The Forrest City times., 1899-06-23

| Ahere they were-the ruff
 nans' Thank goodness. only two of 'nem. They sneaked along on the mar TO" s'r'p of grass bordering the grave, ar'se' passed and disappeared into the darkness. 'o '"s
 A few minutes elapsed. Then a Ian.
 .erns red bull's-eye gleamed out close 10 the ground. Two figures reared | ladder against the house wall. ohe or the men mounted and disap- peared. could hear Hargreaves' breath coming Tn quick gasps. My teeth chat | tered.
 Now the fellow was at the w;ndov 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 clutched the black. thorn cudgel.
 "Now!" cried Hargreaves. We sprang out Each hurled himself on his man, seizing him by the throat. and hung on.
 The shock of the attack was irresist. ipie. With scarcely sound, scarcely even scuffie. we forced the fellows down. Tightening my grip
 lf they struggle" I cried to an Imaginary comrade in the darkness: If they struggle. fre!" gagged my man, bound his uure- sisting hands, turned on the lantern | and staggered back in utter amaze. | ment.
 "Graham!" cried. "Graham!"
 "Dagmore!" ejaculated Hargreaves.
 rom Dagmore! by the powers!" 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 si-
 lent darkness.
 Then Hargreaves began to laugh. He rolled about the drive in speeches. az l ony. stuffing his handkerchief into his
 mouth and gurgling. 1 subsided on the | ground in silent convulsions. No wonder. Graham and Dagmore, | undergraduates of All Souls, Oxbridge, | breaking into the house of highly re- spectable country squire to steal-ah, yes. to steal what? ~I jumped up. seized the bundle. and lpn sod c n, n ov r,.;ar ,,,;@l l~1,,z
 ribbon round its neck and gag stuffed | into its mouth.
 It was inexplicable. it was myateri- | ous. it was the best thing we had been
 in for months. With a simultar eous impulse we unbound the rufiians
 They gazed at each other ruefully, then
 at us, and once more laughter rendered
 us all speeches..
 Come out of this," whispered. pres | ently, i've shall have the household down on us."
 We crept down the drive. I hardly dared breathe till we were outside the | gates.
 "Now then" said to Graham. sex
 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 chatf, we put a stop to it, and bade
 them fire away" ''The fact is," said Graham, Dug
 more is in love; it's Miss Dora Seaton."
 Very interesting" remarked, "hut | it hardly seemed to account for his
 stealing her dog" | "Oh." said Graham, "Tm coming to that. Dora walks on Lyncaster pier daily after tea. So does the dog. So, for the fortnight we have been down
 here. have Dagmore and l. Dagmore l was smitten with Dora at once. and we have tried every dodge we know tc get an introduction. No go. Faii
 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. It occurred | to him how convenient it would be if the little beast would get itself lost or stolen. and we could find and re- store it 10 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 1 fered. Dora in despair. Dagmore SCOUT | ing the country for the dog-restora- observation-disclosures n-gratitude-b blss!"
 ''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 it's barking and rousing the 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, pompousiy,