Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-06-06
.nounced, I'm IRE this big gun through

! thought she heard sound remotely
/ like chuckle. May ] have some
| 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 to entertain a
feeling of some compunction as she
saw a little trichie OF water Issuing
from beneath the door and remember
ed how extremely wet his clothes had
been.
He'll catch his death of co]d,' she
said to Andrews.
"A good job, too" said Andrews,
with an audible sniff.
He had rather a nice face, ob-
served Veronica. u daresay he
wouldn't really have hurt US"
Andrews shifted again.
Are you very wet?" inquired Yer
onica, tapping on the pantry door.
Its not what ! call exactly dry
night" observed the prisoner.
We'll, ] am going to give you a
change OF things announced Veroni-
ca. I'VE 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"
Grumbling, Andrews departed to 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
4 souls she said; there's two more Of
'em in the dining room"
What do you mean?" stammered
| Veronica.
There's two more burglars in the
dining room" groaned Andrews, for
the lamp is lit and, ] 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, low muir
muir of voices and saw CLEAN of
light from the dining room. Her heart
almost stopped beating and her tongue
literally chung to the roof Of her
mouth till d persistent knocking at
the pantry door forced itself on her
attention.
Excuse me-" said the captive's
voice, SIS anything wrong?"
"Oh, had forgotten YOU" said Yer
onica despairingly; its only some
more burglars. Oh! whatever viii tar
come of us?'
+, Under those circumstances" said
the captive. with a low whistle, y
think ] had better come out" and put.
ting his shoulder to the door he burst
it open with a vigorous push.
Veronica gave little cry, but, after
all, things could not be any worse
than they were already.
Il didn't want to brighten you" be
remarked apologeically. Where are
these burglars?" u.
In the dining ROOM she answered
Then may l trouble you for the
poker?' he asked, and taking it he
ran swiftly up the stairs, with Vcr.
onica hard at his heels.
They burst together into the dining
room, where two mild-faced elderly
people were having some wine and
biscuits.
Father! Motber!' screamed Yer
onica wildly, from the background
Dear me- said the elderly gentle
man, we thought you had gone tc
bed, Veronica. Captain Forester. is
that you? This is ed UNEXPECTED
pleasure, but why are you endeavoring
to hide that poker behind your"
Captain Foresier," gaspec Vercni
ca. TITS not; it's a burglar ! have had
locked up in the pantry, and though.
you were burglars. too Oh, mother! y
Then she burst into tears; while he,
} father looked in mild inquiry at Cap
. tain Forester. But he recognized Yer
t onica's father as a Mr. Lathom, whom
t he had several times met in the com
! pany of his uncle
You see" he said, my uncle, Mr.
Coping, used to live here"
J Il took the cottage over from hin
three months back" said Mr. I,athom
, Il was coming down to pay him 8
;, visit continued Captain Forester
: but my bicycle broke down and was
t late getting here. Just as I arrived
saw the light go out in the room
: across uncle used to use as a bed
7 room, Sc thought that instead O
!, knocking him up on such wild night
] would just camp out in the kitchen
? was in the pantry getting somethin,
: to eat when Miss I4atbom appeared
and locked me in. Of course, ] guesse,
y at once how badly ] had put my foo
, in it,
e Dear me-" said Mr. Latbom, Nv,
q ourselves returned rather unexpected
ly, as my wife thought Veronic,
] might be nervous at being alone 81
s much. Sc she locked you in the pan
/. try, eh?" Then he began to chuckle
e We'll, you must stay the night DOW
t Captain" he continued, and, Veroni
ca, you will have to try to maxi
e amends to your prisoner"
t.Tt INV fay,14 ,,;5