Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-07-06

llOU.
Mrs. Smead was waiting for her
husband, whom she expected on the
$3.50 train, but the train had come
and gone, and instead of the hand
some, we'll groomed Mr.. Smcad
frantic woman, her neighbor, Mrs.
Thorne, rushed into her cottage.
owe caught him" she gasped.
"He's locked up in the library. Oh!
Oh! Ohw
Caught whom" asked the mys-
titled woman. Then, seeing that her
distracted visitor was very near
fainting, she collected rcstoratiyes
and brought back Mrs. Thorne'S
scattered wits.
Maud explained as soon as she
could speak that desperate looking
mana burglar, she was certain,
and convict as well by the cut Of
his hair--had fcloniously entered
her house moment before she
came and, walking boldly into her
library, had been locked safely
therein by herself.
"The windows are nailed down. l
have been waiting for Perry to open
them, so he cannot escape that
way" she concluded.
q expected Amos on the last
train. | don't see what is keeping
him." said Mrs. Smead, "but he has
not come YETI
"Neither has Perry, but perhaps
they will come together. Isn't it
dreadful? l daren't 60 back with
that man in the house. | know by
his looks he is a murderer. Our
girl hasn't come, and I'm all alone.
Oh, if Mr.. Smead were only here"
81 guess I'll do just as we'll" said
Mrs. Smead coldly. 81 will take
our revolver, and you can bring the
stove litter, and we will interview
him through the door"
"But what good will that do? lie
may shoot frstp
"Comc on" said Mrs. Smead con-
temptuously. She was only young
matron herself, but she was not go
ing to be ANONYMOUSLY routed by a
one man army, and she led the way
to her neighbours cottage. No 9TH
er people lived in the row, so they
had all the fun to themselves.
But at that identical moment the
7.4O train, sometimes called the
husbands train, so many of them
went out to spend the weeks inter
val with their families, stopped at
the nearest depot, and Perry
Thornc, with his double load OF
packages, hove in sight. Both wo-
men we're oyerjoyed to see him.
"What's the row." he asked
dropping his bundles on the veran'
da.
"a MANI said both women a.
once.
"Where is Smead%
"That is what | would like t
know" said Mrs. Smead. Il ex
pccted him on this train"
81 haven't seen him. Who is TIT
man."
"A burglar, and he's locked "
in the library. Don't you think
was brave" asked Maud, who, nov
that her husband had come, fel
that she might pose as heroine.
Burglars already? Ha, this is
diversion. Give me the key, Maud
I'll take your revolver, Mrs. Smead
Now, ladies, stand aside" and PERI,
) made valiant rush for the librar,
door, which he unlocked and thre'
} open, at the same time presentln
arms according to the best manua
practice. =.
Don't shoot" cried a famllla
voice that trcmbled, not with feal
but merriment, as Mr.. Smead steI
ped smilingly forward and bowe
J low TO Maud. Il am Mrs. Thorne
captive" he said.
''What does this mean" erie
Perry, his face flaming.
: Eyes, what does it ny d.
e manded Mrs. Smead in the measul
= ed svllables of the divorce court.
c "it means" explained Mr.. Smea'
r chat my wife has not yet learne
d to box the compass. She gave n
d southwest and your wife locke
a me up in a room that has no ventll'
e ton and under a criminal ban. b'
|, I forgive her." he added, with ga
IS liant protest, whercat Maud's cheel
y grew red with embarrassment, an
h Mrs. Smead said:
It "Come homel After this | WI
r meet you at the train and see tn
5. you don't get into the wrong house
- "Do forgive me, Mr.. Smead," sa
d Maud penitently, while Perry gla
d ed darkly like a jealous stage love
a 'but you did look $685.
If "Shc said you looked like co
Wet" remarked his wife.
RS "At least it has made us acqualr
ct ed" observed Mr.. Smead, true
II his colors, and with this partn
shot he followed his wife to t
70 "southcast" cottage.-Detroll TT
"a Press.
u. Where the Bank President Caught HI
to The bank president was talkl
A TO an applicant for position IN