The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-08-12

frightened, sir, for soon discovered thai
they meant to rob you last night.
found it was their intention to pretend
sleep when the dormitories were inspect
ed for the night, and then one was tc
conceal himself ill your room before you
came up from tho study, while the Other
was watchingin the corridor; and if sue
cessful, they were going to hire horse
and carriage at Jewott's early this morn
ing and get away as soon as possible
and run off to sea. Then, sir, they be-
gan talking very low indeed, and the
rain upon the roof made so much noise
couldn't make out just what they said
and, oh, sir just at that moment found
was going to sneeze. 1 tried all
could to stop it, but it would come, and
1 really think, sir, it was the loudest
nothing for me to do but to come out.
"'See here, young one, have you
been listening to all this 2 said Decker.
ooh, yes, Decker, cried, 'and how
can you Now just stop that snivel
ing, or I'll give you something to cry
for, and L saw that Decker had been
drinking. Then Mullett said quite
kindly, although he was very much ex-
cited Now, little Miggs, we're bound
to carry this thing through, and we won't
have any interference. We mustn't per-
nit you to leave this place tonight and
interrupt our plans. Yes, on one condi-
ton can you appear at the school this
evening, and that is that you will sol
emnly promise, upon your oath, not to
mention what you have heard to single
soul until our fight has been discovered.
" Mullett, Mullett, how can promise
you this?' L said. NO, no don't ask
it. Oh, Decker, think of this awful
thing you are going to do /; and to the
best master boy ever had. Dear
Mullett, you saved my life last winter
when my sled broke through the ice,
and love you so can't let you do this.
Listen to me. If only you will give
up these wicked plans now and forever
and ever, no one shall hear or know any
thing about them but if you will not
and I grew suddenly brave, sir-Iwill
surely tell master every word.
"We all stood still for a few minutes,
and the rain on the leaves outside and
on the roof fell with such a lonely sound
that, believe, sir, began to cry. Null
lett stretched out his hand toward me
and said: Little Miggs, I've half a
mind when Decker, who, as 1 told
you before, sir, had been drinking,
sprang forward, and seizing me by the
arm, said: Miggs, you young sneak
ing eavosdropper, you don't leave this
hut tonight and as for you, Mullett,
if you're going to back down, I'll shoul-
der the whole thing myself, but have a
care how you step out of it, for you've
gone too far to prove your innocence
now.'
"'Tm not going to back out, said
Mullett.
Go Then help me bind Miggs to the
center post. They'll be sure to find him
tomorrow, and by that time we will not
caro- how much he blabs. l prayed
Decker not to tie me there over night {;
it was such a cruel, cruel thing, but he
did it, sir. Mullett insisted that L should
not stand, 50 he brought box for me to
sit on, and then turned and looked out
of the hut while Decker tied me with
the measuring rope. | was faint and
dizzy, and but for the rope under my
arms should have fallen over Null
lett came up and said
"Little Miggs, can you forgive me 2"
yes, L said, / forgive you, Null
lett And that is all | remember, dear
master, until l awoke and found that
you and Crane were come to release
me"
"Boys," said the master, 81 will con-
tinuo the narrative. Last evening, Just
after tea, / was sitting i'll my study,
when Crane entered, brcathless, with
the astonishing announcement that he
had discovered little Miggs bound fast
in the birch hut, and apparently dead.
| FASTENED to the place, and as l looked
in I feared that Crane was right, and
that little Miggs was indeed dead. Upon
examination, however, [ found he had
only tainted, and even as we worked at
the rope he revived. Without question
ing [ took him,in my arms and brought
him up at once to the study. He lay on
the lounge a long time without speak
ing. Presently he said:
"' Master, there will be an attempt
made tonight to rob you. Please don't
put your purse under the pillow, and
then they will get nothing
"Who 4; will get nothing, little
"'Oh, sir, I cannot tell you tonight,
indeed ~
He was interrupted by rap at the
door. 1t was the housekeeper.
Come to my room, quick, sir,
Decker is very i'll, she whispered.
81 found him on the sofa, his arms
hanging lifelessly over the back, his hair
disheveled, his clothes in disorder. In
truth, found him not sick, but intoxi-
Gated. Giving instructions that he
should not be removed until | returned.
L left the room and was met in the hall
by Mullett, who asked to have word
with me.
"'Not now, Mullett,' I explained !;
I'm very much occupied
"' If you please, sir, know all about
it. Decker, little Miggs, and all and
if you'll only let me, I'll confess every
thing. L can't go to bed. l can't sleep.
Oh, sir I'm so miserable
{" Come to my study, Mullett, / said.
AS L opened the door he caught sigh of
little Miggs. Springing to the lounge
he threw himself upon his knees and
buried his face in his hands, and 1
guessed much of the truth at once. What
L did not know was told me between the
sobs of the contrite boy. But the pos
sibility of such crime in our midst was
too imminent not to demand a severe
and long to be remembered punishment,
and this morning 1 placed them both
under arrest. Debauchery, theft, per-
haps worse, by two of the most influential
boys in school-could i do less than to
make this an everlasting example, 2"
"You can't, dear MASTER" cried little
Miggs, "but make it an example of
forgiveness. 1t was through me they