Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-17

One moon1ess evening during the au-
tumn of 1900, Farmer Lee came from
his barn with a lantern in his hand,
where he had been to see II his stock
was securely housed for the night. He
glanced up and down the road, and
over and across, discerning light in a
nearly house which had not been occu-4
pied since spring. He knew the family
had not returned SO he fastened into
his own house and~telephoned to the
police of the adjoining city to come out
and capture the burglars.
x The chief of police 'phoned for an
auto AMI summoned three OF his assist
ants, and soon they were speeding
along the highway to the little country
town CT Fayette. In the darkness they
made several false turns which took
them out of their course They reached
the village, but the road was deserted;
so they halted to obtain information
from house where the bright rays
from lamp Shone out like beacon
to light them on their way.
Rev. Mr.. Colby, wife and children
were having a fine time. Edna was
popping corn. which was eaten as fast
as she popped it; and while papa was
telling a story which brought forth
peals of laughter from the hearers, a
sharp. determined knock on the door
interrupted them. The minister an
swered the rap; for some moments the
family held their breath in silence, as
SODQCInlnB, they KNEW NOT WQaL, was
taking place, for the controversy which
they heard bewildered them. The
words that they caught now Qnd then
seemed to be contradicted by the per-
sons in the auto; then the reverend
gentleman stepped back. and then out
closing the door behind him. The wife
and children rushed to the windows,
but the large auto was gone, carrying
the head of the house in it.
Mr.. Colby did not realize that he
made himself liable to suspicion when
he accompanied the officers of the law
to the. house that had been broken
into. The burglars had fed, but a num-
Der Of people had assembled.
Deacon Flint, with a twinkle in his
eye, remarked that he was much sur
prised to see that his pastor was sus-
pect.
Several others Joined in, and one
man said Those policemen were smart
men to catch the culprit before they
viewed the premises
Rev. Mr.. Colby, a jolly man, laughed
over the affair. but did not explain
why he was with the officers, who
after searching the house, and failing
to find any clue to aid them in pursu-
ing the housebreakers, Joined the min
lister and soon were en- route for home.
In the meantime the minutes and
then an hour passed by, and the anx-
tous wife still stood by the window,
watching and probably praying that
her husband would safely return. AZ
ter two hours had passed she decided
he had been kidnapped and had donned
her coat and hat to go to secure help
from a neighbor when Mr.. Colby en-
tered the hall. She rushed out with
outstretched arms to greet him and
between her sobs she cried:
Thank God, Frank, you have not
been stolen from mel"
The minister looked surprised for a
moment and then exclaimed:
why! Oh, my, Clara! Did you think
/ was stolen? You are worse than
Deacon Flint, for he was not serious
when he joked me about my ride to
Mr.. Stoddard's house. which has been
broken into.''
The wife, though soothed, still felt
that trouble would arise from the adj
venture. and said:
"Oh. dear! I do hope that no one
who saw you there, or going and re-
turning, will think seriously of the af-
fair"
Her husband laughed and replied:
The joke would be on them if they
did"
The differences which were drawn by
thu persons who heard of the burglary
and of the minister's ride with the
policemen did indeed prove disastrous,
for ere long the pastor and wife no.
ticed that instead of hearty greetings
they received Indifferent bows and
cold. naughty stares from many peo-
pie in the town. some of whom were
their parishioners. They perceived
whenever they were present the peo-
pie clustered together in groups, whis-
pering to each other. The words