The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-03-14
Desperate
Adventure

That's queer" said Deadrlck.
Everybody stopped talking and
looked at the small wooden box which
the maid had Just taken at the door
and brought into the library.
why queer?' asked Horwatt, idly.
He had Just had a very good din
ner, and was entirely at peace with
the world. "Just a plain box!"
Deadrick looked at Horwatt stern
ly and the whole dinner party caught
its breath. Deadrick edged away
from the box, which had rope han
dies. This morning" he announced.
81 had to discharge my man and the
proceeding was not marked with what
you might call grace and ease. In fact,
had TO throw him out He depart
ed, vowing vengeance. expected moth
ing by express--the maid says the
driver says it was billed as some
kind OF machine What If it is an in
fernal machine?"
Every woman screamed. Two of
them at once got on their feet. The
bride crossed the room and held her
husbands hand.
THAT happens only in stories," said
Meagle. Go on and open the box"
"Mr. Meagle," said the hostess in
dgnantly, you may not care If my
husband is blown through the ceiling,
but l do"
Yes" chimed in Deadrick, "she just
got new rug in the room above and
naturally"
You are brute!' said his wife.
"Only please don't open it,"
"I'm dying 10 know what's in it,"
cooed the fluffy girl
81 always thought he was queer"
pursued Deadrick "and II you had
seen him this morning! What are
you doing?" he ended as Horwatt laid
titude OF rest.
Listening for the tick-tock," Hor-
watt explained "All these up TO
date bombs are attached to an alarm
clock, set to go off at a certain hour,
and"
"Ha-a-arveyl" Mrs. Horwatt shrek
ed, grabbing him. Come away! Why,
it might be set to go off this minute!
What on earth"
do they really do such things?'
begged the fluffy girl Of young
Meagle.
Yes he admitted. Come, let us
go and sit in the conservatory, which
is far enough away to be quite safe If
the thing does go off,"
That's what your internal machine
has done" Horwatt Kissed at his
host. Hell propose to her in there
as sure as guns, and her father'll see
you further! He has well preserv-
ed millionaire in storage for his daugh.
ter Put the thing out of doors be-
fore 1t does further damage!"
Truly" said Deadrich, I'm suspi.
cious of It! How am ! to get II
opened?"
Call a policeman" suggested Mrs
Berker. That's what they're for
isn't It? And you could get him some
coffee and sandwiches afterward.'
Assuming, of course" said Dead
rick, that there was enough OF him
left TO drink the coffee! Haven't
heard that they put suspected in
formal machines in water before open
ing them?"
"Hooray!" said Horwatt. "To the
bath room!" He grabbed one side ol
the rope handle.
Deadrick took the other handle an6
trailed by all the protesting womer
and the other men, they marched tC
the bath room. Tenderly depositinl
the box in the tub, Deadrick turned OF
the water
"Turn that off at once and turn OF
the cold water." cried his wife. "Yol
don't know what hot water might d,
to a bomb, 1t would cook it o.
something! | told you not to hire 10
seph in the first place, for neve
liked his nose!"
1T is perfectly awful!' said Mrs
Horwatt. ITO think you can't 81
peacefully in your own house with
out being attacked by dangerous an
archists. Anyhow isn't IL time VI
should be going, dear?'
Not till l see how far Deadricl
flies when he gets blown up" sal
her husband. "He's heavy mani"
"Plpl-please don'tv" begged Mrs
Deadrick as her husband, pushin
back his cuffs, began prying the cove
loose under the water. Don't b
rash Remember Willie and mel"
Everybody jumped at every ri
Of the nails. The box proved to col
I tain excelsior. Gingerly Deadrie
|. picked 1t out.
Here it Isl" he painted as he strue
something hard.
There was a wild exodus from III
bath room into the hall, Pale br
i heroic, Deadrick undid the wrapping
k holding the parcel as far from him a
possible. A card tumbled out.
J. For Willie's birthday, from Gran,