The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-07-14
THE BURGL Rs TWO.

W Z \ ~ =.
7 Last autumn, toward the end Of the
"Long." Hargreaves and Iewent down
to Lyneaster-on-sea to do some read
ing.
The season was over, ana We, found.
ourselves almost the only svisitors in
the place the only ones. in fact.
at the, Park hotel. Consequently we
hadFa choice OF rooms, and 1t was pure
" accidental that We chose the corner
sitting-room on the second floor
'front.'" overlooking the grounds Of the
hotel and also the Peoples park.
The western wall Of the hotel gar
dens3, formed the eastern boundary Of
the park. and our room was at right
angles 70 the wall. Immediately be-
meath 1t, on the park side. was = row
Of garden seats.
One night Hargreaves and were lux
uriating in q lounge after dinner. The
room was in darkness and We were
quiet for once-enjoying smoke and
half doing.
Presently was reused by the sound
Of voices talking outside. The window
was open and drew aside the curtain
and looked out.
Two men occupied the seat just be-
low me, on the park side Of the wall
decent looking fellows, as far as I could
tell in the dusk. I looked carelessly
at them for q moment, and was about
to return to my pipe when word Or
two caught my ear. leaned forward
and listened eagerly. ~ "a .
''Then It's all settled. We sneak u?
the drive, steal a ladder and you climb
in at the landing window. We shan't
be disturbed; old Seaton sleeps at the
back Of the house, so dc the servants. F"
go on"
"Her room is in the front-the first
on the left from the landing window.
I spotted it the other night when was
strolling up and down"
ooh! never mind that. Hurry up"
"well. you know what to do next.
Seize the little darling, gag her. lower
her down to me-she's mere feather
weight-follow. and Ill manage the
rest"
"Sh-sh! Not so loud"
The speaker glanced apprehensively
over his shoulder at the hotel.
You're sure this place is empty?
he went on. "There'll be pretty cow
dye do If we've been overheard"
"Of course it's empty. How funky
you are!"
"Well. I don't care about the 5usi-
ness. IT'S Internally risky, and"
ooh! come, you can't back out Of 1t
now. You understand? Meet me OF
1880 o'clock at the cross roads hall
a mile from Seaton hall. Then
tramp, a few minutes wild excitement :.
then-Dora and bliss!"
Catch your hare before you cook It.
Tom. It's far cry tonight's affair to
bliss and Dora"
"Oh, shut up! I'm OF"
$50 am l."
The two men moved away, and III
sank back in my chair and gasped.
What could it mean? Did these cold
blooded ruff1ans really contemplate
breaking into mans house and steal
ing his daughter under his very nose?
It was Incredible, impossible; It was
reused Hargreaves with vigorous
shake. wake up!" shouted. wake
up! Thieves! Burglars! Kidnapers!
Miss Seaton of Seaton hall!"
"What the deuce are you talking
about?" cried Hargreaves, starting up.
care you mad?"
I pulled myself together with an eff
fort, and rapidly ran over what had
heard.
Hargreaves listened-and scoffeG. 1t
was the greatest rubbish he had ever
heard. Carry of a girl in that des-
perado fashion in these days! Absurd!
"Go to sleep again. my dear fellow, and
dream some sense!"
This was Irritating. If there, had
been time should have been annoyed
with Hargreaves. but there was not:
assumed q lofty indifference.
believe, it or not, as you like" I
said, cts true enough. shall be at
seaton hall at midnight to stop this
desperate deed, and If I lose my life in
the interest of my fellow creatures my
blood be on your head"
This rhetorical display impressed
Hargreaves. Seeing which, followed
1t up with hint of ignoring the Lyn-
caster police. and capturing the bur-
i glars OF our own bat.
Hargreaves was fetched"
"a 35S' sssa = .
A couple Of hours later two Williams,
armed with blackthorn 1cudgels, strobe
along the road from Lancaster to Sea-
ton--myself and Hargreaves on the
warpath. =
/ We were horribly nervous-at least.
J. was. A four-mile walk in mud and
b thick mist had cooled my enthusiasm,
and nervous tremors trickled down my
spine ass i thought Of attacking those
MMans alone and unatded.s
81 Visions. foated before me in frightful
procession. saw myself and Har-
sreayessa pair Of mansled corpses well
t0fiuG In our, GOre. HOrriblei wininD