Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-10-19
III SEARCH OF REP0SE
BY SARAH e. HIPP.

Happle appreciated the hospitality
Of Mrs. Mats. She was nothing If
not generous in dealing with guests.
and already her house was full.
Jimmy" she said to young Happle
at the close Of a festai evening as
be and his cousin were preparing to
go out in the midnight rain, Its q
shame for You boys to walk mile tn
the wet and wake up your family TO
get In. / heard you say you had for
gotten. your key. If you and Arthur
can manage in three-quarter bed you
can stay here. All the other guest
rooms are filed"
Consequently they stayed. The
room was as charming as every other
room In the big house and Arthur fell
into slumber after vociferously admtrt
ing It. Young Happle stayed awekes
In the first place. Arthur's construc'
ton was Of the sort that demands
considerable space fore, aft and broad
side, and he was not at all reluctant
about taking it. He occupied the
three-quarter bed comfortably and
spilled over the edges. Happle could
not help adniring himself for the
clever way in which he poised ON the
extreme edge OF the mattress after.
the fashion Of a trapeze performer
about to do leap for life. P1oddlngs
had no effect upon Arthur. Neither
did verbal remonstrances. His slumV
Der was as deep as the sea.
Young Happle at last arose, He had
determined to go home and let Arthur
have: the undisputed possession Of the
three-quarters bed Young Happle felt
that he might just as we'll be walking
the streets as suffering there. And
at the end of the walk was the goal
Of his own bed. He could get in at q
window or something
Quietly Happle CARRIED himself and,
taking his shoes in his hand, tiptoed
down the big corridors Of the Mats
mansion and descended the stairs
Noting approvingly that the hinges
were perfectly oiled. he shot the bolts,
and, opening the big front door, step
ped out AS he stood there for a mo-
mont blinking in the darkness there
came glare In his face and large
and muscular hand grasped him
Come out Of IT," said voice.
"Who the dickens are your young
HappIe demanded, with Indignation.
"Haw, haw!" said the voice, de-
risively. ct is a joke. then? Who am
I? Ask the sergeant who I am when
you get to the station, my lad"
See here" said young HaDple. I'm
no burglar!"
Then who"-the voice was in
tensely polite-"may you be, with yer
shoes in yer hands, a-sneaking out of
house at two in the morning, max.
Ing no more noise than q bunny rab-
bite"
Young Happle opened his mouth
and closed it again. It suddenly
seemed preposterous to tell the truth.
Surprising he should confide to the
policeman that his cousin was large,
huC, uOt udNllS TOOui III DSu loA SAonA
Der, he had decided to arise and go
home In the rain? He could in fancy
hear the jeers Of this disagreeable Of
hcer. Still
"Y' see," broke in the voice, ~ see,
yeh can't frame up an excuse at all!
It's lucky Mr.. Mats tipped me off to
watch his place special this summer
with all the burglaries there is gotn'
on! Have yeh any Of the family jools
about yehs now, I'd like to known"
Sect out!" young Happle said
aercely. IS the hand slid into bis
pocket. Then he told his story. Ring
the bell and rouse the house If you
don't believe me- he said, inclosine
his recital.
""'Tis likely I'd be wakin' 'em all W
with fool story like the one you've
been telling met" said the police
man.
t'Well, If you won't do that" said
young Happle, YEARLY. s'come on with