Caught in the Act; Had Good Excuse

Members of the Cuthbert Schaefer household, 1115 Church street, Evanston, had visions of a big catch of a bold porch climber at 2 o'clock in the morning, when they notifiec the police that a prowler was trying to gain entrance to the home of their next-door neighbor at 1113 Church street. The small daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer was sleeping on their sleeping porch and was awakened by the intruder.
Officers Lanning, Keane and Mennihan were detailed on the double-quick and, with revolvers drawn, crept up stealthily upon the supposed "culprit" just as the latter was noislessly raising a window.
"Halt! Who goes there?" called Officer Keane in a stentorian tone. "Tumble off of there quick, or I'll make a sieve of you."
Not a word was spoken by the alleged porch climber and he began to slide to the ground from the porch roof. When he was again on terra firma, the officers surrounded him and held him at the point of their revolvers. His face ashen, and shaking from head to foot, the youth tried to stammer out his excuse for being on the porch roof at the early hour. He was a visitor in the home and had remained out later than his host had expected him to. The door to the home was locked, and rather than awaken the members of the family, he sought to gain entrance to his room via the porch. His proof was conclusive and the officers retired, allowing him to mount again the porch roof and enter his room without disturbing the peace and quiet of his host.