The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-03-14


nj the surprise was going to give
James and Clara. just then the hall |
door opened.
Thunder" remarked a voice. IL
thought we turned all the lights OUT"
dropped back into the chair. The !
voice did not belong TO James. had
never heard il before.
A wild panorama of things flashed
before me. ! dashed through a door
ia front Of me, locked il, and found
myself in another bedroom, and there
! was in cul-dc-sac The only door
of exit led into the hall. / paused.
and listened in agony.
"Oh, my poor darling little Fido!"
screamed the feminine voice, as the
dog was discovered. what an awful
cruel monster he must have been!"
"Well, at least, Lillian. he didn't
hurt the dog" said another feminine
voice, with ripple OF laughter in
it. II think he deserves good deal
of sympathy for that, don't you.
WHIP"
heard references TO the police, and
the jingling of an excited telephone
bell, followed by calls for three or
four men to be sent up from the sta
ton.
In that single moment i spent .
whole long night locked up with the
"drunks and disorderlies," and pic
tured James coming down in the
morning and calling me n fool. while
he was making arrangements for my
release.
Never! I would die first. And
clutchcd at the collar of Wills suit.
and beat my brow with my fist. and
groaned.
I heard the procession come along
the hall. and I knew what awaited
them in the dining-room. ] opened
the door the merest crack, and peeped
out. The hall was clear. Now was
my time.
With my best run / sped along the
hall and to the room into which ! had
first broken.
| II was done. / was inside, and the
door was shut behind me. And then
/ fell up against the door and gasped.
had missed the direction. There
was only one other way in which
could make COMPOUNDED fool of my
self that night, and now ! had done
that. This was not the drawing-room
at all, but a snowy bedroom, with
Young lady standing in the middle OF
il, looking affrighted at me.
She continued to look at me for
some time. After while she said:
rs there anything more you would
like to have? If you can think of
anything, please don't hesitate to ask
for it; but be quick, for the police
will be here soon"
II do beg you TO believe that tins
is all an unfortunate mistake l said
"Will YOU believe me, on my honor
as n gentleman, when l tell you tina,
| will explain il all some day. anc
that, if you will help me to escape
from this painful predicament, 70,
will be glad when you know thu
TRUTH"
We heard Will and his wife in loud
discussion Of the GOODNESS OF the
burglar. while Wills wife cried hys
terically:
where is Belle? l do wish she
would stay with us. We are all going
to be murdered before the police gel
! here,"
The young lady pushed past me, ant
opened the door little.
Don't worry about me Lillian
she called brightly. Il don't care Z
see the police, 50 l shall shut mysei
in
Then she closed and locked thu
7 door, and turned to me again.
: IL have almost told lie for you,
! she whispered coldly. Worse thar
that. / am going to help you out 0
nv window. Once outside, you VII
Z have to take your chance"
| bowed my thanks, and was MOVING
I towards the window, when / rcmem
\ bered the bag and all il contained Z
: identify me with the wearer of Will
|, suit. | told her about IL and sh
smiled, and slipped out OF the roor
= by another door. Presently she cam
a with the bag, and there was CLEAR
Z in her eyes as profusely thanked he
a once more.
q 1--WE are under many obligations
'. YOU for not having 81 fire to tn
Il house." she said demurely.
a We heard the heavy feet of the on
l. GERS az the door. and their ring
the bell. and then the young lad
20 softly raised the window.
IN | sprang lightly to the ground. Hs
,r hand was lying on the window-sii
n and leaned over and kissed it,
,e The window closed with cmphasi
q. 1 walked. bag in hand. to the paw
ment. and then / started up II
x street. At the further end of It
D. plunged into the arms of a man WI
n was coming out of a cottage.
~ .Hang il! What are you racin
4. about the streets like that for?"
yn roared. Then he flung himself at m
and almost shook my arm of, shou
IL ing, with grin Of delight: "Dav