The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-05-22

going to take her over to HARNESS. 1t
seems as if / remembered you saying
you expected to go there today. Good
lby. hope you'll have nice time"
! On that evening Captain Titcomb
made the first of the short calls which
wefe to continue during the week.
Miss Tempy welcomed him enthusias-
tically. and her sister did her best not
! to appear jealous. Clara did not come
| into the sitting room at all, nor did she
do SO during the following fGr even
/ ings.
Bradley did not mention the trouble
aboard the Diving Belle when he
reached home Friday night He was
even more silent than usual at the
supper table. When the meal was over
he suddenly exclaimed: by George
Clara, must beg your pardon! There
was letter for you in our box this
morning, and / left it aboard the
schooner. I'll bring it home tomor-
| row.
Captain Titcomb came about 8. He
seemed really cheerful when he first
| arrived, but soon relapsed into the
moody silence that had characterized
his visits that week.
"Clara out in the kitchenY' he ask
ed after awhile. Il noticed the light
was burnin'."
NO." replied Miss Tempy; "she's up
in her room. She's left some bread to
rise. and guess she's comm down to
see it by and by. That's why she left
the lamp, s'pose likely"
As the big clock in the dining room
struck 8 the captain rose, announced
that he must be going and went.
Bradley retired soon after, and the
sisters followed his example The old
house grew STILL Miss Prissy was
dropping into comfortable doze when
she felt herself clutched violently by
the back hair
"Ow!" she exclaimed, half awake.
LET go! What on earth
"S-s-sh-hr' Miss Tempy breathed
It frantically into her ear "Don't
speak,"
Il won't if you let go of my hair.
What's the matter-nightmare? told
you there was limit, even to pepper
tea
"Oh, do be still! There's robbers
downstairs l heard EN-"
Miss Prissy groaningly sat up and
listened. ITS Clara seem to her
bread" she said after moment.
ut amt. Clara's in her room readin'.
l saw her through the crack in the
door. And Bradleys in his room. Il
heard him breathin'. Please ct up"
Miss Prissy said no more. She don
ned wrapper and put on her slippers.
Her sister was already similarly garb.
ed. Then. Miss Prissy bearing the
lamp, they tiptoed into the hall and on
to the door of Bradley's room.
Bradley" cautiously whispered Miss
Prissy, Bradley, will you git up,
please? Tempy thinks there's some
body downstairs"
They heard Bradley chuckle sleepily.
In few moments he came out. dress
ed in jacket and trousers and blinking
at the lamp. Clara, who had not gone
to bed, had already joined them.
The procession moved-Bradley first.
then Miss Prissy with the lamp, then
Miss Tempy, who, as she said after
ward, was too scared to go ahead and
dasn't go last Clara brought up the
rear. They peered cautiously into the
dining room. 1t was empty.
There exclaimed Miss Prissy, II
guess twas nothin' but Tempy's imagi-
nation, as usual She
The words died on her lips. There
came a sound from the kitchen-they
all heard tia rafting sound and the
faint squeak Of door.
Bradley sprang to the coal bod and
picked up the poker. It was the only
apology for a weapon in sight. He
started for the Kitchen, but Miss Prssy
seized him. by the jacket and Miss
Tempy threw both arms around his
neck
Don't you stir, Bradley Nickerson,"
whispered the older sister. Don't you
stir step! S'pose he had revolver"
Bradley tried to free himself, but it
was hard work. He unclasped Miss
Tempy's arms from his neck. but she
Immediately seized him around the
waist. 1t was a ridiculous situation,
and suddenly he became aware of
cold wind blowing from the direction
Of the front hail.
rs that front door open?" he whis-
pered.
The Mortified sisters turned to stare
at the black tunnel of the hail. and
then footballs were heard on the walk,
coming up the steps. Clara's voice be-
came audible She was speaking In
agonized whispers.
who began Bradley.
Clara appeared, clinging to the arm
Of Captain Fri Hedge. Captain Fri
looked puzzled, but he grinned when
he saw the tableau in the dining room.
He told the story the next morning
to his messmates. Captain Perez and
Captain Jerry, about as follows:
you see, I'd been up to lodge meet
in and stayed little longer'n usual.
was comm home by the short cut,