The Elbert County tribune., 1899-07-06

seemed to have been there for
nous' during which my only comfor,
nay In ciutchins the biackthorn eudx,,
ana pocket pistol, to which H.r-
49, carried tho pair. when sud
hargreaves gripped my arm.
nstened- Footsteps were coming
a,'niiy toward us. Nearer and near
er tney drew-near and nearer. T
croucned down behind the shrubs ana
peered out. = @-A
An-nal There they were-the ruf-
mansi Thank goodness. only two Of
them They sneaked aicng on III.
nairo" strip of grass bordering tho
sra'ei drive. passed and disappeared
INTO the darkness.
lew minutes elapsed. Then n Ian
.ern.s red bulls eye CLEANED out close
10 the ground. Two figures reared a
ladder against the house wall.
one OF the men mounted and disap-
peared- l could hear Harsreayes.
breath coming In quick gasps. Ny
teeth chattered.
Now the fellow was at the window
aHain. He clutched something in his
arms Miss Dora seaton? No-not
MISS Dora ceaton--a bundle! A kick
Ing. struggling bundle!
silently. swiftly he descended. The
ladder was removed, the red light of
'he lantern extinguished. We felt the
Two coming toward us In the darkness
MY heart beat up into my throat, my
Knees shook. and clutched the black
thorn cudgel.
Now cried Hargreaves.
we sprang out. Each hurled him
sell on his man. seized him by the
throat. and hung on.
The shock of the attack was ire
sistible. With scarcely sound.
scarcely even a scufiie. we forced the
Fellows down. Tightening my grip
IL they struggle" cried to an i'm
asinary comrade In the darkness: "if
they struggle. fire!"
l gagged my man, bound his unre-
sisting hands. turned on the lantern
and staggered back In utter amaze
ment
"Graham!" cried. "Grahamw
'Dagmore" calculated Hargreaves.
Tom Dasmorei by the powersi'
Hargreaves and I 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
silent darkness.
Then Hargreaves began to laugh
He rolled about the drive in speechless
agony. stufhng his handkerchief Into
his mouth and gurgling. subsided on
the ground in silent convuisions. s
No wonder. Graham and Dagmore,
undergraduates of All Souls. oxbridge.
breaking into the house of highly re-
spectacle country squire to steal-ah,
yesl to steal what?
! jumped up. seized the bundle. and
released-a small toy terrier. with a
blue ribbon round Its neck and a gag
stuffed into its mouth.
II was inexplicable, It was mystic
rious. It was the best thing we had been
In for for months. With simultn-
neous impulse we unbound the ruffians.
They gazed at each other ruefully, then
at us. and once more laughter rem
dered us all speechiess.
Come out OF this" whispered pres
emily. I'VE shall have the household
down on u.s." ~.
We crept down the drive. I hardly
dared breathe till we were outside the
gates.
Now them said 10 Graham. eA-
plain"
"oh. after you, SIR" said Graham
after you'll"
YES" echoed Dagmore. what the
dickens are you doing In tbs AFFAIR.""
/ told them. Having stood what we
considered legitimate amount OF
chaff. we put a stop to 1t. and bade
them fire away"
THE fact Is" said Graham. Dag
more is in love; It's Miss Dora seaton."
Very interesting" remarked. but
II hardly seemed to account for his
stealing her dog"
"Oh!" said Graham. I'm coming TO
that. Dora walks on Lyncaster pier
daily after tea. So does tho dog. So.
for the fortnight we have been down
here, have Dasmore and !. 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" e.
] stared.
1--WE are due at Oxbridge next week.
you know. Dagmore is getting fran
tic.
"At last he hit on brilliant idea
Dora is devoted to the dog. 1t occurred
to him how convenient 1t would be II
the little beast would get itself lost or
stolen. and we could find and restore
It to her. As this did not seem likely
to happen. we decided. as you see. to
steal II ourselves. Tomorrow there
will be a hue and cry all over Lyn-
caster-posters up. rewards onered.
Dora in despair. Dagmore securing the
country for the dog-restoration-i
troduction-gratitude bliss!'
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 Householder"
..Dagmore's landlady and the cook at
seaton hall exchange weekly tea and
mullins. Which answers your first
question" lss4sil5i
And the second?' s-
Graham produced a small phiai.
"Chemistry," he said pompously.
'.chemistry is a most useful study. A
few drops of this liquid on a lump OF
sugar sends a smalldog to sleep for six
hours on end. The dose takes enect
half an hour after administration.
This afternoon Dora and the dog
walked on the pier as usual. SO did
pagmore and I. Dora engaged in ami
able converse with an old fisherman.