The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-06-06

N ~"eJ
thing to eat?"
She made no reply, and presently
sounds that reached her showed the
prisoner was making good use Of his
opportunities.
Presently she began 10 entertain a
feeling of some conjunction as she
say a little trickle of water issuing
from beneath the door and remember
ed how extremely wet his clothes had
been.
He'll catch his death of cold" she
said TO Andrews.
"A good job, too" said Andrews,
with an audible sniff.
He had rather a nice face" OBJ
served Veronica. Il daresay he
wouldn't really have hurt us"
Andrews shifted again.
Are you very wet?' inquired Yer
onica, tapping on the pantry door.
It's not what / call exactly a dry
night" observed the prisoner.
Well, ! am going to give you a
change OF things" announced Veroni-
ca. we will put them through the
little square window in the wall"
That's awfully good of you" said
the captive gratefully.
Only mind" added Veronica in her
deep voice. Il have still got my big
loaded gun"
Grumhling, Andrews departed 10 OBJ
tain the necessary apparel from the
room of Veronica's father; but had
scarcely gone when she was back
again, trembling in every limb, her
face ashen.
Dear Lord have mercy on our
souls" she said; there's w more of
EN- in the dining room"
What do you mean?" stammered
Veronica.
There's two more burglars liz the
dining room" groaned Andrews, for
the lamp is lit and l hear EN- talkin'
and plannin' how to murder us. Oh!
our throat's as good as cut already"
Veronica crept to the foot of the
stairs and heard, indeed, a low muir
mur of voices and saw a CLEAN of
light from the dining room. Her heart
almost stopped beating and her tongue
literally chung to the roof of her
mouth till a persistent knocking at
the pantry door forced itself on her
attention.
Excuse me-" said the captive's
voice, lis anything wrong?"
"Oh, ! had forgotten you," said Yer
onica despairingly; its only some
more burglars. oh! whatever will hs-
come Of us?"
Under those circumstances" said
the captive, with a low whistle, y
think ] had better come out" and put
it open with a vigorous push.
Veronica gave a little cry, but, after
all, things could not be any worse
than they were already. 6,
Il didn't want TO Brighten you" he
remarked apologetically. Where are
these burglars?"
In the dining room,' she answered.
Then may l trouble you for tho
poker?" he asked, and taking it hi
ran swiftly up the stairs, with Yer
onIca narG at MS heels.
They burst together into the dining
room, where two mild.faced elderly
people were having some wine and
biscuits.
Father! Mother" screamed Yer
Onica, wildly. from the background.
Dear me-" said the elderly gentle
man, we thought you had gone to
bed, Veronica. Captain Forester, is
that you? This is an unexpected
pleasure, but why are you ~endeavoring
TO hide that poker behind your"
Captain Forestier." gaspe6 Veroni-
ca. ITS not; it's a burglar / have had
locked up in the pantry, and ] thought
you were burglars, too. Oh, mother"
Then she burst into tears, while her
father looked in mild inquiry at Cap
tain Forester. But he recognized Yer
onica's father as a Mr.. Lathom, whom
he had several times met in the com
pany of his uncle.
You see" he said, my uncle, Mr..
Coping, used to live here"
Il took the cottage over from him
three months back" said Mr.. Lathom.
Il was coming down to pay him a
visit" continued Captain Forester,
but my bicycle broke down and | was
late getting here. Just as | arrived !
saw the light go out in the room
across uncle used to use as a bed
room, so / thought that instead Of
knocking him up on such a wild night,
l would just camp out in the kitchen.
! was in the pantry getting something
to eat when Miss Lathom appeared
and locked me in. OF course, ] guessed
at once how badly / had put my foot
in it,"
Dear me-" said Mr.. Lathom, I'VE
ourselves returned rather unexpected.
ly, as my wife thought Veronica
might be nervous at being alone so
much. So she locked you in the pap-
try, eh?" Then he began to chuckle.
We'll, you must stay the night now,
Captain" he continued, and. Veroni-
ca, you will have to try to make
amends to your prisoner"
1T was my fault" said Forester
hastily.