Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-30

ranged themselves on the front porch,
and he raped sharply on the door with
the stick ho carried. 10 opened. and
there stood Lady Harriet, gazing out
with horror-stricken eyes upon the
motley gang. Your money or your
hfeV' demanded he Of the gun, at the
same time pointing the weapon ht the
trembling boy.
Lady Harriet turned pale, and shrank
back. /" have no money" he said, in
a faltering voice.
"Then we must have your life," was
the gruf reply, "unless you consent to
become one Of Us. Seize him and search
himr'
Do 90 away, and leave me Alone"
implOred the boy, falling upon bis knees
and clasping HIS hands. There Is no
use-making me--join your gang" he
continued, with chattering teeth. a.
couldn't be a---a-what you are-to save
my life."
But the Young desperadoes paid no
attention 70 his entreaties, and while
two of their number rifed his pock cts
the others, lighting a couple Of lanterns
they had brought with them, followed
their leader on a tramp through the
house with much noise and deep growl-
ing. On the return Of the latter, the
pOcket-searchers presented the Captain
with half a stick Of peppermint candy,
a penknife, a dime, q small book ('The
Language Of Flowers'') y, and some vio-
lets wrapped in a handkerchief.
Prisoner" said the Captain, stern
ly--that is az sternlv as the pebble he
had under his tongue would allow-"h
you make an attempt TO escape, the
consequences be on your own head.
Right about facel March,
And away they went, dragging poor
Lady Harriet, begging and implofing
to be set free, with them.
Did you ever see any fellow so
scared IN all your life?n whispered
Charley Bennett TO Hen Rowe, az their
victim began to cry and scream.
Never" said Rowe. - begin 70
feel sorry for him. But what baby he
is! Why don't he break and run? He
can make good time with those long
legs wher he's a mind to-"
Haltr' cried the Captain, when
they reached the cedar woods. "This
has gone quite far enough. We want
no towards among us. Boy, you are
-" And the mouths of his followers
simultaneously opened for a tremend-
Gus shout, when
81 perfectly agree with you" inter-
rupted the prisoner, quickly, wrestling
himself at the same time with a dex-
ferrous movement from the grasp Of the
two boys who had held him; and then
he went on in his usual soft voice and
slow way: 81 mean this Jokes gone
quite far enough. You came half an
hour or so before 1 expected you, but
/ think we've all acted our parts first
rate. Good-evening, Captain Morning.
star. Good evening, desperadOes:
Farewell, Ap=il-fools." And be turned
and walked leisurely toward his home
again.
F" Jiminyr' exclaimed Ned Morning.
star, snatching off his mask and pulling
a long face. Somebody has
Blundered," said Hen Rowe.
Fools TO the right OF me,
Fools TO the left Of me,
Fools evry side Of me-
Oh, how they wondered!
But what's the use Of being glum about
it. I've an idea it serves US right.
Three cheers for Lady Harriet. Hes
not such fool as he looks"
"As we look, 1 think" said Roy
Wheeler.
And then, like the Jolly boys they
really were, they gave the cheers with
a will, and followed them up with a
roar of laughter that wakened all the
echoes for miles around. -- Margaret
Eytinge, IN HdrpeT's Young People.