Middletown transcript., 1910-10-29

stood In the pretty garden OF OAK.
lands st midnight and shifted
complacently at the fresh night
air. It was tha second week Of
bis visit TO his old college chum,
Dr. Gibbs, Q medical man with q
ntra Cling practice in 8 small
rural district, and the absence Of
pomp and ceremony was grateful
to his wearied nerves.
With . sigh Of content the Bis.
hop walked maiestically back to
she house. He turned the handle
Of the door, aud TO his astonish.
ment be found 1t was locked. He
then remembered that he had left
the key-of the patent lock on the
study table.
The long French windows Of
the drawing room we're also fast,
and the Bishop knitted his brows
/ in thought. Then he smiled soft
", and, walking round the house
stopped at the study window.
BE struck a match and looked al
the sash, where upper and lower
halves met, and from his waist
coat produced q penknife.
Inserting the broad blade be.
tween the sashes, he pushed care.
fully. The catch swung back
with q little click, and the Bishop
pushed up the window.
He had barely lifted ona portly
leg oyer the sin when strong
hand gripped him from behind
BY the nape Of his neck.
Get along in with yer, Kissed a
voice ii his ear, and don't forget
there's this be'ind yer.
The Bishop, sitting perilously
On fhe windowsiIl, felt something
round and cold against his neck.
Now, thcn, in with yer, threat.
ened the voice in low tones.
The Bishop gave . little jump
the Hoor, and was brOught.uE
standing BY the hand on his
collar. BE felt, rather than saw
3 heavy figure climbing after
him Twisting himself painfully
he half turned and saw % police
man.
Oh, said the Bishop, with {
little gasp, It's you, constable, il
its D'you know I thought yoI
were 4 burglar, and / suppose
yuI .5ok me for onef
Shut it, said the policeman, il
q low, curtvoice.
Really, officer, I think you for
get to whom you are talking.
Oh, chuck it, wss the brutal re
ply. set of bony knuckles duG
deep into his neck.
The Bishop wriggled i'm
patiently.
It appears to me you re goint
beyond your duty, constable.
With q twist the policeman
edged him on to a chair AMI
shone 3 bulls eye into his face.
You re maxim me cross, that
what ycu are, whispered tn
oficer. Where's the rest Of th
family? Corn to bed, or aim
they at i1omes
The Bishop tried to push thI
bnll'ssye away.
/ think you must have beel
drinking, be said, shortly, aud
feelsTery sorry DR.. Gibbs is no
st home.
on, Gibbs ain't at 'ome, sale
Che policeman, slightly raising
his voice; and where's is manS
If there were any onea all il
Che house, said the indignan
prelate, | should ring the bel
and have you elected.
Open yer mouth 50 wide sger
IN III shove my bull's-eye dowr
yer throat. threatened the police
man. Did / ear yer say there
was no one ID the 'ouse at all?
No one, snorted the Bishop
Wr1ggang IN his chair. Dr.. Gibbs
wassnddenIy called away, and al
he doesn't expect TO be back till
morning he took his chauffeur
with him. And now, my good
man, he added, conciliatingly,
having convinced you, | hope,
that ! am not q burglars win you
please gos
Tdepoliceman laughed slightly.
Ere, I've had enough messin
about; get mp and light the gas,
and # yer up to any monkey
tricks III blow yer brains out.
This appalling threat from an
officer Of the law well.nigh
asphyxiated the Bishop, and be
started forward indignantly, al.
most breaking his teeth on the
muzzle of the revolver.
Nov, then. get on with it
with mingled feelings Of terror
ard wraEh the Bishop groped on