Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-03-11

As If in confirmation of her fears,
low growl sounded from the room over
head. Then came sharp yelp, fol-
lowed by little whines of impatience:
and with careless, "Hurry up, Dave"
the lad walked leisurely back to the
kitchen. AS he reached the door,
grandma, overwhelmed with consterna-
tion, made desperate rush for the bed
room beyond, locking the door behind
her.
The men in the meantime had neared
the outer door.
scot some dogs up there, have ye p"
said one, with dissgreeable leer.
"You heard 'em, didn't your" was
the careless rejoinder.
companion. awe might as we'll clear
our games upl''
"Don't be fooli was the reply,
in an undertone. "Who's afraid o.
pups r.
"Ye dogs amt fierce, be they,
youngster ?"
"Fritz amt over and above friendly
to strangers, replied the boy, coolly
:" and if I was you I wouldn't be round
here when Tige gets out for a rum"
Then in louder tone:
"Dave, amt you coming? But
don't let Tige loose till these men get
away r.
. At this, the men moved off, curs-
ing the dogs and muttering low, wrath
full threats while the lad, with final,
i" advise You to put good piece O.
road between 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The bolt was cautiously Withdrawn,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. 81 am sorry I frightened
you SO. I was afraid it would, but I
could not help it."
&c I won't stir step," said grandma,
stoutly. "What do you mean by all
this I? You can't fool me heard the
dogs, and the men, too"
A low, pleasant laugh sounded through
the room.
"'Twas only me, grandma I saw
those men meant mischief, and / knew
something must be done pretty quick;
so I made believe there was somebody
up there"
"But the dogs!" cried the old lady,
bewildered. "Where are the dogs ?"
'' I made 'em bark-listenl"
And then came from the throat Of the
little ventriloquist such torrent Of
growls, whines and yelps. interspersed
with "Down, Tigel" and "Be still,
Fritz!' that the door was swung open,
and grandma leaned against the wall,
exclaiming:
"Well, never in all my lifel If you
don't beat all the boys / ever did seel
and there I 'sposed you was connivin'
with them critters, and was so scarf
was just as weak as 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 quarter Of mile from
home, when suddenly Mrs. Changers
voice, wild with terror, rang out sharply
on the still air:
The house is afirei'' she screamed.
"And grandmal-ohl Solomon, if grand
mas killed, I'll never forgive myself,
neverl Why did we leave that boy? Oh,
run the horse, Solomon; run the horsei'
farmer. 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 q
blackened pile of rubbish met the farm
er's eye when he sprang from his
wagon and alighted at the side Of the
breathless little worker.
The sight of the house and barn un-
harmed and grandma standing in the
doorway alive and well, put all fears to
fight in an instant. But there was
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 preventhny dam
age.
The returning loads of church goers,
eager to know the cause of the unusual
stir, stopped at the farmgate; and the
lad suddenly found himself the hero of
the hour.
81 told 'em all the bad qualities of
Tige and Fritz, Uncle Georges dogsl"
exclaimed the boy, unmindful until the
words were spoken that his hearers had
never heard Of Uncle George" before.
Then, with bright blush, he dropped
behind one OF the men, and for time
let the talk go on unheeded.
:" I do believe that boy g saved my life,
Lowly. Depend ont the Lord sent him r
and grandma concluding her story with
long-drawn breath, sat down on the
doorstep, and was Immediately engaged
in an eager talk with old Mrs. Atkins.
1t was many hours before quiet settled