The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-07-13

Several people stared broadly at the
{ wet, muddy and disordered professor,
He reached the laundry. The sheet
would be all ready for him that eve
ming, he was informed.
| 1t was few minutes after eight that
evening when the professor reached
the Briggs cottage. 1t had warmed his
heart every time that day he had
thought of the winsome lady His
ardor cooled as he neared the house.
Its front was shaded and dark A light
showed in the sitting room. He stole
around the side of the house and
peered in.
"Gracious." he uttered and shrank
back, fairly appalled,.
A beetle-browed individual occupied
the apartment He had just pried open
an escritoire and had taken thence a
small lacquered and worried box. He
tucked it under his arm, picked up
from the table big revolver and start
ed to leave the house by the side door.
"a burglar!" gasped the professor,
"And l am unarmed! He is coming.
All! thought"
Quick as lightning the professor tore
open the package containing the sheet.
He grabbed up from the ground piece
of stick. He EMBODIED himself in the
ample folds of the sheet. Holding the
fragment OF wood, against the light
contrast OF the sheet resembling the
barrel of a pistol, as the burglar
opened the door he extended his hand.
Drop everything, or your doom is
sealed" he voiced in deep, sepul-
chral tone.
Ghosts" yelled the burglar in a
wild scream, dropped both pistol and
box, and took to his heels. The pro-
fessor rushed forward and secured
both. Then, not knowing why. he
pulled the trigger.
Bang, bang, bang-bang-bang, bang,
bang!
The side door of the next house
opened. It's owner, a brawny fellow,
alarmed by the pistol shots, stood peer
ing all about. Following him was his
wife and Mrs. Briggs and her two
children.
There's something white moving
about the housed" chartered the man.
wife.
Hey! what's all this?" challenged
her husband, advancing.
Your sheet" spoke the excited pro-
fessor, removing it from his shoulders.
Your box" he added, rendering the
object indicated.
MY jewels, my bonds, all safe, but,
oh. how careless | was to leave them
almost open to anybody" cried Mrs.
Briggs. But what does it all mean?
Come in, come in, all of you'll" and
she actually pulled the blushing pro
fessor by the arm. Her bright eyes
viewed him approvingly as he stumbled
through his story.
ooh, what is lonely woman with
out a strong, brave man to protect
herr" uttered Mrs. Briggs, and then
flushed peony red at the bold intima-
ton, and the professor experienced
new thrills.
What came of it all? What could
and did! Widowlike, Mrs. Laura
Briggs read the innocent, transparent
mind of the professor clearly, and
was glad that she had interested him.
Ten years later it became regular
event stormy evenings, to have the
two children nestle up to their adopt
ed father and beg of him TO tell them
the sheet story.
Then Laura, his wife, would go to
the clothespress and bring out the
cherished sheet. Then the professor
would dramatically don the sheet, and
take up from the mantel the captured
weapon and begin his weird story.
And after that he would say, with a
quzzical glance at his happy wife, Il
had to stay here ever since for fear
the burglar might come back again!'