Middletown transcript., 1908-08-29

shaken out Of their usuaA ie'0
bv these occurrences, and were
on edge with excitement
lack Lane, who lived happily
with Mrs. Jack in a corner house
on the west side of the square,
was very philosophical regarding
the burglar.
Don't worry, DEAR he said one
evening, as they were gong 10
bed. [ have burglar insurance
you know.
Burglar insurance "oulo 'io'
bring back all my lovely we'd
ding presents. You men have
absolutely no sentiment declared
Mrs. Jack.
Well, dear, go to bed' laughed
Jack. I will stand guard he
exclaimed, striking as dramatlc
an attitude as was possible Tor
a man in pajamas, and l. will
shoot down any man who dares
to put a profaning hand on the
least of those berry spoons.
Stand guard! exclaimed Mrs.
Jack scornfully. You know that
you will be asleep in ten minutes
and then you would not hear a
burglar if he sat down and played
the piano.
Well, it is just as we'll, dear,
laughed Jack, because l am not
a very good shot, and perhaps
the burglar is, and you would
not want him to play NY funeral
march, now would you, even if
he were musical.
You absurd boy! Well, | hope
we won't have the luck that Bar
ringtons had, she went ON re-
signedly. They lost such a lot
of things. And then, after a
moments deep thought she add.
ed, wonder if Amy Darlington
is going to marry that Clyde
Jepson.
Good gracious, I thought you
were going to PROFOUND some
learned theory regarding the
harrington burglary.
Well, I had rather she married
someone else, declared Mrs. Jack
positively. Even that man from
Boston, whom they say is de-
voted to her, though of course
that would take her away from
here.
Jacks reply was a slight but
palpable snore.
He is asleep! exclaimed Mrs.
Jack. | wish men took more in
terest in love affairs, she sighed.
It is such fun to talk them over.
But Jack is a dear, all the same
And she lay there and was hav'
ing a good think about Jack,
when suddenly she heard q slight
but distinct sound on the floor
below.
Jack! she whispered.
What! Jack was wide awake
now.
I heard a queer sound down
stairs.
Oh, I don't believe il is any
thing, said Jack, turning over
1t is probably the cat or one o1
those wicker chairs creaking, OF
something.
Jack, | believe you would lei
them take every wedding present
I have without making d move.
All right, dear, said Jack, get.
ting into his slippers, I'll get
my pistol and take q look around
Oh, Jack, you don't suppose
there really is any one, do you:
Because, if there is, I would not
have you 60 downstairs for the
world.
Well, dear, if there isn't, lie
won't hurt me, and if there is,
he will get the presents while
we are talking aboutit, answered
Jack, moving toward the door.
Jack walked softly to the head
of the stair. The light was burn
ing in the lower hall as usual
and he could see that the front
door was closed. But, as he
looked, the shining brass knot
gave back a quick reflection tha
was gone in an instant, as though
a moving light had struck agains
it. The dining-room door wa:
directly at the other end of the
hall, and, if the door was open
a man working with a bull's-eyt
in that room would be likely Il
fash it down the hall and agains
the door knob. "
Lane went quietly down th'
stairs keeping close TO the wall
and, when he reached the bot
tom. he peered around the bis
old-fashioned newell post towart
the dining-room. The door wa.