Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-04-10

threats. while the lad, with final II ad.
wise you to put . good piece of road be-
tween you and Tiye!' closed the door,
softly sliding the bolt.
Then. going to the room where grand
ma lay crouched upon The bel. scarcely
daring to stir, he called through the key
hole.
..They are gone You can come out
now"
1.-The dogs!' gasped faint voice.
'There amt any, he answered, softly
''open the door. ana 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The bolt was cautiously withdrawn.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. ten
derby. Il am sorry frightened you so.
was afraid it would, but could not help
it,
IL won't stir STEP" said grandma,
stoutly What do you mean by all this ?
You can't tool me! heard the dogs, and
the nlen. toO"'
A low, pleasant laugh sounded through
the room.
Twas only me, grandma! l saw
those M n meant mischief. and | knew
something must be done pretty quick; so
l made believe there was somebody up
| there
but the dogs!' cried the old lady, be-
wildered. Where are the dogs:'
II made 'em bark--listen -
And then came from the throat of the
little ventriloquist such a torrent OF
growls. whincs and yelps. interspersed
with down Tiye!" and BE still, Fritz"
that the door was swung open. AMI grand
na leaned against the wall, excaiming:
.Well. 1 nerer in all my life! Ii you
don't beat all the boys ever did see And
there | s'posed you was conniviny with
them critters, and WIS so scarf was Just
as weak as a rag.
Awhile after this fright at the farm
house. Old Billy. with his load of three.
was plodding peacefully over the brow of
the little hill Il quarter of mile from
home, when suddenly Mrs. Crlnger's
voice. will with terror, rang ont sharply
on the still air:
1.-The house is afre! ~ she screamed.
.'And gr,ndma-Oh. Solomon! if grand
mas killed Ill never forgive myself. nev
er! Why did we leave that boy? Oh!
run the horse. Solomon. r,n the horse!"
"NonsenSe!" said the easy-go;ng farm-
er. Nevcrthe .ess, he whipped up Old Biz
ly. and anxiously scanned the corner Of
the root visible behind the trees where the
smoke was curling up gray and thick.
A dozen or more well-'lirected pals of
water had done their woik. however and
only wet. smoked timbers and blackened
pile of rubbish met the farmers eye when
he sprang from his wagon and alighted at
the side of the breathless little worker.
The sight of the house and barn I'M
harmed and grandma standing in th,. door
way alive and well put all fears to flight in
an instant. But there was story to re-
late. and the boy stood modes,ly by while
grandma dwelt upon the excl ng events
OF the past hour. The tramps. it was SUP
posed. wee the incendiaries but happily
the fire lad been discovered in time to
prevent any damage.
The returning loads Of church-gocrs.
eager to know the cause of the unusual
stir. stopped at the f,rn-gate and the lad
suddenly found himself the hero of the
hour.
Il told 'em all the bad qualities of Tige
and Fritz, Uncle Georges dogs ~ exclain-
ed the boy. unmindful till the words were
spoken that his hearers had never heard of |
''Uncle George before Then with
bright blush lie dropped behind one of the
men and tor a time let the talk 60 on I'M
needed.
''Where's e doggies?'' persisted Ethel,
a few minutes later. unable to understand
from whence the sound proceeded; while
the others laughed and wondered, as the
young ventriloquist tried the powers
which had done such eifectual service that
lay.
=! do believe that boys saved my life.
LoWly. Depend ont the Lord sent him!"
md grandma, concluding her story with Il
ong-drawn breath. sat down on the door
tep. and was Immediately engaged in an
.ager talk with old Mrs. Atkins.
1t was many hours before quiet settled
lown upon tne inmates of the little farn-
'ouse; but before they settled for the
light, Farmer Granger and his wife learn j.,
d all that was needful to know OF Jasper 9
;oodrich's former lite. ,
Tile only reason haven't told yOu." :
aid the boy. in reply to the farmers qles-
ion. lis because was afraid you'd send !
ne back. 1t might as well come out, I
hOugh-I hare run away, but Ill never 9
o back to Uncle Georgc's-I'll die first p h
1t was short story. Until he was sew .
n years old he knew only happy life. \
hen his fathers health failing, and a sea- q
oyage being decided upon. his father and A..
lother sailed for France. leaving him in h
he care OF the village minister AMI his h
life. In six months came the news of his
lther's death. and some weeks later his q
lother. too. died. and was buried in =.
'reiyn land. The boy remained with his :.
lends few months only; for on the II
,mOval of the minister to another town, y
e was taken possession of by Il halfbroth- 4
Of his fathers. a rascally. unprincipled a,
an, who had no love or kind feeling for i,
Is young nephew. Here lie ~aa shame r
lily tseated till he could endure it no ~
niger, and at last. AFTER six years of abuse -,
ID torment, he determined to seek a =,
,me among strangers. ii
Il wanted to stay" the boy concluded Ii,
,ut didn't dare to tell you, for fear you n,
ss,rld send ma h.,ck-,'
"Neyer. my boy J. interrupted the farn- d
, earnestly. "You can stay with US till
"a find better home, and we'll do ali a.
3 ca' for yOa."
WELL said Mrs. Granger, as she lay i,
'wn that night, 1.-THE idea of my distrust- -.
z that boy! Ideclare, it makes me feel a,
ean to think of it,
Early the next morning the farmer har- m
ssed Old Billy, and, dressed in his Sun .s
y b. st, took the east road over the :, :,
He returned late in the af- ,o
noon. nj;
The announcement made at the tea-table
8 startling to at least one nearer.