Evening journal., 1899-09-06

Ah-hal There they were-the ruff
Hansl 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 a 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 bundlel
Silently, swiftly he descended The
ladder was removed, the red Light Of
the lantern extinguixhed. We felt the
two coming toward us in the darkness.
My heart beat up into my thrbat, my
knees shook. but I clutched the black
thorn cudgcl.
"Nowl" cried Hargreaves.
We sprang out. Each hrrled himself
on his man, seizing him by tho throat,
and hung ON.
The shock of the attack was irresist-
ihle. With scarcely a sound, scarcely
even scuiilc, we forced the fellows
down. Tightening my grip
III they struggle" / cried 20 an
Imaginary comrade in the darkness;
"if they struggle, firel"
! gagged my man, bound his unre-
sisting hands, turned ON the lantern
and staggered back in utter amaze
ment
"Gmhami" l cried. "Grahaml"
"Dagmorei" calculated Hargreaves.
TON Dagmorel by the powersl"
Hargreaves and / 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 ST.
lent darkness.
Then Hargreaves began to laugh. He
rolled about the drive in speechlcss ag-
ony, stufiing his handkerchief into his
mouth and gurgling. ] subsidized on the
ground In silent convuloions.
No wonder. Graham and Dagmore,
undergraduates of An Souls, Oxbridge
breaking into the house Of n highly re-
spectacle country squire to steaa-ah
yesl 10 steal what?
1 jumped up, seized tha bundle; and
released-asmall toy terrier, with blue
ribbon round its neck and a gag stuffed
into ifs mouth.
Il was inexplicable, il was mysteri
ous, it was the best thing we had beer
in for months. With a simultaneous
impulse we unbound the rufians
They gazed at each other ruefully, theI
at US, and once more laughter RENDERED
us all speechless.
Come out OF this" 1 Whispered, pres
emily, 1--WE shall have the household
down on u.s."
We crept down the drive. I hardl
dared breathe till we were outside tn
gates.
Now then" I said to Graham. "e'
plain"
"oh. after you. sir" said Graham-
= after youi"
"Yes," echoed Dagmore, what tn
p dickens are you doing in this AFFAIR.""
> l told them. Having stood what "
considered a legitimate amount Q
chafI, we put stop TO II, and bad
them "fire away"
: The fact is" said Graham, "Dal
more is in love; it's Miss Dora seaton.
Every interesting" remarked, "bu
1t hardly seemed TO account for hl
stealing her dog"
"Oh!" said Graham, 'Tm coming
that. Dora walks on Lyncaster pie
{ daily after tea. So does the dog. s.
3 for the fortnight we have been dow
here, have Dagmofe and /. Dagmol
$ was smitten with Dora at once, and "
have tried every dodge we lnow
] get an introduction. No 60. Fa
means failing, we tried foul"
= stared.
= 1--WE are due at Oxbridge next wee
you know. Dagmore is getting fra
tic.
AT last he hit on q brilliant ide
i. Dora is devoted 10 the dog. 1t oceurr'
e 10 him how convenient it would
o II the little beast would get itself To-
E or stolen, and we could find and J
store il to her AS this did not see
!, likely TO happen, we decided, as "
a see, 10 steal it ourselves. To-morro
j. there will be q hue and cry an ov
y Lyncaster-posters up, rewards q
e fered, Dora in despair, Dagmore scou
ing the country for the dog-restor
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS bliss
p. "Well, Of all the romantic, dare-del
s young foolsl" ] began.
= But" broke in Hargreaves, "hc
,. did YOU know where the dog was Ike
at night? And how dare you risk
d. barking and rousing the Householder
Is "Dagmore's landfady and the cook
Seaton ball exchange weekly tea al
a mullins. Which answers your fiji
,s question"
And the second7S
- Graham produced a small phial.
Chemistry" he said, pompous
- chemistry is n most useful study.
few drops Of this liquid on a lump
sugar sends a small dog to sleep