Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-09-01

on the alert. or sudden IL dawned
upon her that instead OF humorous
mock burglar the unfortunate Ja.k
might have 20 deal with a gang Of
hardened criminals. and the probable
result Of such an encounter would 50
upset arrangements that Mary would
in future thank her 70 leave her AZ
fairs alone. So the little Joke had de
veloped into huge tragedy. and Jack
must not be sacrificed Even in the
hour Of danger she could not repress
= smile as she thought how the papers
would make such a sensation OF the
affair No: Beatrice decided that II
should rot be. Ard so Jack slept on.
unconscious Of the opportunities for
distinction that awaited him down
stairs
In the meantime. the enterprisine
young lady with the smudgy face and
ragged clothes had seized sn old duel
ing pistol and intrenehed herself in
the rear of the sofa. from which she
could obtain an uninterrupted view OF
the proceedings within the room.
There she propped herself mp, with
one arm extending over the back o.
the sofa. pointing an unloaded pistol
in a menacing manner and there she
meant TO fght and die. as she had
heard her uncle tell % brave men in
the trenches. for II was a desperate
matter now. and IL was scarcely real
izable that such terrible plight could
ever have originated in = harmless lit
tie joke.
A nan crept stcslthily into che
room through the half-open window
srd cast the light Of his lantern IN az
directions. Then, upon a sign that al
was right. another long-iegged villain
followed. and the two conferred il
muffied tones Then they carefully
shut the window. closed the shutters
| III the gas and bounced upon the safe
| That was Beats opportunity
Hands up"
II an electric wire had been connect
&C With the automatic figures. and :
button had been pressed. the upper
1 limbs could not have responded more
1 promptly than Gid the hands Of those
two desperate burglars. Scared and
bs&ed a. they were. they staggered
round OF their heels. 20 discover the
source OF that sudden command. and
encountered the frowning muzzle Of a
pistol. J. was enough The younger
man groaned and the older one said
something beneath his breath.
Five minutes passed. and not a word
was spoken. Two pairs Of hands still
moved sloft and two pairs Of eowed
eyes fearfuliv watched the muzzle 90
the pistol Bot IL never moved The
aim was deadly
~'Urry Up. guv'nori~ a. last Eroaned
the younger man. Ring for the serv-
ants. or Whist yer Ike. only don't let
us get cold ia our armpits."
in support OF which the older man
again swore. hut the victorious one
said nothing. Only the pistol coniin
ued 20 frown threateningly.
Two more minutes that seemed Xix,
hoars 90 the captured men passed by
and the older burglar commenced q
swear more loudly. The younger mar
also began 90 Indignantly assert hi'
rights 10 humane treatment. aud mat
ten were just becoming strained whei
the door opened. and poker. followed
by the white face OF Jack Winchfel6
appeared upon the scene
IL was the FIRST time Jack had takel
an active part in q burglary case. an
be Wa considerably nonplussed 20 fn'
, two bard-featured villains strainin,
: their arms 10 the ceiling az sight o
common domestic poker But b
concluded IL must be the usual thin
among such gentry. and his face r.
gained some of SIS color as he too
the cord from his dressing gown an
requested one CT the men 20 hold dow
his hands 20 b. bound. which ne Oh
with grateful glance. 4 curtain cor
served for the other. and the two 500
= stood side by side, trussed like cocl
erels-
~Now. then. guv'nor. te. the biloxi
behind the sofy 20 shif, that pisto
] don't like IT," exclaimed one.
Pistol? What pistol?'
Jack looked round in the directio
indicated. and staggered back as
encountered the frOwning muzzie. II
idea suddenly occurred 70 him -;
this was another burglar IN hiding. ar
Z that he had been outfiznked. Sc a
II colonel would probably have called
But as he moved. the pistol held stea
y lastly 10 its place. and az last he m
neuxered round and discovered a sHgl
form. dressed in ragged mems clofhe
and propped up with cushions az
D. chairs.
-NoS. young IN put up that gu
a scott, It's Beatrice, And she
y fainte5.~
? ~Fainsed2'' echoed the two truss