Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-09

unlikely thing in the world that such
an attempt should be repeated the
very night after it's failure. A burglar
would run an awful risk If he should
try it, Therefore, you don't think it
necessary to take any precautions, be-
cause you are perfectly sure he
wouldn't dare to attempt it, Now, the
burglar knows all this perfectly well.
Therefore, this is exactly the night he
Is going to choose to try the thing
again, because he knows the chances
are you'll be taken unawares"
"There is certainly something in
what you say, Mrs. Willoughby," said
my neighbor. Nov 1 think of it, I
see you are quite right
Now, what 1 should advise" con-
tinued Emilia, sis that you and Mr..
Willoughby should sit up tonight over
at your house and be ready for the
man when he comes. Sitting in the
dark room, you will find it easy to
spring upon him as he enters and Sc
cure him."
IAN excellent scheme, Mrs. Will
loughby," said my neighbor, visibly
brightenening. "Allow me to congratu-
late you on your judgment"
"Oh! that is nothing. I have been
reading Sherlock Holiness" said Emf
liza, modestly.
I looked gloomily and disapprovingly
at Emilia. She is entirely too fond of
a joke. have never been able to see
any amusement in things of the sort.
"Then 1 may count on you for to-
night Mr.. Willoughby?" said my
neighbor.
"Of course" said Emilia quickly.
"There is nothing Mr.. Willoughby en-
joys more than a midnight adventure,
is there, William?"
I tried my best to get out of it, but
Emilia, who was completely off her
head, gave me no chance to say word.
She settled the whole matter, and be-
fore I knew where 1 was I was en-
gagged to sit up all night in the COM
pany of my detestable neighbor. That
is Emilia's idea of joke.
"Well, I'll expect you at eleven" said
my neighbor, and he took his leave.
While 1 went with him to the door,
Emilia took the opportunity of putting
on her hat and leaving the house
through the back gate. 1t was an in
telligent thing to do.
Such an abominable night I hope
never to pass again. / shall always
remember it against Emilia. Seated in
the dark, and obliged to listen to my
neighbor's prosy talk, not even able to
fall asleep in my chair, because of his
numerous questions, l very nearly
acknowledged to myself that Emilia
had got the best of it.
At 12 o'clock Emilia sent over a tray
with some coffee, also a pistol, the
carving knife and a pair of razors.
with a message that she could not
bear to think of my meeting the des-
perado insufficiently armed.
"How charm'ngly thoughtful of Mrs
Willoughby!" observed nv neighbor,
said nothing, but added this to several
other little things I have against
Emilia.
At daybreak, worn and weary my
neighbor, in much disappointment at
the failure of his hopes, released me.
and l left his premises by the front
door, which seemed an unnecessarily
lengthy way compared with the pantry
window.
Emilia" said I, sternly, on reach
ing home, ''you have had a good deal
of amusement out of this affair. But
7 want you to understand one thing.
You know me, I believe, to be a man
of my word!"
''Then mark my words" I continued
solemnly, 'if you ever mention one of
the events of the last two nights to a
single living soul, pack my valse and