Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-30

"hi'o Je'i, ooo grow ucSpcIdtc.
"See here, mebbe you might find some
thing real nice in the other room" he
burst forth eagerly. doctor leaves lots
Of things there sometimes.''
"Does he, so that people can get them
when he is away? Probably he has left
what / want there" Her face brighten
ed; she paused an instant as if expecting
Joe to lead the way, then asked: ''Where
shall [ look?"
Under the-on the table in there"
answered Joe, pointing toward the article
mentioned, but following at a respectful
distance until she was fairly within the
room. Then he sprang suddenly for
ward, closed the door and locked it, piled
two or three chairs against it, and sur
mounted them vita the coal-scuttle.
There nowr' he cried excitedly.
"Open the doorl" demanded the lady's
equally excited voice from within. 'Such
a joke is very, very rude! What do you
mean?"
"Mcan to keep you till Uncle Max
comes, cause he told me to-that's what!
You can't put me to sleep now!" said the
young jailer decidedly.
"The child must be insane!" exclaimed
the bewildered prisoner.
But Joe was quite certain of his sanity,
and as his alarm gradually subsidized into
feeling of security, since his captive had
no chance Of escape, he became convinced
that he had done an exceedingly brilliant
thing.
''Ohi know all about youl" he ex-
claimed courageously. "The doctor told
me to keep you till he got back, but l
don't s'pose he thought could do 1t. l
will, though; you can't get out, and you
Shan't steal nOthin' either"
'Steal anything? What an idea !" A
slight laugh rippled through the lady's
voice, though the situation was seriously
annoying. "You have made some strange
mistake, little boy. l have long walk
to take, and it is growing dark. Please
open the door," she urged coaxingly.
But the small sentinel proved very
model of faithfulness in the discharge of
duty. He could not be frightened, per-
suaded or bribed, and the prisoner tina.4'
relinquished all efforts to move him. She
attempted to raise window, but it resist
ed her slight strength, and glance at its
height from the ground revealed the use
1essness Of such an undertaking. So she
stood silently gazing out into the deepen
ing dusk and gloom, perplexed, indig-
nant, and little anxious, too, as to what
all this could mean, and when it might
end.
In the outer room Joe marched about,
seated himself upon the table, and swung
hs feet to and fro, monarch of all he
surveyed" But notwithstanding his ella
ton, the time passed very slowly, and the
stiffness grew oppressive
"Must be hours and hOurs,' he NUT
tered as he waited, listening for his
uncle's return.
He caught the first sound of his step
on the stair-a slower step than usual,
and the doctors face wore faint cloud
of disappointment from his unsuccessful
walk. It passed through swift and varied
changes, however, at the discovery of
Joes barricade, and the confused rehear-
sal of his valiant exploit.
Caught her slick as could be; she
didn't get chance to burglar anything
at all, tell you'll" began the youthful de-
tective boastingly, but paused in open
mOuthed dismay at witnessing the speed
with which the chairs were pushed aside,
and the dangerous lady released.
"Miss More! What must you think"
exclaimed the doctor, apologetically, re-
gretfully.
"That your style of inducing custom
peculiar, DR.. Casey" she replied, dash
and resentment in her tone.
Joel" began the doctor sternly. But
the blunder was too absurd, and his voice
trembled.
"Well," said Joe defensively, 81 guess
she slipped pstars just as softly as
could be; and you said they was always
women and wore brown wells to hide
their faces, an if one of 'em come here
not to let 'em go; so | didn't. If she
isn't no burglar 'ta'nt nv fault"
Even in the midst of the explanations
that followed, DR.. Casey found himself
thinking how much brighter the old office
looked with that graceful, womanly pres
ence in the glow of the freight. 1t was
the poorest possible opportunity for cold
ness and stateliness, and Miss More's
cheeks flushed and her eyes grew mirth-
full as she listened. Perhaps, too, the
doctors face told more than it ever had
expressed before. At least she acquiesced
graciously in his opinion that it was en-
tirely too late for her to walk home alone,
and they went away together, uncere-
moniously installing Joe as office-keeper
once more.
It seemed to him an unconscionable
length of time that he was kept there,
though he was by no means so anxious
for his uncle's return as he had been be-
fore, nor so certain of his admiring ap-
prevail He raised his head rather doubt
fully at his entrance; but the doctors
eyes were marvelously bright, as if he
had found long explanations delightful.
"Its all right, joe" he said reassuring
ly; cit was only a mistake you see; you
needn't be troubled. And, Joe, here's
fifty cents that you may buy fire-crackers
with for the evening the Torrents
march,"
"Torchers," corrected Joe.
"All right; it's all the same thing"
said the doctor placidly.
Joe did not quite understand it, not
even when his mother and sister began to
visit Miss More, and she became a fire.
quent guest at their house, and the fam
lily all dropped into the way of calling
her Edith" But after there had been
quiet wedding one morning, and he had
learned to divide his visits between the
office and the cosiest, cheeriest little home
in the world, where ''auntie" was the at
traction, he used to say complacently to
the doctor.
can't we glad we caught her, Uncle
Max?'-Hearth and Home.
Ten per cent. of Nothing.