Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-19

DV every clever QeNlce ne COuIu IulIlh
OF, but in every case he was neatly
trapped by the delighted inventor.
The lights flashed warningly in all
colors of the rainbow. The wires did
not shock the electrician. for he wore
rubber gloves. nor did the bell ring in
the constable's office, for they cut of
that connection, too, but in. the matter
of colored lights the alarm did work
beautifully. while the eighteen bells
tangled diabolically.
Il wish all these wires and things
didn't have to be so exposed" COM
planned Mrs. Bradbury. They look
horrid hanging around the doors and
windows. Seems to me your inyen-
ton might have been simpler, Joe. 1t
spoils the artistic effect in the rooms
Better be safe than artistic" snap
ped Joe impatiently. Ready to come
up? Shall 1 turn out the lights?'
Halfway up the stairs Mrs. Brad
bury paused and turned with a theat-
ric gesture. joel"
"Well, what is it now?' he grinned.
REST easy about the pantry door
that's fastened all right"
1T isn't that-your best overcoatr'
what about it?"
IL left it on the clothesline. 1 put
1t out to air. 1t smelled of camphor,
and 1 forgot to bring it in"
III get it. Hold the candle while
disconnect this - there, confound it!
I've dropped that little plug down the
register grating. can't get out of the
house, Louise, until that plug is found
understand? Until-that-plug-is -
found" Mr.. Bradbury's voice showed
the strain of an overworked stock of
patience.
why can't you go outside, Joe? Do
you mean that we're inside-held pris-
oners by that burglar alarm?" Mrs.
Bradbury was frightened.
You have stated the cold facts in
the case" returned her husband.
This little plug is my own device.
When it is removed from this hole the
current is on all around the house.
When I thrust the plug in the current
is off-just the reverse of the usual
method. Clever, isn't it,"
Very said his wife drily.
That was the beginning of n siren
uous night. The furnace pipe that led
to the hall register down which Brad
bury had dropped his plug was taken
down and found empty. Then 1t was
replaced amid much dust and disorder
in the cellar and the search continued
all over the hall floor without result.
At midnight Mrs. Bradbury suggested
that they run the risk of losing Mr..
Bradbury's best overcoat and go to
bed, as that gentleman had just made
an unsuccessful attempt TO escape
from the house by a second story win
dow.
1t was then that Bridget I.anigan ar
rived home. weary after a long after
noon of unalloyed pleasure. Her at
tack on the kitchen door was followed
by an ear splitting shrek that brought
the neighborhood out of their beds.
Then 1t was that the Bradbury bur-
glar alarm demonstrated its efficiency.
The colored lights flashed intermit-
tently all over the house; the eighteen
bells rang necessarily; the constable
and his aid ratified up on motor cy-
Giles. while Miss Lanigan proceeded to
rend the air with her cries of pain.
When the tumult was over when the
current had been shut off from the
feed wire and Bridget had been re-
leased fro1l her unhappy position more
frightened than hurt, for the current
had not been a very heavy one after
all; when the constable had been lib
orally fed for his trouble and all the
neighbors had enjoyed their laugh to
the utmost, Mr.. Bradbury slammed the
front door viclously upon the outside
world and confronted his wife.
NOW, what are you going to do,
Joe? You look desperate. Bridget
says she brought in your overcoat at
2 O'clock, so you need not have tried to
get out and
MY dear" said Bradbury with
great effort at self control. Good
nlghtr'
Then when he was alone Mr.. Brad
bury proceeded to undo his earlier
work Of the evening. He tore down
all his wires and other adjustment:
and restored the house to its artistic
atmosphere What he did with the
debris from this devastation is not re-
corded.
When he had finished he went care
fully around the house and locked each
window and door. Then he made a
second trip and tested each one.
what are you doing. Joe?" called
Louise from the stairs.
1.-THE lockstep" grunted Mr.. Brad
bury. with a grim smile at his own
wit.
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