Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-05-24

Come down, can't you =? And bring
along Tige and Fritz ! Don It go to sleep
again.
Grandma heard in mingled amazement
and alarm. Could the boy be in league
with these men, aud another be in watt
ing mp stairs
As If in confirmation of her fears low
growl sounded from the room overhead
Then came a sharp yelp, followed by lit.
tie whines of impatience and, with a
careless Hurry up, Dave = the lad walk
ed leisurely back to the kitchen. AS he
reached the door, grandma overwhelmed
consternat ion, made desperate rush tor
the bedroom beyond, locking the door
behind her.
The men in the meantime had neared
the outer door.
Got some dogs up there, have he ~
said one, with disagreeable eer.
You heard 'em, didn't you p was the
careless rejoinder.
Come on, Jim = addressing his conn.,
panion. We might as we'll clear-our
games up!
" Don't be a fool = was the reply, in
an undertone. Who's afraid o. pups =
Yer dogs amt fierce, be they, young,
ster p
Fritz amt over and above friendly to
strangers replied the boy, cooly, and
if was you l wouldn't be found here
when Tige gets out for rum" Then, in
a louder tone:
Dave, ain It you coming? But don't
let Tige loose till these men get away =
AT this the tramps moved off, cursing
the dogs, and muttering low, wrathful
threats, while the lad, with final | ad-
wise you to put good piece o. road be~
tween you and Tige = closed the door,
softly sliding the bolt.
Then, going to the room where grand
ma lay crouched upon the bed, scarcely
daring to stir, he called through the key
hole :
" They're gone. You can come out
now.'
The dogs = gasped faint voice.
There amt any = he answered, softly.
open the door, and I'll tell you.'
The bolt was cautiously withdrawn,
and the old lady's face appeared, white
and terrified.
Come and sit down. said The boy,
tenderly. am sorry frightened you
so. l was afraid it would, but l could
not help it,
won't stir STEP said grandma.
stouty. What do you mean by all this?
You can't fool me heard the dogs,
and the men, too
A low, pleasant laugh sounded through
the room.
1T was Only me, grandma ! saw
those men meant mischief and | knew
something must be done pretty quick ;
SO | made believe there was somebody
up there
But the dogs = cried the old lady, be-
; wildered. Where are the dogs p
made em bark-listen =
And then came from the throat of the
little ventriloquist such torrent of
growls, whines and yelps, interspersed
with Down Tige and Be still Fritz =
that the door was swung open, and
grandma leaned against the wall, ex.
claiming
We'll, / never in all my life If you
don't beat all the boys l ever did see
and there 1 'sposed you was connivin'
with them critters, and was so scarf
was just as weak as a rag
Awhile after the fright at the farm.
house, Old Billy, with his load of three,
was plodding peacefully over the brow of
the little hill quarter off mile from
home, VIXEN suddenly Mrs. Granger's
voice, wild with terror, rang out sharply
on the still air:
The house is afre = she screamed
And grandma !-oh Solomon, il grand
ma is killed III never forgive myself,
never Why did we leave that boy
Oh, run the horse, Solomon, 1un the
horse =
Nonsense = said the easy going farm
er. Nevertheless, he whipped up Old
Billy, and anxiously scanned the corner
of the roof visible behind the trees where
the smoke was curling up gray and thick.
A dozen or more well-directed pals of
water had done their work, however
and only wet, smoked timbers and
backened pile of rubbish met the farm.
er when he sprang from his wagon and
alighted at the side of the brcathess lit
tie worker.
The sight of the house and barn un,
harmed and grandma standing in the
doorway alive and we'll put all fears to
flight in An instant. But there was Il
story TO relate, and the boy stood modest
ly by while grandma dwelt upon the ex
citing events of the past hour. The
tramps it was supposed were the incen-
diaries but happily the fire had been
discovered in time to preven. any dam
age.
The returning loads of church. gOers,
eager to know the cause OF the unusual
stir, stopped at the farm gate and the
lad suddenly found himself the hero of
the hour.
l told them all the bad qualities of
Tige and Fritz, Uncle Georges dogs =
exclaimed the boy, unmindtul till the
words were spoken that his hearers had
never heard of Uncle George before.
Then with a bright blush, he dropped
behind one of the men and for time
let the talk go on unheeded.
Where's g doggies p persisted Ethel