The Van Buren press., 1872-10-22

the distant field where they were piough
inc tor winter wheat Then he walked
slowly up to the house, going into every
room aud banging every door hard as ne
came out. 1t seemed very lonely and 81
lent, though the sun streamed IN and cv'
erything looked just usual, ButJ John
ny had his own plans, and going to tue
barn, he picked out two big pumpkins
and carried them into the kitchen, stop
ping moment to watch big Dennis, who
had come up for spade,
There is a wagon on tho pralrle'
camping, he said Il wonder it don t
90 on, such a fine day as it ls
Maybe there is somebody SICK,
johnny said. remembering the baby that
had died on the camping ground before.
I'm go 'rl at noon an ak th"ri"
Dennis said walking away.
johnny lugged his pumpkins to the
kitchen, sat down on the floor, and was
soon busy digging them out for Jack o.
lanterns.
It was hard work, but lie refreshed
himself by thinking how fine they would
look, one on each side Of the great gate
when all come home. Once or twice he
looked up thinking he heard sound as,
if somebody were trying to opSn WIN
dow, but those in the kitchen were wide
open, and AIMS, he knew was fastened
down by a big nail The pumpkins were
followed out, and Johnny was intent up
on the ewes, when q step behind made
him Jump up and cry out, as he was
caught and held tight by dark gypsy
looking lad, seventeen or eighteen. John
ny screamed loudly, but in moment
was silepced by handkerchief stuffed
into his mouth and another tied over H.
"Thatll keep You quiet long enough,
reckon, said the boy, looking around
uneasiv, as if fearing some one might
come. Now, you little varmint, you
see that knife Ifyou stir or move, III
cut your throat as easy as I'd cut pigs
know what want. and I'll help my
self.
johnny kept his place on tho floor,
half choked, but so frightened he could
not stir; while the boy, first boiling the
kitchen door so that no one could come
in that way, and fastened down tho win
dovs, went into AIMS room, took out
the nail and opened the window. from
which he could step at once into the or
chard and then turned to the closet Inc
upper shelf WAS too high for him, and,
after reaching up for moment he pro
= chair. mounting upon that, he threw
down the various bags and bundles which
Ann had piled over the Bible, Till he had
it ia his hand and began to turn over the
leaves
Now The door Of this closet had been
India Sf,'I,ge >g,s, ., and had not only Yotk and
key, but two heavy bolts at top and bot
tom, never used now, to be sure, but
strong as ever And as Johnny sat there
his senses and courage coming back, he
saw what should be done, and did it at
once With bound so sudden that the
| thief had not time to turn. he dashed in
to the room, threw himself against the
door, and turned the key. Then, as n
kick came which might have burst the
lock alone. he shot the lower bolt, climb
ed into chair and did the same to the
upper one, and then, dropping from
AIMS window, ran like mad TO the field
where Dennis was at work, tearing off
the handkerchief as he went
$50 to the house" was all he could
gasp, when once in the field and Dennis
thinking it must be fire, ran, with the
three men after him.
Johnny sat down ia a furrow moment
to recover himself, then sprung up and
after them,
"You'll have to get in AT the window y
ha shouted, as Dennis, finding lhe kitch
on door locked ran around the house.
" AIMS window is open Look in the
closet" !" he added, as Dennis, pausing
outside to hear the storms Of kicks and
blows on the door turned to the men and
remarked, as he jumped in, "Shure an
the devil himself is shut up in AIMS
room. Wha,ver We are. ye're in an
cant get out, " he went on; $50 John.
ny, me boy, there's time enough for you
to he tellin' what it is "
Its not that'll be lettin' We out"
he shouted. with responsive kick on the
door, when Johnny had finished his sto.
ry. BE aisy now, honey Yell get all
ye wan! VIXEN the masthsr comes, an in
the same time well have = quiet pacablo
time keeping ye company outside For
fear, though, We may make flinders OF
AIMS clothes, I'll just tie yc bit.
That was scene, when Donnis opened
the door, and the four men were kept
busy for few moments, uhilo he wound
the rascal up with two clothes lines and
johnny danced and screamed with ex.
citement Then Dennis lad him back
among the bundles, picked up the money
aud Bible, and again bolted the door.
Mrs Cstly, whs had seen the men run
ming, came over, Johnny, crying hystsr
ieally, was placed in her care till his
mother should come home, and WAS at
once put to bad and fed with catnip'
tea. But he was up again when at hvs
O. clock the big wagon drove into the
ward, and in the chldrsn's excitement
lived it all over again The emgrant
wagon was nowhere to be seen, and it
was not till some weeks afterwards when
the boy was brought up for trial, that he
confessed to having stolen away from it,
intending to rob Mr. Carters hen-house,
and hiding in the shed, had seen the mon
ey which tempted him.
johnny at once became hero in tue
neiuhborhood, and indeed in Ottawa,too,
where he had to 20 as witness But the
proudest day Of all Was that on which
iha vhole trial apuearod in the county