Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-05-23
WATSON'S WELCOME.

aN - 4IH
The Watsons were coming home
| from their wedding trip Tuesday even
ing. The new fiat was in a state OF
comnIete readiness. There were sew
eral varieties of breakfast foods in the
pantry and flowers were on the dining
table. Young Mrs. Watson's mother
and sisters had given the finishing
touches so many times over that they
had lost count.
1t was the absolute perfection of the
new fiat that gave Phillips his idea.
The more he thought about it the lore
strongly did it appeal to him. He took
Herrick into his confidence. Herrick
was enthusiastic from the start. Both
were intimate friends of Watson, and
naturally they wished to make his
homecoming an event.
BY judicious inquiries made of Mrs.
Watson's younger sister, Phillips
learned that the happy couple would
be home about IL o'clock on Tues
day evening. He guessed that the
family would give q final finishing
touch to the apartments late that day,
but estimated that by nine o'clock II
would be ready for Herrick and him
self to do their part.
So, shortly before nine O'Clock on the
evening in question, they presented
themselves at the street and NUMBER
indicated on Watson's wedding cards'
The whole building was dark. whlch
ausured we'll for the success OF thelr
undertaking. Herrick had Deen uoup'-
full about getting in, but Phillips, the
ontimist assured him that there was
always n window by which one could
enter. In this case it proved 10 De a
kitchen window, opening on the porch'
phiIlips manipulated his knife with the
skill of n practiced burglar and adj
mitted that he had seriously thought
of this calling as an alternative. pro-
vided he did not meet his expectations
on the board of trade.
The fiat in which they found them
selves had a most convincingly home
like air. Phillips lighted the gas in
all the rooms and the two men agreed
that there was none of the stiffness
and raw newness usually apparent in
apartments of the recently wed. But
they had little time for admiration.
Phillips reminded Herrick that two
hours was all too short for the work
they had planned.
The arrangement of various placards
on the walls expressive of the bliss OF
the married state occupied but a few
minutes. Then the real work of the
evening began. The dining table was
moved into the bathroom, the chairs
being placed on top of it. The brass
bed was carefully set up in the parlor
and a number Of kitchen utensils were
brought in to keep it company. Other
exchanges equally original and strik-
ing we're effected. The p~erspiration
rolled down the faces of the two con-
spirators by this time. Any ~self-re-
specting drayman would protest If re-
quired to do an equal amount of work
in the same brief period.
So absorbed were they in their prep
arations that they did not hear foot
steps on the stairs. Their first warn
ing was the grating Of a key in the
lock.
Phillips caught Herrick by the arm
and ierked him into the hall closet.
Since he was caught he prepared him
self to enjoy his friends surprise.
There was an ~instant's- silence, then
a little shrek. ".lohn," a voice said,
burglars have been herei" The voice
did not sound like Mrs. Watson's.
Don't be silly, Susan" said another
voice, which certainly did not resemble
that of a husband of two weeks stand
ing.
There was a sound of the. scratching
of matches, then a strange apoplectic
snorting. as il fury had made some one
incapable of articulate speech.
There's some mistake whispered
Phillips in his friends ear. Phillips
has his faults, but lack of courage is
not one of them. AS he stepped out
and faced the irate ho%useholders Her
rick felt as if he were witnessing the
charge of the light brigade. AT the
sudden appearance of this bold bur-
glar, The woman tainted, while the
man said Murder" in a
hoarse whisper and collapsed against
the door.
There has been a mistake" said
Phillips, addressing himself with great
courtesy to the b~ald-headed man.
There is nc cause for alarm. 1t Is
only a little joke"
Joke! Joke!" roared the bald
headed nan gaining courage from
Phillips humility.