Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-12-14

:
his establishment he saw ray Of
light beneath the door and heard
voices In the adjoining room-where
the stockings were to be hung.
Well, Amabel," her father was say.
ing. what did Romeo have to say to-
night"
The reply was sniff from Amabel.
which Andrew interpreted as being a
suggestion to her father that he mind
his own affairs.
Did you give him the necktie?"
Amabel's mother asked.
Yes"
Did he like it?"
He never looked at it,"
Well, 1 must say! In my time a
young man would have shown more
gallantry."
Not a Ellington. mother" Mr..
futile said. They never think OF
what to say until week later
Andrew grated his teeth. This was
true. but not pleasant.
Well. you couldn't expect him to
tell how he liked 1T when he hadn't
seen it," Amabel said. stoutly. And
it wouldn't have been polite for him
to look at 1t right there-besides.
shouldn't have given it to him to.
night
it look as though you expected some
thing from him"
Andrew was standing in the dark
hess, in the middle Of the room. He
wished the family would quit talking
especially as they We're talking OF
hiln-and go to bed and allow him to
drop his gift into AmabeIs stocking.
He did not dare to move. for fear OF
! running into some furniture. He
hardly dared breathe
Suddenly from down street came
the clang of a gong. Also the clatter
of horses hoofs on the frozen high
way and the rumble of wheels. The
noise increased as the horses drew
near, to subside and cease in front OF
the house. The Tuttles heard it.
Must be fire. or the patrol wag-
on" Mr. futile exclaimed, throwing
open the room where Andrew stood.
Andrew darted behind a bookcase Just
in time Mr.. futile went through the
room to the hall and opened the front
door. Mrs. Tuttle followed him. de
spite Amabel's remonstrances that she
would catch cold
There was the sound of hurried
footsteps up the walk.
Whats the matter?" Mr.. futile
asked
Where is hep said a voice.
where's who?"
"Patrolman Jones telephoned that
he saw a man breaking into your
house"
Andrew shivered with alarm. This
was predicament. To be arrested
as a burglar, 10 be carted of to Jail
without chance to explain. He
| peered from behind the bookcase ant
saw Amabel dreamily hanging hel
stocking. He swiftly came from hi
hiding place. and silently hurried tt
/ her side. Taking the package iron
his pocket, he whispered:
.'Amabel! IL forgot to tell you
lOSG YOU, anu uClt NY PIOpoSohIs OH,
the engagement ring, tool"
! 'The mere fact that he had appeared
thus mysteriously at her side did no
appeal to Amabel She did not thinl
of that at all. She said:
/ "Oh, Andrew
4 And she then allowed herself Il
fall into his arms.
That there was much excited con
/ yersation i'm the hall, that men wer'
running around the house and peerini
into dark corners in the basement ant
in the upper rooms was something o
which Andrew and Amabel We're en-
tirely unaware. MIR. and Mrs. Tuttl
came back, after the officers had gon
away utterly bewildered. Even the
| had been so excited that the presenc
of Andrew struck them as nothing ur
usual. Amabels shy but delighted ar
nouncement of her engagement was re
{. ceived merrily. however. In fact
father and mother futile and tn
young people got SO deep III thei
plans for the future that they almos
/ forgot the incident until suddenly MI
futile said:
4 II wonder who the dickens tina
burglar was, anyhow"
/ "I-I'll bet it was me-" Andrey
/ stammered.
well. must fix that window tomol
row. Mr.. futile decided.