, 1899-02-21
4 BURGLAR CAUGHT.

n VA {.
There is no use talking, Mr.. Wylks,
I cannot stand this much longer. You
have been out every night this week I'M
til after IL, and 1 haven't slept n wink,
fretting and worrying about you until /
am almost tired out"
well, don't worry about me, dear.
Go to sleep tonight and get a good rest. p"
"That is just like IL man to talk so.
Go to sleep, indeedl I presume you
would and leave the house to take care
of itself, to be broken into by burglars,
and maybe the whole family would be
murdered. If you loved me as you used
to when we first were married, you
would not be willing to leave me every
evening for the clubhouse, while l wor-
ry and fret and get my nerves all I'M
strung"
ut is necessary that 1 should attend
to these things, my dear. The country
must be governed, and its growing
needs require constant watchfulness and
new laws. l don't mean to be ont any
AioAS Niiui L I'LL bbllSCu W. iOu llls
be willing to sacrifice a little for the
good of your country. Just make up
your mind that you will go to sleep,
and you won't be troubled any further
with wakefulness."
1.-THE idea of me coolly making up
my mind to go to sleep while you are
out is perfectly preposterous. Wouldn't
be so heartless.
"Well, l won't go out tomorrow
night. I'll stay in with you, but tonight
/ must"
"Oh, dear, 1 suppose 1 must stand it,
but Pm sure something will happen. 1
have n presentiment, and when did my
presentiments eve fail? We may never
see each other again. If you come home
and find baby and me killed, don't be
surprised"
"Il try not to be-" replied Mr..
Wylks, as he put on his overcoat and
smiled down ut the troubled face of his
wife. Then he gave her n goodby kiss
and left her, and she hurried through
the house to make sure that the win
dows were all fastened down and the
bolts of the doors pushed into their fas-
Jennings, and then she sat down and
read all the startling accidents, the ter
rible burglaries and the frightful MUIR
ders that the daily papers furnished so
p~lentifully, and when she had got her
self wrought up SO that she could sit
still no longer she once more visited all
the windows and doors and warned the
girls against removing a single bolt or
ha- nn,A, ,l,1 ,aN,.@l - -. :.
ting room and sat down in ~silence, lis
tening for the sounding of some thiev-
ing wretch and trying to imagine what
she should do if one of the villains
should confront her md demand her
jewels and the key to the silver closet.
Time went on and the clock struck
IL; still she was undecided what she
had better do if anything unusual should
happen. The girls had gone up to bed
and were undoubtedly sound asleep.
Half an hour crept by. Baby cried
out in his sleep, and Mrs. Wylks has
tened to him, for there was no nurse to
attend him. Mrs. Wylks never would
trust the little darling with any one but
herself. She shut and fastened the bed
room door, and lay down beside her lit
tie one to soothe him to sleep. The clock
struck ~, and then Mrs. Wylks heard
a noise. Breathlessly she listened. Soft
footsteps were creeping up the stairs.
They paused a moment at her door and
then she heard the knob turn, but as
the door did not open the midnight ma
rauder passed softly Oh. She heard him
enter the sitting room, and for II mo-
ment all was still.
"Something must be DONE, solilo-
pulsed Mrs. Wylks, as she softly raised
herself from beside her sleeping infant.
II can't lie here and let everything be
carried out of the house. l must do
something"
Softly she turned the key and gently
opened the door and noiselessly crept
into the hall, determined to do ONE
thing. Tremblingly she crept toward
the sitting room door, expecting every
moment to be met by the monster of a
lawbreaker. She gained the sitting
room door and peeped cautiously in. No
one was in sight, but she heard-yes,
she very distinctly heard-some II in
the closet. An idea suggested itself to
her mind. She clasped her hands to-
gether for a second, then springing
quickly forward she pushed the closet
door to and turned the key. Only Il few
seconds work and she had him safe.
She heard bis cries to be let out rs she
fed up the stars to the girls room
screaming:
"I've got himl I've got the burglar
Now, quick for the policel Ann, Eridg-
eti He'll burst open the door! Quick!
Get up and runv'
Aroused from their slumbers, the
girls rubbed their eyes and failed to IN
derstand the situation.
"Oh, be quick!' cried Mrs. Wylks,
wringing her hands.
"What is it, ma'am?' asked the girls
In the same breath.
1.-THE burglar! I've got him down
ttairs in the closet. Oh, hurry! He'll
break out, and hen we're lost!" I.
At the name of burglar both girls
hid themselves under the bedclothes
Ask your