The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-29
SPRINTED FOR LIBERTY
AND WON HANDlLY.
Pleasing Story of Inadvertent Bur-
glar and Kfnd-Hearted Con.

Pleasing Story of Inadvertent Bur-
glar and Kind-Hearted Con.
The midnight silence of the club
room was broken only by the occa-
sional rasping of a sound something
like saving of dried gourds.
The form of young man reclined
over lunch table. He had grown
tired of checkers and pinochle, and
resting his head on one arm, had drift
ed easily and happily into the realm
of dreams.
The gourd-sawing grated on the ears
OF his friends for some minutes; then
one of them proposed to get even for
the disturbance and at the same time
have some fun.
All of the lights in the room were
turned out, save one, and that was
darkened to a mere glimmer. The
friendly policeman on the beat was
taken into the scheme and at once
agreed to take part in it. The jokers
hid themselves about the room, I'M
der tables and wherever else opportu-
nifty offered.
Suddenly the sleeper was rudely
grasped by the shoulders and shaken,
and at the same time lighted match
was held close to his face.
faint my move'' murmured the
drowsy one, banging his fist on the
table.
Yes, tits your move, and you'll be
movin' quick to the lookup. Say,
what are you doing in this store at
this hour of the morning? Burglar,
eh? And got tired and went to sleep,
Ell? You'll get sent up for twenty
years, all right; that's what you WILL
And you're caught dead to rights"
By this time the dozer was wide
awake and his eyes sticking out like
teacups. He caught sight of the uni
form, the brass buttons and the shield,
and nearly fell off the chair.
Where am I?' he asked, weakly.
Jaw, come off," replied the police
man, land quit trying that old gag.
You know well enough where you are
and what you came here for. Come
along now, and you can tell the judge
in court all about it if you want to.
But don't you try no fool stunts with
me; they won't go, see?"
Look here, my good man." began
the now thoroughly alarmed young
fellow, there is some terrible mis-
take here. 1 am not a burglar. I am
- -, and 1 work at IS
place on Broughton street. I don't
know where I am, but I know 1
wouldn't let you take me to the po-
lice station for $1,000"
Thousand nothin'," retorted the po-
liceman, I'm going to take you in
and not pay you a cent, either. Come
along"
''But, heavens alive, man." urged
the victim of the joke. while the jok-
ers stuffed handkerchiefs into their
mouths, under the tables, Cant you
see this thing is all wrong somewhere?
l don't pretend to say where and how
it's wrong, but it is. And if I'm lock-
ed up on suspicion of being a burglar,
which 1 am not. it will mean ruin for
me. Say, can't you give me a chance?"
But this time the policeman was
chewing the end of his handkerchief.
Tell you what I'll do" he said fin
ally. Can you run? And do you
know where you live?"
You bet yer life!" from the mad
vertent and innocent suspect, grasping
at a straw.
Twill you run, and not stop till you
get home if I give you the chance?"
asked the policeman.
"Betcher life!" from the other, as
he got up and prepared for the sprint.
well, then; ready, go!" command
ed the policeman. Like a shot the
young fellow was off. The jokers I'M
der the tables exploded. But the run
ner didn't stop to ask questions about
anything. The last seen of him he
was headed for Fortieth street and no
grass was growing under his feet.