Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-03-02

ward out of the doorway into the
room; the door was instantly locked
upon him, and he was a prisoner.
"Smythe luckw said the poor man
as he tried in vain to open the door
and knew by the rumpus he could
hear outside that the house was IN
state of excitement. 81 suppose
they will think I was trying to steal
something" :,
And to add to his terror he heard
the alarmed household coming up
stairs, and the next moment the
door Of his room was opened, and
his host, backed by all the male
guests, stood in the open doorway.
"What are you doing here?" was
the first question his host PROFOUND
ed. "Tell the truth now as you
would hope for mercy"
81 came here to get my hat ans
coat" said the professor, the dig
nifty of all the Smythes since Mount
Ararat in his thin, rasping tones.
"a likely story. Turn your peck
cts inside out" commanded the
host.
81 refuse to do it,"
"Then | will send for the police.
1 was willing to give you a chance,
but if you refuse to be searched
you are guilty"
81 am not thief"
81 do not know. Your actions
are very suspicious. You can ex-
plain matters to the chief of police
There must be reasons why you re-
fuse to be searched. If you are
honest, you can have nothing to
conceal"
: A hollow laugh rang through the
, room. Was it possible the bold in.
truder dared to laugh at them? II
was the laugh of despair, and az
=, such it smote upon the heart of the
host, who looked troubled and per
picked. His enforced guest saw thu
look, and it suggested a line Of &C
ton to him. -,
"Send these men away" he said
j, pointing to the group of alarmed
guests crowding in at the door. lit
e was glad the women had remained
i below stairs and not come to gaz
r upon his discontinue. He did no
= know that they were locked up II
: fear and trembling in a distant par
lor.
+ "We won't go!" chorused tn
d group. "He may want to murde
d YOU"
81 don't think he WILL" said tn
/ host, who was really soft hearted
n '1'll trust him, and you fellows ca
: 20 to the ladies. I'll call if | nee
5. help"
', They went, rather glad to be on
Ii of it, and the two men, left togetf
d err. eyed each other, one waiting fo
II the other to speak. They were e'
Is actly opposite in appearance, on
e rosy and rubicund, the other thu
and anxious, a meager trayesty o
st a successful man.
IS 81 refused to let you search me,
4, said the professor slowly, "becaus
n oh, my God, how can | acknow
l. edge It'll am thief!
le The other man started and move
N toward the door. Then he waited
is q have stolen from you-her
ID let me show you, and you will kno
D. why | could have died easier tina
ID to have those people gloating oy'
at me. See here-and here-an
a here"
Is He took the valuables out of h
as pocket one by one. They made
r strange exhibit as he piled them i
in on the table in front of him. The
~ were a roll of dinner bread, a pat
IN a sweetbread rolled in leaf of lie
tuce, a chicken breast, bit
is toasted bread and a caviare san
e- wich. He brought them cut to Il
re last crumb, with the manner of OF
ok who lays his life on the altar OF sa
On rifce.
rs "Great heavens, man, what do
lie this mean?" asked the astonlsh'
host.
o. at means" replied the other 81
EMMY, chat my sick wife and n
of little children are starving, and tn
as | pilfered from my share of food
o. your table to give them, for my re
nd is overdue and the money earn
re is already spent"
nd "But what did you eat yourself
of "More than | have eaten t
o. many a day. But now do with
ast what you will"
,r. "Would you mind putting the
ire things back into your pocket
re- uuired his host vaguely. "Now col
ue with me-" He took him by the al
he and led him downstairs and into t
to presence of the shaking guests. u
il | made a bad mistake, my friends
H. he said. "1his gentleman has prov
himself perfectly innocent of a
re- attempt at crime, and | must b
pr, YOU to remain silent as to the ever
Inc of this evening. lie is under
on protection from this time, and y
ose will all agree with me that we
,ed extremely sorry that such a mlsts
should have occurred"
Mt. OF course they all agreed W
i'm the sentiments of their host. VIII
IAN ever they were, and Profess
Got Smythe was allowed to take
Il leave amid profuse apologies.-M