Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-22
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had been thrown, noselessly trying to slip his
hands through his bonds. The doctor had not
quite freed himself when the burglar collided with
him. He ierked his hands out Of their fastenings
and, springng to his feet, aimed blow in the
direction in which he thought the burglar stood
lie missed his aim in the darkness and bruised
his knuckles against the wall
"Whew!" he cried jumping with pain. just
| then he got blow from the burglar on his shoul.
der. He turned on him, but caught his foot
on the rug and fell at full length. He sprang
up in an instant, however, picking up the rug
as he did So and stood prepared to defend him
self as long as possible.
Have you found your father?' asked Mrs.
Graham, leaning over the baluster and looking
into the darkness of the lower hall
Not yet, Mrs. Graham" answered voice
Why don't you light the gas, Fred?" asked
Mrs. Graham, impatiently. There was the
scratching Of match, and in an instant the hall
was lighted. just then Phil Graham came from
the dinngroom
! can't find father" he said, anxiously.
Clara came timidly halfway down the stairs
Fred" she asked, "what sort--who was IL
you struck?
"A tall man standing here He was waiting
ior us to come out of the dining room; but /
came up behind and hit Nhim-so," answered
Fred Austin, with some pride
Lucky he did, too," said Phil "The fellow
mad mad this" he added, holding up pistol. Then,
fathers old horsepistol!"
Clara flew down the stairs to her brother. her
long hair streaming behind her. "It wasn't
burglar" she cried "It wasn't burglar! Why
olu you strike him?' turning iercely upon Fred
Austin and then bursting into tears of terror
Mrs Graham followed her down. "He wasn't
burglar" she explained to the perplexed young
men, 1t was Dr. Pennington. He came here to
protect us while you away. He must have
heard you and taken you for burglars, and you
took him for one, and"
Pennington" echoed Phil, while Fred looked
at Clara with admiration and contrition, the
former real the latter half feigned. II put Pen.
nington, if it was he, into the closet" he added,
stepping towards the place. Clara was before
him, however
| The sound of voices in the hall had already at
tracted the attention of the two prisoners. The
burglar groaned asJhe heard them and his groan
was fatal to him, for it indicated that he was in
the middle of the closet Instantly the doctor
turned and threw the rug in the direction of the
sound His aim good, and in a moment he
had the burglars head again enveloped. His
hands free, however and he grappled with
Pennington vigorously that he had much ado
to defend himself. Suddenly he gave the burglar
strong shove from him. At that moment the
door was flung open.
John" cried Clara. The burglar fell through
the door into the hall For an instant there
silence Then the burglar began to kick violently
and to shout.
cts father' cried Phil Graham, as he made
dive for the half-smothered man and set him
| his feet. Mr. Graham looked around wildly for
an instant he got rid of the rug.
"There's burglar in there!' he cried. "Shut
the door Quick shut the door!" And he threw
| himself against it. refusing to move until Fred
Austin had locked it. "Whew!" he gasped ''The
scoundrell Have you locked it, Fred?-Tried to
| garrote me-whew!" And he wiped his face and
| oyad ehad fa,
"Why, how did you get in there, father" asked
| Phil while Mrs. Graham led her husband to
chair. Clara stood still near the door.
"I going upstairs with the silver-basket,
which the burglar had left on the sideboard-"
NO." interrupted his wife, penitently: II told
| Eliza | would put the silver in the safe myself,
and 1 doing it when DR.. Pennington came.
/ out to meet him, and forgot all about the
| silver. / don't believe there any burglar at
ALL"
eyes, there was" said Mr.. Graham, sturdily
"As was coming out of the dnng-room, fellow
threw this rug over me, and then threw me- rug
and all, into the closet Presently he came in
after me, / suppose to remove the only witness
against him. He was choking when you
opened the door, and broke away from him"
And Mr. Graham pointed to the closet door.
"Why, that's where we put Pennington" cried
Austin and Phil Graham. Clara darted to the
door and opened it wide
"John" she cried again. Come out, come
out" And, in obedience to her call, John Pen
nington came out
where's that burglar?" he asked.
"There were three of them" answered Mrs
Graham, promptly. eve have got them ALL
Pennington looked around bewildered. He rec
ognized Phil Graham, and then saw Mr.. Graham
sitting in the hall chair the rug at his feet. His
face fell.
"This was the burglar you captured" said Mrs.
Graham; and Mr.. Graham nodded.
''Who hit me, then% demanded Pennington
rubbing his head Fred Austin seemed bashful
about answering, and Phil spoke up;
eve took you for burglar and captured you
Just as you had captured father"
"Then there were no burgars?" asked Penning
ton, doubtfully.
mo- there were no burglars answered Mrs
Graham.
"Well," said Pennington, he rubbed his head
again, II suppose it's all right, but it's rather
hard on well-meanng fellow" And he smiled
rather weakly.
"It's all right" said Clara, unconsciously lay
, ing her hand on his arm.
"lIy DEAR" said Mr.. Graham to his wife
time later, as they were in their room together
, "my dear, didn't Clara call the doctor John?"
"I didn't think you noticed it." answered Mrs.
Graham.
"I did. though" said Mr.. Graham, ut seems
to me, though there were burglars to take our
silver that Pennington has taken our little wom
ans heart"
"Fair exchange is no robbery" remarked Mrs
Graham; and her husband looked at her, and
nodded several times as though something pleased
, him.