The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-03-05
lamp burned, a cheap made In

furniture stood about at all impossible
angles; pictures, instead OF being neat
ly arranged upon the walls, rested
on the floor, leaning their faces against
the wanscot, as things in grief; books
loosely tied with coarse string, were
flung here, bundle of firelrons hud'
died there. Chaos indescribable.
But Stuart Brazier was methodical,
philosophic soul, the very type Of the
satisfied and satisfactory suburban
dweller. He had glanced at the dis.
heartening scramble Of furniture and
ornaments without the least little dis
couragement. Tomorrow, not tonight,
he would begin to set things to rights.
The June night closed in, and Stuart
Brazler sat in his comfortable chair,
smoking and turning matters over In
his mind, He was glad to be at length
In the first detached house he had ever
possessed; he thought of its spacious
lawns, spacious for a London suburb,
aud Of the grounds well pushed in from
spying neighbors. He was glad, too,
that he had sent his wife and little girl
to Margate, where, in bracing air, they
would know nothing Of the dscom-
forts Of n moving day. The dust and
the turmoil Of the morning, the heavy
boots trampling on uncarpeted stairs,
the sight OF men straining in their
determination not to injure heavy fur
nlture, the sounds of hammers and
falling things, the whole picture Of
turning out Of one house and going
into another had got upon his nerves
Just a little, ind now that he sat at
rest he felt disinclined to stir himself
But write TO Margate he must. His
wife would look TO receive letter
from him the first thing in the morn
Ing, telling her all about it; assuring
her that no precious family god had
been broken, and that her iewelry box
was quite safe. After their little girl,
the chief care Of the Braziers was that
small tin box which contained the
wlfe's valuables. Its contents were
richer than are usually found In a
suburban villa, for both Stuart Brazier
and his wife were connected with peo-
pie who could well afford to remember
in a pleasant and substantial way
birthdays, and did remember them.
AT length Stuart Brazier stirred him.
self He refilled and lighted his huge,
homely pipe, gathered a miscellaneous
collection Of bric-a-brac Off the round
table, and sat down to write. He
wrote cheerfully, telling all about the
small events that make up, moving,
and, strangely enough. had Just fin
ished these words: Like n tinker, l
am happy in my squalor; all l yearn
for is company, and wonder who will
first foot our new houser when his
ear caught the sound OF footsteps com
ing boldly up the gravel path which
led to the front door, Brazler listened,
and then quickly glanced at his watch.
''Ten O'clock" he muttercd to himself.
''Too late to be the last post, Now,
who the deuce is coming, and what
does he want? Perhaps one of the
movers has left something behind"
As the crunching sounds grew
nearer, Brazier made out that there
must be more than one person APP
preaching his door. The windows Of
the room in which he sat were wide
open, allowing him to hear with great
distinctness Outside, the night was
pitch dark, occasionally Illuminated by
heat lightning, which blotted out moon
and stars, the whole world seeming to
pant in the clammy heat Of threaten
Eng rain. Within a few yards Of the
front door the visitors paused, and the
next instant Brazier heard the high,
pitched voice of a woman say;
"I'm sure there's robbers in; feel It
In my bones"
"Be quiet, dear; do shut up" roughly
commanded the voice Of man.
"How can be quiet, IL burglars and
housebreakers are rumpling and tear.
ing my"
"oh, shut up. You'll be In Mysteries
first thing, you know. You'd better
stay out Of arms way. Go back
there, to them bushes, and keep still"
II wouldn't leave you for worlds; in
deed and indeed wouldn't. l would
die Of fright, know would"
"Well, then, keep your 'ead shut, and
let ME and the constable do the talking
or anything else"
Brazier grinned, and started for the
door, taking the miserable light with
him. Before he had picked his way
through the furniture to the hall, the
front bell was rung violently. He
placed the lamp on the hall table, and,
ninging open the door, asked:
"Well, what's up"
"What's up, indeedl How have you
got into this house?" demanded some