Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-24
DAILY. STORY.
EMBARRASSING INTRODUCTION
fOriginal.1


husband and father, who had arrived
during the night from a long absence
abroad. There were Mrs. Entwhistle;
Joe, aged twenty-two; Clara, aged
meeting involved great deal of hug
ging and kissing between the father
and his children, the greetings between
husband and wife having taken place
the night before. When the excitement
had subsidized and all were seated at
the table Joe Entwhistle said:
But, father, why in the world did
you make so much noise coming in last
night? Any one would have supposed
you were tackling burglar
II was tacklIng burglar"
"a burglar!' exclaimed all the young
sters at once.
Eyes, a real live burglar"
did he get away?" asked Joseph
eagerly.
HE did not. He made a great eff
fort to do so. but held him."
What time of night was it?" asked
Clara.
Zone o'clock. The steamer reached
the dock at 10, and 1 got home an hour
later. Leaving the carriage. I ran up
the steps, pulling out my night key|I
have kept it on my ring since I've been
away-put 1t in the keyhole and open
ed the door. AS 1 did so a man at
tempted to push by me and go out
Considering the hour and his frantic
efforts, / surmised that something was
wrong and, gathering all my strength.
pushed him back into the vestibule.'
"And came out alivev' exclaimed Jo-
seph. Father, you were lucky. It's
wonder he didn't kill you. 1 tell you
it's no safe job to tackle burglar
Now that it's all over 1 fancy he
must have been more of n sneak thief
than q regular housebreaker.'
"What did you do?"
81 took him by the collar and march
ed him down on to the sidewalk and
half block up the street, where fortu-
nately 1 met policeman and gave him
in charge"
what kind of looking thing was
hep asked Clara.
His appearance favored the theory
that he was sneak thief. He was
we'll dressed, though his face was bad.
He looked like one Of those respectable
appearing persons who call at peoples
houses ostensibly to see some one, but
really to pick up an overcoat in the
hail."
Poor fellowr' unused Clara. "And
Is he in prisons"
Indeed he is, and / must be at the
police Office at 10 o'clock to appear
against him. But enough of this. Tell
me what has taken place while I've
been away"
"Clara's'- Benny was beginning
when his mother said Hush"
Then followed an account of the re
turn voyage and the perils of the sea
to which Mr.. Entwhistle had been sub
jected in a big storm. When the
breakfast was finished he arose, re-
marking that he must go at once to the
police court He was anxious to know
if any plumber had been found on the
burglar. though nothing was missed.
IF there hasn't, will you let him go, |
papa?" asked the sympathetic Clara. |
"I've mind to go with you to see that
you do"
After some discussion the young lady /
was permitted to accompany her ia |
Their downtown, stopping at the police |
office by the way. Her father took !,
her into the Office, and after an inter |
view with the man at the desk the
prisoner was brought out for inspec-
ton. He had no sooner appeared than |
Miss Clara fell on the floor in a dead |
faint Her father picked her up, and
a policeman ran for water, which was
sprinkled in her face. When she open
ed her eyes and saw the anxious group |
about her she looked wildly at the pris-
oner and gasped:
''Oh. Alec"'
Mr. Entwhistle turned to the man
with astonishment.
There's been a mistake" said the
burglar ruefully. Last night l was
Ealing on your daughter. When l left
shut the inner door and couldn't open
he outer one. 1 was penned in be-
.ween the two.'
Good graciousi exclaimed the ia
her.
"Oh, Alec" moaned the daughter, 81
bought you must be a thiefr'
"Why the dickens didn't you pound
IN the door?" asked the father an
,rily.
II spent half an hour trying to pick
he lock, and by that time every one
lad gone to bed. / couldn't make up
ny mind to rouse them. 1t was too
you know When you open
d the door 1 thought I'd better make
m effort 70 oof ont ond xx-itbn,rt
aging anything"
But why didn't you speak before
'ou were run imp
well, ! knew you were expected
nd supposed you were Clara's father.
thought I'd explain it to the police.
BUT they didn't believe me-
Some one call q carriage" cried Mr..
Ten minutes later Mr.. Entwhistle,
lara and the burglar were at the Emit
r-r,s