MR BLINKS IN TROUBLE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11784, 5 October 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR BLINKS IN TROUBLE.

•Don't sit up for me on any account,' said Mr Blinks. *I hare my latchkey. I hare told you I shall be late, and when I return I shan't disturb you. I'll just lie down in the spare bedroom. So you'll not sit up, Eliza/ 'Very well, William,' said Eliza, with an injured sigh. 'But I might jast as welt sit up as not. I have told you often I never sleep a wink when you are out late.' 'Nonsense,' said Mr Blinks. 'You can be under no anxiety — no reason why you should not go to sleep.' Mr Blinks finished his business, and at twilight, having his dresacoat and accessories at the office, proceeded to array himself for the feast he was to attend, and, calling a cab, took bis way to the place of festivity. He bad a very jolly evening — jollier than usual, for the knowledge that he had forbidden Mrs Blinks 10 sit up for him inspired him. At two in the morning he made his way home, singing to hiuiaelf occasionally, and now and then compelled to laugh aloud at some joke that fl&ehed across his memory.

Always before, the fact that El'za was sitting up for him had caused Mr Blinks to be somewhat abstemious as to wine ; but now, as he had ordered her to retire, be had arranged matters so that they were all in bis own hands, and he was not as steady on his feet or as clear of comprehension as he might have been.

He was also musically incliued, and uttered melodious notes as he made his way home. As he stumbled upstairs in the dark, and felt his way to the spare bedroom, he muttered to himself :

'This is just as it ought to be. Eliza shan't sit up for me again.' Then, having bumped his head against a bedstead, be took off his coat and boots, gave .up the rest as a bad job, retired tangled inextricably in a maze of counterpanes, and immediately fell asleep. Id a short time he was awakened by a strange 6niell of tobacco smoke. Lifting himself on his elbow, he looked about the room, and saw. in the moonlight, by the window, a figure draped in some kind of a gown, and smoking a sbort pipe. A hazy idea that this was Eliza, who had disobeyed him, and bad also takan to tobacco, entered bis mind.

♦I told you not to sit up for me, my dear,' he said, rebokiugly. 'And when did you learn to smoke ?' And then a masculine voice cried :

4 What the deuca '

The gos flashed up, and ho saw before him a stout man in a diessinggown, who, having stared at him a moment, cast away bis pipe, tucked up his sleeves, and advanced toward tne bed. Blinks was still dreamy. At last : * Who, who are you ?' he said. 'And what do you want in tuy house?' 'That is a very nice dodge, criel lha other ; 'but it won't do.' •So I understand it now,' said Blinks, quite wide i,wake at last, aud comprehending that this was a hur,>!ai-, who had hiitdon in the spare b^irnora.

And without a word he spr.mg fiou the bed anl grapple! wiih him.

Tho other tfvopnlo ! will) iilinks.

Each whs iiiLe:it on U<e &am<j object to thrust tke other out ol tho door.

They tambled downstairs together, smashed the hall bat stand, fell through* the glass in the door, Btombled, braised and scratched, out upon the steps, and,. clutching each other tightly, roared "Policj"! 1 '

At the same moment a window went up, a head in curl papers was thrust oot, and a female voice screamed "Police 1" also.

It was Mrs Blinks, firm in the conviction that burglars had arrived at lest. A policeman heard the cries,

He summoned another.

The usual course of events would have been a procession to the police-

station.

But these officers were men of great minds and wonoerfal discernment. One of them asked :

'What is the matter ?'

'I found this man burglariously concealed in a bedroom of my house,' said Mr Blinks. 'I give him in charge.'

'Bab V said the other, 'This is a deep rascal. I fonnd him in bed in my room. I live at v umber twenty, here. The rest of the family are in the country, and I'm, so to speaV keeping house. Jilkins — I think you . time, officer.'

'Why, yes. I know you very well, Mr Jilkini tic the policeman. 'We spoke to each other as you passed me half an hour ago — said 'good-evening/ But this — this is Mr Blinks of number twenty-two. I know him well ; and he passed me about an hour ago, singing, and quite jolly. Either of you can make a charge, if you like, but it seems to me you had better think it over.'

Just then a plaintive voice descended from ihf second-story window of number twenty-two. 'Mr Blinks will apologise in the morning, I know, Mr Jilkins. That would not have occurred had he per— mitted me to sit up for him. It never shall again. Come in, dear. Please try not to wake the baby.' What did Blinks say then ? Not what his parents and sponsors would have expected him to say when he grew up, after all their careful teaching. But he went in, and was very ill next day, and Mrs Blinks nursed him with many sigh 3. Blinks knew then, as he knew afterward, that he should never dare bid his Eliza retire to her pillow while he was. out again. Prom that time thenceforth MrsBlinks eat up for him — more injured, more low- voiced than ever ; until at length he was quite subdued. And now at ten every night Eliza, with her own hands, turns down the gae, locks the frftnt door, and puts the key under tho pillow. Blinks stays, out late no more.