The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-08-28

ave three boys occupied the front
room on the third floor, the same that
you and Atkinson had at one tine. It
was a bright moonlight night. GIanc-
ing towards the Kobbs' bed, I saw them
both sitting up. The noise had aroused
them also.
.'There's some one trying to get in
that hall window, said AL, in whisper.
I'm going to see.'
"sWait and listen awhile urge d Fred.
Sand give the fellow chance to get
in p exclaimed Al. No, we better stop
him where he is.'
@'Let's call the DOCTOR said Fred.
@'There isn't time for that. Don't
you hear him unfastening the window
bolt9 Come, hurryl Tn going to take
the old musket; you take the bat
1.-THE gun isn't loaded, said Fred !;
and his voice actually trembled.
Whether he was shivering from cold or
fright, don't know.
cit will scare him just the same
said Al; and, taking down the rusty
frearm, he hurried out into the hall,
followed at little distance by his
brother, armed with the baseball bat.
81 was never very brave, and there
fore I took good care to keep as far be-
hind Fred as he was behind his brother; !;
in fact, to be more honest, I merely
ventured as far as the door, and there
peeped into the hall.
"a mans form was crawling through
the window, but he seemed to be SO oc-
cupied by keeping the sash up that he
had not yet noticed the two boys. As
he threw one leg over the sill, he
thrust his hand into his breast pocket
and drew out small, dark object.
Murder! he's drawing . pistol
roared Fred, in terror; and, turning
hastily to fly, he ran against me in the
doorway, and we both fell sprawling
upon the floor.
"'Robbersl Arel' slrieked Fred.
Here's another one!' and, darting into
an opposite room, he crawled under the
bed there.
Move another inch and I'll frel'
cried AL, pointing the musket at the
mans breast.
@'Ochl murtherl Masther AL, don't
be afther a-shootin' mel came familiar
voice in broad Hibernian accents.
"It was Pat, the doctors man..
What! is that you, Pat?' ex-
claimed Al, lowering the weapon.
Sorra the day for me an it wrlr,'
said the Irishman, as he carefully de-
posted on the floor the pistol Fred had
seen him draw, which was simply
small, fiat bottle. He then leisurely
lifted his other ponderous foot over the
window-sill, shook himself, as if to as
certain whether he had whole skin,
and shut the window. Then he picked
mp the bottle, and carefully replaced it
in his coat pocket.
Meanwhile, Al hao been quietly
laughing, and I was still on the floor
laughing and rubbing the bruises on
my legs, which had been caused by
Fred's collision.
"'Whats the meaning of this?'
whispered Al. How is it, Pat, that
you come into the house in this way
instead of by the door2'
"tWell, you see,' said Pat, I just
wint the night to say me cousin, who is
a-workin' at the Smit's, an not moindin'
to disturb the docther an his wife, sure
didn't I put the long laddher forninst
the winder, intindin' to take out that
new pane of glass that was raycintly
tackled in, an inter in as nate an quiet
as ye plaze; but the lad was scared a
bit. Where is he?
Who? Fred?' asked Al.
cay, it's Fred I mane,' said Pat.
Having by this time rubbed my
bruises sufficiently and picked myself
up, I led them to Fred's place of con-
cealment. His feet and legs were in
plain sight, for, ostrich-like, he seemed
to have imagined that, if his head alone
were covered, he was perfectly safe.
Pat grasped him by the ankle, and de-
spite of his kicking hauled him out.
"tOh,' cried Fred, in abject terror,
supposing it was the burglar who had
caught him, don't kill mel don't kill
mel My money is all in the trunk in
the opposite roomr
Do keep still, and don't make such
fool of yourselfl It's only Pat said
al, with suppressed laughter, while Pat
and I indulged in laughter that was far
from suppressed.
"In the midst of this racket we heard
door open below, and the doctors
voice called:
What is the matter up there?'
as Nothin', sur replied Pat, with
Irish readiness, only the lads got
froigbted as l was comm to bed
"'Tell them to be quiet, or I shall
come up said doctor.
@'D'ye hear that, b'ys? said Pat
Get to bed now; yell TAX your death
runnin' round jim the cowld without
your clothes on
In our excitement we had forgotten
that the mercury outside was nearly
down to zero, and had not noticed the
cold; but Pats words quickened on,
.sensitiveness, so we hastened shiverine
to bed, anG the house was again quiet
Monday morning the doctor sum
moned us all to his study, and there in,
stituted one of his usual courts of in,
quiry. He was Judge, jury and coun.
sci. Pat was the principal witness, and
we boys were there in order to corrob
crate or refute Pats testimony, and also
to sustain somewhat the respectabiGtJ
of the court, suppose.
Patrick, said the doctor, in open
ing the case, what was the cause o.
that noise up stairs Saturday night?'
Well, your Riverence,' began Pat
and his small gray eyes twinkled as hi
cast sly glance at me, Saturday
noight I fought I'd call on me cousin
who has just COON from the ould coun'
thry, an is workin' in the village
90 At Smiths put in Al, by way o.
explanation. The doctor was not very
strict when he held court during holi
days, otherwise he might have told A
to remain quiet until he was questioned
"At Smit's,' repeated Pat, az
moindin' not to disturb yez by comm
in late, sure I just climbed up to the
hall winder, an as wur half trough
an wur takin' somethin' from me peck
ct
"sA Nat hntk1e intarnOsnd Al