The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-19
A Singular
Reception
BY RYLAND BELL

= into the wrong domicile. l soon learn
i ed that IL my latchkey did not w0rI
easily | had better beat a retreat. Blu
. on this occasion ! must have foun'
!, the door unlatched-elther this or m.
7 key happened TO ut the lock. for ha'
no trouble Ia getting In. IL It hadn'
been for the wine | had drunk doubt
less | would have realized that some
thing was wrong, for in my own hous'
the hall light would have been turned
low, while here 1t was out.
! My foot tripped on something, and
stumbled. but caught myself Placing
my hat and overcoat In the hall closet
|, was about TO feel my way upstair:
when | heard Il voice In the adjoining
room. 1t was apparently that OF
nervous old woman trying to be reso
lutte.
go away at once, The house Is
wired for burglars, and the police will
be here directly"
what in the world I was begin
ming when the same voice continued:
Il don't wish yon TO be arrested and
20 to jail Do consider. Prison life is
awful Just 90 right out the way You
came in. and you'll save lot Of trou-
| BILE for yourself.'
1t was evident TO me by, this time
| that | had made one Of my blunders
| In getting into the wrong house. and,
not relishing being taken for burglar.
was about 10 apologize and so out
when it occurred TO me that an apollo
gy would neither be believed nor ac-
cepted and had better make an exit
without one. Indeed. ! was not quite
sure but that some man might be
whiting with n gun till he could locate
the intruder. So / concluded to go at
and overcoat 10 stablish my identity.
While i was feeling my way TO the
closet all was silent, but no sooner had
/ started for the door than an entire
ly different voice came from upstairs.
1t was apparently that of a girl.
III you must take something away
with you go TO the sideboard. and
hanging to rail behind ii you'll find
the key to the drawer. and the silver
is inside Take 1t all and welcome only
go away as soon as possible"
This was too much. could not for
bear reassuring this timid creature,
whose voice was melodious.
Don't be frightened. I'm not
burglar at all. I've simply made mis-
take and got into the wrong house. I'm
going AWAY at once"
police. Robbers. Murder"
Confound the girl. She'll bring TIE
police down on me and get me into a
tx.
shut upr' cried II mean. be quiet |
Nobody's going TO hurt you, tell you
It's all mistake. | live In this block, /
and my house is
Don't shoot. Take everything sill
yer. Jewelry. ALL"
| hesitated between flight and going I
upstairs to calm this hysterical young
woman and finally concluded on the
latter course. It seemed that the voice
came from the head Of the stairs 4
ran up two steps at time. but was
not quick enough There was a light
In this upper hall. but 1t was turned
SO low that | could only distinguish a
table with box on 1t. but couldn't
see what the latter was like. IL the
girl was In the hnll couldn't see her.
heard door open and saw some
hing white cross the hall Then the
,as jet was turned up. and | saw a
.irl In her nightdress under II What
The saw was a young man In evening
lress She put her hand on her heart
md staggered.
Calm Yourself" said. i've been
Ifraid you would turn mn innocent mis-
AXE into a tragedy. Do look like a
,urgar?"
III you're not. what are you doing
Iere?''
"Oh. Gwen" cried the old woman's
dice | had heard downstairs, come
ack. He'll kill your'
was puzzled. These persons had &
cen talking 10 me. and vet they didn't 4
eem 10 have heard me. And how did :
be old woman get upstairs?
Are you two deaf?" | asked. irri
ited
Gradually the girl regained her equa.
unity. Then she smiled. Her smile
roke into q laugh.
what in thunder does ii all mean?
shouted.
wait a minute and I'll tell you" =
She ran into a bedroom and in an
her moment emerged in a kimoua i
be was very pretty in either costume
Mamma and live alone and are in
instant terror of burglars. so we got
70 monographs. and mamma talked
one and | in the other the words
~ have doubtless heard. Every night
e connect them with fine wire In :
e vestibuIe so that If burglar broke
with his foot it would set the pho
'gra phs talking"
We'll. I'll be jinged' exclaimed. :
d rather be arrested and jagged for
burglar than be made fool OF" 3
A silvery laugh from the girl rang
[. and ! added:
You need n man in this house. and 2
y--u want me all you've got to do Is :
say So"
Thank you: we get on very well )
th two monographs. We don't need Z
nan at ALL
I consider one man better than two
any time"
With that left. Ny words were !