The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-09-22

ny. But he was there IN the
afternoon near my train time, and I
asked breathlessly:
Shave you changed the pictureT
r''Certainly. II was an easy task.
he portrait must have had excellent
are. for il Is wonderfully preserved
y tor a painting 100 years old. DO YOU
wish to see whether il is satisfactory
"No." | answered. THE canvas
cover is on, and have very little time
10 make my train"
caught mp Bartholomew and stun |
hled down the stairs with him. See if
his work was satisfactory? Never. L
did not wish to see my crime. All |
wanted to do was TO get Bartholomew
back on his nail. then fly away and
make some disposal Of myself that
would benefit such fool. Possibly in
the years TO come Mrs. BruXton would
tell to her children gathered around
the great Tyne firesde the touching
story of the impertincnt young man
who had ruined the portrait OF her
greatgreat-uncle.
Mike admitted nae when l rang the
bell He seemed to be Ill at ease and
asked:
~ Have We had til DIES changedT"
Yes, they're changed
Then. begorra, me bhoy, We have me
Empathy, fr there'll be til diyil t pay
Win Ia folks fond out fwhat ye have
done. Mlsther Toyne VIII make We
pay well for IT,"
How about tile freshman that helped
me get lt?' / asked,
Faith. an maybe TIL 0lishman win
have different sthory t tell
/ said no more, but walked into the
parior He had the hearth piled up
with wood with which he said he was
building fire TO be started early i'll
the morning so rs to have tie house
warm for the folks. He asked me il
would walt to hang the picture until he
was through and, as 1t would be forty
minutes until my return train would
arrive, consented, and while he fixed
the wood | took the rope of the por-
trait. now wished TO see the extent
of my crime, feeling certain that | was
among the, Tynes for the last time, but
l.
vas cover on again, decided to hang Il
rs 1t was ana await my fate IN thu
city.
When the kindling and wood were
place ready for lighting | pushed a
table UP TO the hearth, Mike standing
by and remarking that he would hay,
nothing to do with the matter
mounted II, hung Bartholomew on thu
nail and was about to get off the taDl'
when l heard voices out in the grounds
md footsteps upon the porch.
'sGet yrself down off tn table, mi
hoy Mike said. "Uts just rs 0
ought. NIsh Coriantha alwus get
lnearned about tn portraits an
mes home afore her tonne"
made wild leap to the floor an,
rs making for rear exit whel
Mike caught me, saying;
''Dont run, me darlint; Sltand "
loike man an take tn const
ounces"
There's time for both of us to sc
away" | said, not courageously.
AN fwhat nd OF run FIR? OF ain
done nothln', m me juty t tn Toyne
IS L kapc holt on tn fellow fwha
has"
He held me fast and was still holC
Ing me when Aunt Corlantha an
Fanny walked into the parlor. III nj
dwell upon their surprise at secin
me, much less upon my state of mind
It was very painful.
"Oi nabbed him Just In tonne" NH
said eth gintlemon has damage
wun av tn PORTRAITS"
"Ny portraits Aunt Coranti
screamed Then Mr.. Bruxton W;
right. Fanny, in urging me to con
home this evening and look after thei
And to think that Mr. Cridmore shou
be guilty Of this! What has he don
Mlchacl|
sSec f'r y'rself, mum. III take
klver off,"
He mounted the stand with gro
alacrity and began removing the ca
vas. saw 1t all Bruxton had pa
Mike 10 turn In his favor and had
duced Aunt Coriantha TO come hol
Oh the fast train that followed [
Iuu tOlHt vi, SD
to catch me In the house, The Iri.
man would deny MI knowledge of |
broken shutter or Of Bruxton's havi
been In the house. 1t was W
planned, and was neatly caught; y
ts I had already become used TO
terrible thought that had ruined
my chances, ! found myself able
bear the situation with reasona
composure. ] thought rapidly and s.
only one hope for myself Mike d
Bruxton would deny that Barthc
news eyes had any effect on the
My happiness depended upon the s.
chance that Fanny had been affcc
as had been. II she had not v
in q predicament that one likes o
to read about
While Mike was at work on the
IRE cover Bruxton appeared In
,arlor door, smiling cxultantly.
turned my back upon him, prepa
to make my defense the MON