The Republican., 1899-07-20

Anna! Inere tney Were-tne ruI-
fans! Thank goodness, only two of
them. They sneaked along on the mar
row strip of grass bordering the gravel
drive, passed and disappeared into the
darkness.
A few minutes elapsed. Then Ian
terms red bull's-eye cleaned out close
to the ground. Two figures reared a
ladder against the house wall
One of the men mounted and disap-
peared. could hear Hargreaves' breath
coming in quick gasps. My teeth chat
tered.
Now the fellow was at the window
again. He clutched something in his
arms. Miss Dora Seaton? No not
Miss Dora Seaton-a bundle. A kick
ing struggling bundle!
Silently, swiftly he descended. The
ladder was removed, the red light of
the lantern extinguished. We felt the
two coming toward us in the darkness.
My heart beat up into my throat, my
knees shook, but l clutched the black
thorn cudgel.
"Now!" cried Hargreaves.
We sprang out. Each hrrled himself
on his man, seizing him by the throat,
and hung on.
The shock of the attack was irresist-
ible. With scarcely sound, scarcely
even a scuffle, we forced the fellows
down. Tightening my grip
If they struggle" | cried to an
imaginary comrade in the darkness;
IF they struggle, fret"
| gagged my man, bound his unre-
sisting hands, turned on the lantern
and staggered back in utter amaze
ment.
"Graham!" I cried. "Graham!"
"Dagmore!" CALCULATED Hargreaves.
Tom Dagmore! by the powers!"
Hargreaves and l stared at one an
other. The burglars lay and glared
at us, gagged and helpless. The mys-
terious bundle struggled and plunged
about our feet. Over all loomed the
shadow of the old hall, wrapped in 81
lent darkness.
Then Hargreaves began to laugh. He
rolled about the drive in speechless ag-
ony, stuffing his handkerchief into his
mouth and gurgling. | subsided on the
ground in silent convulsions.
No wonder. Graham and Dagmore,
undergraduates of All Souls, Oxbridge,
breaking into the house of highly re-
spectacle country squire to steal-ah,
yes! to steal what?
| jumped up, seized the bundle, and
released-a smalltoy terrier, with a blue
ribbon round it's neck and a gag stuffed
into it's mouth.
1t was ineXplicable, it was mysteri-
GUS, it was the best thing we had been
in for months. With a simultaneous
impulse we unbound the ruffians.
They gazed at each other ruefully, then
at US, and once more laughter rendered
US all speechless.
Come out of this" whispered, pres
emily, 1--WE shall have the household
down on u.s."
We crept down the drive. I hardly
dared breathe till we were outside the
gates.
Now then," said to Graham. ''ex-
plain"
"Oh, after you, sir" said Graham
"after you!"
YES" echoed Dagmore, what the
dickens are you doing in this AFFAIR.""
told them. Having stood what we
considered a legitimate amount of
cAaff, we put stop to it, and bade
them fire away"
The fact is" said Graham, dag
more is in love; it's Miss Dora Seaton."
Very interesting" remarked, but
it hardly seemed to account for his
stealing her dog"
oh" said Graham, I'm coming to
that. Dora walks on lancaster pier
daily after tea. So does the dog. So,
for the fortnight we have been down
here, have Dagmorc and l. Dagmore
was smitten with Dora at once, and we
have tried every dodge we know to
get an introduction. No go. Fair
means failing, we tried foul"
| stared.
"We are due at Oxbridge next week,
you know. Dagmore is getting fran
tic.
'At last he hit on a brilliant idea.
Dora is devoted to the dog. 1t occurred
to him how convenient it would be
II the little beast would get itself lost
or stolen, and we could find and re-
store it to her. AS this did not seem
likely to happen, we decided, as you
see, to steal it ourselves. Tomorrow
there will be a hue and cry all over
Lyncaster-posters up, rewards Of
fered, Dora in despair, Dagmore scour-
ing the country for the dog-restora-
tion-introduction- gratitude bliss!"
''Well, of all the romantic, daredevil
young fools!" began.
But" broke in Hargreaves, "how
did you know where the dog was kept
at night? And how dare you risk its
barking and rousing tie household?"
"Dagmore's landlady and the cook at
Seaton hall exchange weekly tea and
mullins. Which answers your first
question"
And the second?"
Graham produced small phial.
Chemistry" he said, pompously,
chemistry is most useful study. A
few drops of this liquid on a lump of
sugar sends a small dog to sleep for
six hours on end. The dose takes eff