The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-09
Miss Mary lanes Burglar.

| day over 30. She had, many years be-
fore, her love affair, followed by m s.
understanding, the reason of which was
| so securely locked in her breast that. al
though many had been the conjectures IN
| regard to IL, yet no one had sUrm lsed
the exact truth concerning the lovers
quarrel.
Short and plump. with kindly face, and
| good-natured as the day was long, she
was regarded by many as still in the
| matrimonial market partly on account
of her attractive home and bank account
| as we'll as her genial, CHEEKY PERSONAL
/ ", which had won to her a legion OF
! friends as well as many would-be suit
crs, none of whom, however, had re-
! riaced the old love.
| As time slipped by her village friends
! had almost forgotten the existence Of
Sam Hopkinson. her beau OF more youth
| full daye, who had, TO every ones sur
prise, Miss Mary Jane excepted. sudden
| ~ left for parts unknown, but who h d
! been heard Of by chance some few years
| ago as having made a snug little pile in
| Australia. IAN old maid from choice,
not necessity" was what her friends
said of her. and when several of the
towns most eligible young men had
! tried to make up TO her she had been
| friendly but kept them at arms length
| On this particular afternoon she hal
sent her neat little maid servant with
! some jelly and a freshly killed chicken
| to a sick neighbor, some half a mile
away, and sat among the geraniums IN
| the sunny bay window upstairs mending
some table linen. The sound of footsteps
on the front graveled walk made her
pause to listen; then some one knocke
and at the same time stealthily turned
| the knob of the screen door and stepped
| in.
Only last week the big house on the hill
had been visited by burglar. who had
departed as quietly as he came with
some old family plate and several valu-
able pieces of jewelry. What if this
were the same thief, enlboldened by his
| former success, to pay her home visit
! in broad daylight, with the hopes OF
similar plumber. Not If a woman's
prompt action and courage could pre-
vent, thought Miss Mary Jane. So. hast
lily opening bureau drawer and pick
! ing up a revolver both old-fashioned
and u4loaded, which had lain there many
years, she crept swiftly downstairs,
where, with his back turned toward her.
stood a strapping big fellow. who turn
ed as she reached him, and, taken by
| surprise, stepped quietly backward to-
ward the door Of the closet located IN
der the stairs, and then attempted to
| pass her.
Summonfng I'll her courage and point
| ing her weapon of defense at his head.
she cried: open that closet door if you
value your life" whereupon the impu-
dent fellow exclaimed: why, Miss
Mary janet"
Don't Mary Jane me-" she shouted
'but open that door," now thoroughly
| courageous with righteous anger at the
fellows bold insolenee. AS he turne d
and opened the door she gave him one
push, shut the closet door with a bang,
at the same time turning the key with
dexterity surprising even to herself
Thank heaven, she had him good and
fast, and now needed the assistance only
of some passerby to take her prisoner
bodily. His voice reached her but IN
distinctly through the heavy door, but
she could hear her name in muffled
tones, Miss Mary Jane, Miss Mary Jane.
open the door" Not much, but how
manage to summon aid? The large,
brass dinner bell used in her fathers
day, would be the thing, and IN a mo-
ment she had seized the heavy thing,
and with the revolver still clutched IN
the other hand. rung the bell first at
one window, then another; surely some
one would hear and come to her res
cue, and as the seconds dragged along
! for what seemed hours but was in real
ity only a few minutes, and she saw
some one coming across Neighbor
Browns lawn, she rang harder and
louder. What If her prisoner shou
burst the door and escape? Come
quicker she shouted, come quicker.
and take him away" BY this time
Jonas Smith had reached the kitchen
door, followed by several more neighhors
who had also become aware Of some
thing unusual in the noise and commo-
ton.
take who avay?" said Jonas, adding,
'you had better let me take that fire.
arm away or you will be shooting your
self or one Of us.''
Burglar entry closet gasped Mary
Jane and handing him the revolver coll
lapsed on the kitchen steps without an
other word Of explanation.
Muttering something about noise
enough for a fire." he trudged IN, fol-
lowed by the rest, and arming himself
on the way with the kitchen poker, be-
sides the revolver, he made straight for
the entry closet.
Stand around" he shouted. with an
air of military command. You, Deacon
Adams tnlock the door, and you, Seth
Fisher. open It, while the rest be ready
| to seize and bold the rascal"
No sooner said than done and in less
time than Il takes to tell FIVE pairs Of
hands had seized the occupant Of the
closet, although. strange to say, he
made no resis ance but exclaimed: "A
nice way to welcome home an old friend
| threaten to shoot him, lock him up and
then when nearly suffocated Kberate him
/ in this playful manner; don't You know
! me- bOys?" as he met their look Of
blank amazement
"Why. II it amt Sam" shouted Jonas.
absently extending first the revolver and
! then the poker for a friendly handshalCe
and then hourishing them both at the
rest OF the crowd.
why. so It IS" exclaimed Seth. and
| nv this time Miss Mary Jane. having
recovered her breath and hearing the
! conversation, nearly tainted when she
/ realized her mistake.
After mutual explanations and The res
cuing party had at last departed. Mary
| Jane and sam. for h e was. though
| much changed by additional flesh and
/ heavy beard. SIT down IN the best
| room u talk Il over and explain, shs
| that her fnhospitalitv was due 70 his
own manner Of call and he 70 tel Of his
desire 70 see her first and have his first
( welcome from his Old "swee theart." be
sides the fun OF surprising her
| The following month 2 duiet wedding
! took n-ace az which Mary Jane made
smiling. happy bride. r=rnarkiug after
the ceremony - the proud sam, ''Te,'.
/ perhaps you don't think surprises are
/ - funny after al. but i isn't every
/ woman who can capture burglar, even
I II he had stolen her heart '-Boston
Pest
: Taderstsod His Bu~' mess.
/ CFToHa the View York Weekly1
I Druggist an getting ~ 3 new pat
e1t medicine, ard want sane g1s