The Washington times., 1906-07-08


trodden on; his uniform wax torn and
covered with blood and dirt. and his
good looks marred for a fortnight at
least. lie stopped with a groan, ana.
recovering his helmet. tried mechani-
cally to punch it into shape lie stuck
the battered relic on bis head. and
Mr. Grummit fell back awed. desplta
himself
1T was a fair night" he STAN
mered.
The constable waved him away.
"Get out O. my sight before I change
my mind. he said. flercelyi and
mind, II you say a word about this it'u
be the worse for you"
DO you think I've gone mad7' said
the other. He took another look AZ
his victim, and. turning away. danced
fantastically along the road home.
The constable. making his way 70 a
gas lamp. began TO inspect damages.
They were worse even than he bad
thought and. leaning against the
lamp-post he sought in vain for an
explanation that. in the absence OF a
prisoner, would satisfy the inspector.
a button which was hanging by q
thread fell tinkiinE on the footpath.
and he had just picked II up and
placed II IN his pocket when a faint
distant outcry broke upon his ear
He turned and walked as rapidlv AZ
his condition would permit ia the d.
Tection % the noise II become loud
er and more imperative. ana cries OF
Police became distinctly audible.
He qulekened into q run, and turn
ing a corner beheId q little knot Of
people standing at the gate or a large
house. Other people only partially
clad were Fastening toward them The
constable arrived out OF breath.
Better late than never" said the
owner OF the house. sarcasticaIv.
Mr.. Evans. breathing painfully. sun
ported himself with his hand on the
fence
They went that way. but 7 supposs
you didn't see them" continued the
householder. 'IIalioat" he added. as
somebody opened the hall door and
the constable's damaged condition be-
came visible Ia the gas-light ARE
you hurt7''
Yes" said Mr.. Evans. who was
trying hard 20 think clearly. TO
gain tine he blew a loud call on his
whistle.
The rascaIs!'' continued the other.
II think I should know the big chap
with a beard again. but the others
were too quick for me"
Mr.. Evans blew his whistle again.
thOughtfully- The opportunity seemed
too good 20 lose.
did they get Anything7' he ia
quired
Not a thing" said the owner. tri-
umphantlY. I was disturbed Just IN
time"
The constable gave slight guIp.
Il saw the three running by the side
OF the road he said. slowly. ''Tkeir
behaviour seemed suspicious so ! col
Jared the big one, but they set
on me Ike WILDCATS Iney haq me
down three times. the last time I laid
my head open against the kerb. and
when / came 10 my senses again they
had gone DO.
lie took of his battered helmet with
flourish and, amid a muruuF Of sym
pathy. displayed a nasty cut on his
head. A sergeant and a constable,
both running, appeared round the cor
urr and made toward hem.
Get back 10 the station and make
your report" said the former. as Con-
stable Evans, in a somewhat defiant
voice, repeated his story. y Ou've done
your best. / can see that
Mr. Evans. enacting TO perfection the
part of a wounded hero limped pain
iuHv OF, praying devoutIv as he went
that the criminals might make good
their escape. If not. he reflected that
the word Of a policeman was AZ least
eIual 10 that OF three burglars.
lie repeated mis- story at the station,
and. after having MS head dressed
was sent him and tdvised 10 keep HIM
sell quiet Tor a cay OF TWO. lie vas
OF duty for fOrr days. and the Tun-
witch Gazette, having devoted COLI
umn 10 the affair. headed A Gallant
Cons;s BILE mOdestly secluded himself
from the public gaze for the whole OF
that time.
TO Mr.. Grummit. who had read the
article Ia question until he could have
repeated Il backward, this mOdesty
was particularly trying. Ihe cOnsla-
bes yard was deserted and the front
door closed Once Mr. GTummit even
went Sd far as 10 tap with his nails on
the front parlOT window, and the only
response was the sudden lowering or
the blind. Il was not until a week
afterward that his eyes were q iddeu-
ed by a sight Of the constable sitting
in his yard. and. fearing even then
he might escape him. lie ran out on
tiptoe and put his face over the fence
before the latter was aware OF his
.'Wot about thst ere Ousglary7'' he
demanded IN trucJleut tones.
Good evening, Crummit,' said the
constable. with a pasrOniZing air.
''Wot about that burglary repeat
ed Mr.. Grummit, with a ScOWl. I
don't believe YOU ever saw q burglar
Mr.. Evans rose and stretched him
self gracefully. You'd better run in
doors. my good man." he said slowly.
'"Tenng all them lies about burg
lars" continued the indignant Alr.
Grummlt producing his newspaper
and waving II. why. / gave you that
black eye. / smashed your elmet, I
cut your silly cad open. T."
You've been drinking said the
other severely.
You mean 70 sCy 7 dldntT' de-
. manded Mr- GTumm1r, feTOCi0uEly.
Mr.. Evans came closer and eyed him
steadily. Il don't know what you're
talking about" he said calmly.
Mr.. Grummit about 80 speak. stopped
appalled, al such haFdihoOd.
'Of course. II you mean 10 say that
you were one % them burglars" con-
tinued the constable, why. say Il
and Ill take YOU with pleasure. Come
to think Of it. / did seem to remem-
ber one O. their voices"
Mr.. GTummiJ, with his eyes fixed on
the others. backed a couple OF yards
and bFeathed heavily
About your height. too. he was,
mused the constable. I hope for your
sake YOU haven't been saying to any
body else what you said 10 me just
now"
Mr.. Crummit shook his head Not
a word. " he falteTed.
That's all right then" said Mr.,
Evans Il shouldn't Ike 10 be hard