The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-23
WAS IN THE WRONG HOUSE.
Washington Visitor Narrowly Escapes
 Arrest for Attempted Burglary.

From the Washington Post
 Mir vane, who frequently has business to attend to in one or another of the executive departments. while slowly walk ing along the Avenue one forenoon last week came unexpectedly upon his old friend, Jones, who is very frequent visitor tos Washington during the corf- gressional sessions, and devotes a good deal of time up on the yhill," as he calls it, meaning at the capitol.
 When these two gentlemen met the sur prise was mutual and the pleasure great. They were friends of many years stand ing. Vane was the first to speak. Well, Jonesey, old boy" he said, ''the sight of you is good for sore eyes. I suppose there is something doing that you are in Washington. You look weary enough. What can be the matter? T,
 Look weary, do I?' said Jones. I've a right to look weary. I have been hunt ing for your house all over the north eastern section of the town, and when at last did hit upon it found for rent placards all over the front of it. Asked the corner groceryman, where I knew you used to trade, where you had gone. He said he didn't know, and wished he did, as he was anxious to see you. How much do you owe him, Vane, old boy?'
 As soon as MT. Vane could manage to get in a word edgeways-and ignoring Mr. Jones rather impertient inuuiry-he ex- plained that he had very recently changed his residence to another part of the town. T am going up to the coast sur yey office just now" he told his friend but you come along, and then we'll go up to the house and have a good old talk"
 No said his friend q have been tramping enough to last me a week l am tuckered out" However, MT. Vane persuaded him to go out to the house, the location ol which he described, and said he would soon be there. You can't miss the house, he assured Jones'. Tt is just in the middle of the block, in front of the lamp post Nobody home just now, but you will find the key hang ing from little hook on the linten of the door. Walk in and be at home. I'll join you in very short time."
 Jones tells the rest of the story.
 q found the street all right he said, 'and long row of houses. I found the key also, but instead of hanging where Vane said It would be I found it in the keyhole and thought it very careless in cid Vane to leave his house open that way, but 1 went in, walked into his li- brary and made myself at home, as he suggested. It was warm, and took off my coat and sat in my shirt sleeves, found some cigars on top of a desk, and bottle of the old stuff. Took a couple of rips and was enjoying myself with a smoke and a magazine, when, to my horror, almost, lady came into the room.
 She didn't scream, or faint, or do onything foolish,'' said MT. Jones. "On the contrary she seemed as cool cu cumber Who are you?' she said, and what are you doing here?' 1 explained that MT. Vane had told me to come and to make myself at home, and l hoped was not doing anything wrong
 And, pray. who may MT. Vane be?' said the lady. This is certainly not his touse.' Then she went out into the hall, while I was nervously trying to get into my coat and overcoat. She called for VIC man obeyed the call I heard the lady say something about sneakthieves, and Myra, with her sleeves rolled up, hustled into the room. The lady was with her, and there was fight in Myra's eye, but the mistress quieted her. Do you know of any person in this neighborhood named Vane?' she asked the servant.
 Oh yes'm.' was the reply. It's the lew family that moved two doors from Lere. It's the lady with so many feath- CTS on her hat that you know you said rut on airs to make folks think she was somebody
 well" said Mir Jones. "that saved me rom being arrested expect. ! met Vano as I stood on the pavement, and he laughed at me and said l should have followed his instructions. It took some Title time to calm me, however, and don't know that I have yet forgiven that old blunderhead. I am thinking now of what I can do to get even with him.