The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-20

arms. Miss Dora Seatonr No--not Mis-.
Dora Seaton. A bundle--a kicking
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 cluched the blackthorn
cudgel.
Now" cried Hargreaves.
We sprang out. Each hurled himself
on his man, seized him by the throat and
hung on.
| The shock Of the attack was irresisti.
bic. With scarcely sound, scarcely
even scuffle. we forced the fellows
down. Tightening my grip
III they struggle" cried to an imagi.
nary comrade in the darkness-'.if they
struggle, fire."
gagged my man, bound his unresist.
ing hands, turned on the lantern and
staggered back in utter amazement.
"Graham!" cried. "Graham"
"Dagmore" calculated Hargreaves.
"Tom Dagmore, by the powers!"
Hargreaves and | stared at one anoth-
er. The burglars lay and glared at US,
gagged and helpless. The mysterious
bundle struggled and plunged at our feet.
Over all doomed the shadow of the old
hall. wrapped in silent darkness.
Then Hargreaves began to laugh. He
rolled about the drive in speeches. ag-
ony, stufiing his handkerchief into his
mouth and gurgling. l subsidized on the
ground in silent commissions.
No wonder! Graham and Dagmore,
undergraduates of All Souls, Oxbridge,
breaking into the house of a highly ro-
spectacle country squire to steal-ah,
yes, to steal what?
jumped up, seized the bundle and re-
leased-a small toy terrier, with blue
ribbon round its neck and a gag stuffed
into its mouth.
1t was inexplicable, 1t was mysterious,
it was the best thing we had been in for
months. With simultaneous impulse
we unbound the ruffians. They gazed ut
each other ruefully, then at us, and once
more laughter rendered us all speeches..
Come out of this" l whispered pres
emily. 1--WE shall have the household
down on u.s."
We crept down the drive. l hardly
dared breathe till we were outside the
gates.
"Now, them" said to Graham, tex
plain"
"Oh, after you, sir" said Graham
"after you!"
Yes" echoed Dagmore what the
dickens are you doing in this AFFAIR.""
l told them. Having stood what we
considered legitimate amount of chat
we put stop to 1t and babe them sire
away"
THE fact is" said Graham, "Dagmore
Is In love. It's Miss Dora Seaton.''
every interesting" l remarked, "but
that hardly seems to account for bis
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
Dagmore and I. Dagmore was smitten
with Dora at once. and we have tried ev-
cry dodge we know to get IN introduce
ton. No go. Fair means failing, we tried |
foul"
l stared.
1--WE are due at Oxbridge next week,
AT last he hit on a brilliant idea. Dora
is devoted to the dog. 1t occurred to him
how convenient it would be if 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 de-
cided, MS you see, to steal il ourselves.
Tomorrow there will be hue and cry
all over Lyncaster-posters up, rewards
offered, Dora in despair, Dagmore scour-
ing the country for the dog-restoration-
well, Of all the romantic, daredevil
young fools" began.
But" broke in Hargreaves, chow did
you know where the dog was kept at
night? And how dare you risk its bark
ing and rousing the household?'
''Dagmores landlady and the cook at
Seaton Hall exchange weekly tea and
mullins. Which answers your first ques-
.ion."
"And the second?'
Graham produced a small phal.
Chemistry he said pompously,
chemistry is a most useful study. A
few drops Of this liquid on a lump of
sugar sends a small dog to sleep for six
lours on end. The dose takes effect half
III hour after administration. This after
loon Dora and the dog walked on the
'ier as usual. So did Dagmore and I.
Dora engaged in amiable converse with
n old fisherman, while the little dog ate
lump of sugar lying temptingly under
ne of the seats. On the road home he
robably lay down and slumbered and
ad slunbered ever since on the mat at
is mistress door-in my arms on the
lnding-and awoke to find himself de-
cending ladder tied up in blanket
18th n cloth stuffed into his mouth.
here" Graham finished, that's the I
hole show"
Hargreaves and do not think much of
lis tale. Mrs. Dora Dagmore says it il {
le best she knOws.-Exchange. ,