Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-10-01
TRIBULATIONS.

and the sidewalks were nearly deserted
as Dave Burt went down Main street
toward the post-office. AS Dave ap-
preached the town hall, or the city hall,
as the good people of Rawley were pleas
ed to call that fine building, he glanced
up at it, and saw William Henry Bar
rington, the great lawyer, standing at
one of the large windows of his office.
Mr.. harrington was frowning, and look
ed up the street and down it as if impa-
tiently waiting for some one.
"I'll bet he's mad cause he can't go to
the fair" thought Dave.
A few days before, Billy Darlington, a
nephew, had been telling the boys of that
fine office, with its brass-studded revolv.
ing chairs, great bookcases of books, and
private room where the great lawyer
ate his dinner, which was sent up to him
on O dumb-waiter from the restaurant in
the basement of the city hall the moment
he touched an electric bell.
Dave was recalling all the delightful
possibilities of such room, when click
went something on the pavement before
him.
"a penknife," said he, picking up tht
article, and then looking in vain among
the branches of the tree for its owner
Examining the knife, he noticed sliI
of paper shut in under the largest blade
and on which was written:
Five. Dollars Reward | am on th'
city hall roof, and can't get down, as til
spring-latch door has blown closed
Please send the janitor to release me. y.
CHARLES NJ. WILSON" "
"Why, he's our governor!" said as
tonished Dave, alond, and started tC
look for the .janitor. Dave had been ol
the roof with his father only the da.
previous, and knew Just how tn
door would act if it was not fastened
| back.
Stout old Billy Simms, the janitor, il
his shirt sleeves, had comfortably prop
ped himself back in an armchair to tax
a nap, when rap-rap-rap sounded on th
door. Billy's "office," as he calle'
it, was on the ground-floor of the cit,
hall"
"Well, boy, what's wantedP" gruffi,
demanded old Billy, having opened th
door and discovered Dave.
"Why. the governors shut out on tn
roof and can't get down." sald Dave
handing Billy the paper. "He mus
have been looking at the fair ground"
Old Billy lowered his great silver rim
med glasses from his forehead to hi
nose, and read the paper He gazed fo
q momentin queer way over his gasse
at Dave, and then laying his hand prett
heavily on Dawes shoulder, said, Com
with me-"
"I haven't time and, besides, | don
want any reward" answered Dave.
There was small room, or closet
back of Billy's office toward whic
he moved, holding fast to Dave.
Remembering that the old janitor wa
rather deaf, Dave then formed his hand
in the shape of trumpet and shouted i
the direction of Billy's right ear, "
say, Billy, haven't time to go wit
YOU"
Don't you call me Billy, you youn
rascal" fiercely exclaimed the old maj
"My names William Simms."
Before Dave could make reply he fe
himself shaken, pushed into the close
and saw the door nearly closed.
"There, you've played that trick ONT
too often" said old Billy. "It's dow
right murder in you boys to try and fo
me into going up seven long figh
of steps on an awful hot day Ill
this"
81 did find that paper" said Dave, i
dignantly.
Don't tell me you're innocent; you
desperate character" said old Bill
slamming to the door, and turning t
key. "Now," continued he. shouti
through the key-hole, "I'll leave you
there two or three hours to think wha
dreadful thing it is to try and trick
old rheumatic veteran"
The closet, Dave saw, was where Bi
kept his brooms and brushes; the ce
ing was very high, and small rou
window far up on the wall furnished
light At the back of the closet wa
small sliding shutter, which, after c.
. siderable trouble, Dave managed to pl
up, hoping he might escape through
into another room. 1t disclosed da
square funnel, that seemed to