The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-11

frantic woman, her neighbor, Mrs
Thorne, rushed into her cottage.
1--WE caught himp she gasped.
'eHe's locked up in the library. Oh!
Oh! Ohp'
Caught whom ?" asked the mys-
titled woman. Then, seeing that her
distracted visitor was very near
fainting,S she collected restoratives
and brought back Mrs. Thorne's
scattered wits.
|. Maud explained as soon as she
could speak that a desperate looking
mana burglar, she was certain,
and convict as well by the cut of
his hair-had feloniously entered
her house a moment before she
came and, walking boldly into her
library, had been locked safely
therein by herself.
"The windows are nailed down. /
have been waiting for Perry to open
them, so he cannot escape that
way" she concluded.
81 expected Amos on the last
train. l don't see what is keeping
him." said Mrs. Smead, 'sbut he has
not come yet"
Neither has Perry, but perhaps
they will come together. Isn't it
dreadful? 1 daren't 60 back with
that man in the house. l know by
his looks he is a murderer. Our
girl hasn't come, and Pm all alone.
Oh, if Mr.. Smead were only here!"
81 guess I'll do just as well" 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? He
may s-h-o-o-t frst!'
"Come on" said Mrs. Smead con-
temptuously. She was only young
matron herself, but she was not 60
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
Thorne, with his double load of
packages, hove in sight. Both wo-
men were overjoyed to see him.
''What's the row." he asked,
dropping his bundles on the veran-
da.
"a manw said both women at
once.
"Where is Smead ?"
s'That is what I would like to
know" said Mrs. Smead. II ex-
pected him on this train"
II haven't seen him. Who is the
MANI"
"a burglar, and he's locked up
in the library. Don't you think l
was brave ?" asked Maud, who, now
that her husband had come, felt
that she might pose as heroine.
Burglars already? Ha, this is a
diversion. Give me the key, Maud.
I'll take your revolver, Mrs. Smead.
Now, ladies, stand aside" and Perry
made valiant rush for the library
door, which he unlocked and threw
open, at the same time presenting
arms according to the best manual
practice.
Don't shoot!" cried familiar
voice that trembled, not with fear,
but merriment, as Mr.. Smead step
ped smilingly forward and bowed
low to Maud. 81 am Mrs. Thorne's
captive" he said.
"What does this mean?" cried
Perry, his face flaming.
eyes, what does it mean ?" de-
manded Mrs. Smead in the measur-
ed syllables of the divorce court.
cit means" explained Mr.. Smead,
Chat my wife has not yet learned
to box the compass. She gave me
southwest and your wife locked
me up in room that has no ventila-
ton and under criminal ban. But
l forgive her." he added, with gal
liant protest, whereat Maud's cheeks
grew red with embarrassment, and
Mrs. Smead said:
"Come home! After this I will
meet you at the train and see that
you don't get into the wrong house"
s'Do forgive me, Mr.. Smead," said
Maud penitently, while Perry glar-
ed darkly like jealous stage lover,
'sbut you did look $3.50
"She said you looked like a con-
Wet" remarked his wife.
"At least it has made US acquaint-
ed" observed Mr.. Smead, true to
his colors, and with this parting