open this very window"
"Ha, ha! likely story." laughed
Fred. Here, Mike. hold this chap
while go for the constable"
"One moment first" interposed the
thief, in a more conciliating tone. eff
you'll just unbind my arms second: l
think 1 can show you proofs of what
1 assert. It's letter which I'm pretty
certain I put into one of my pockets
yesterday"
(Which one?" asked Fred. 81 prefer
to take it out myself"
CAS- you please" replied the other.
"My inside coat pocket, right hand"
Sure enough, there was letter there,
and Fred loosened his hold trife when
he perceived the address in Tom Will
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, Fred
read as follows:
my Dear Sherman: Awfully sorry I'm
not going to be at home; but I'll lend you
the gun with pleasure If you'll take the
trouble to go down to cur house at Lake
Beach and get it yourself. I'd send you the
key, but father doesn't think it's safe to
put it in letter. However, with your slim
fingers you can easily squeeze your hard
through one of the shutters and lift the
latch Nothing's nailed up. The sun stands
in corner OF the dining-room, which is
In the wing on the side next the woods.
Would write more, but am scribbHng this
while on the cars so as to mail it at the
next stop. Your everlasting cid chuln,
tom WILTON"
1t was now Fred's turn to be the VIC
tim, and l think he suffered more dur
ing his attempts to explain matters
than Sherman Brown had under the
window sash.
But the young Englishman (for such
he really was) took the awkward mis-
take very good-naturedly.
Mike was promised first choice of
cast-off garments at the Appleby's if
he would keep quiet on the subject in
the village, and after Fred had crawled
in and secured the gun, Sherman was
prevailed upon to lunch with him.
Before the afternoon train left for
the city, the two had become very good
friends, Sherman protesting himself
happy to have made the acquaintance
of one so faithful to his trust. AT the
same time, both boys would have been
better pleased if Tom had not forgot
ten all about the watch he had asked
Fred to l1eep.-Golden Days.
VASTLY DIFFERENT.