Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-03-10

AS III III confirmation OF her fears, a
low growl sounded from the room
above. Then came sharp yelp, fol
lowed by little whines of impotence;
and with a careless Hurry up, Dave"
the lad walked leisurely back to the
kitchen. As he reached the door,
grandma, overwhelmed with conster-
nation, made n desperate rush for the
bedroom beyond, locking the door be-
hind her.
The men in the meantime Rad near
ed the outer door.
Got some dogs up there, have
ye" said one, with Il disagreeable
| leeI.
"Yon heard EN- did you?" was the
careless rejoinder.
"Come on, jim" addressing his COM
panion. 1--WE might as well clear-our
games up y
Don't be fool !" was the reply,
in an undertone who's afraid O
pups y
Eyer dogs amt fierce, be they, young
ster ?"
Fritz amt over and above friendly
to strangers, replied the boy, cody,
'and if | was you | wouldn't be found
here when Tige gets out for a run"
Then in a louder tone.
Dave, amt you coming? But don't
let Tige loose till these men get awaym
At this the tramps moved off, cursiug
the dogs, and muttering low, wrathfui
threats, while the lad, with final Il
advise you to put a 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, scarce
ly daring to stir, he called through the
keyhole
"They're gone. You can come out
now
The dogs ~ gasped faint voice.
"There amt any, he answered.
"Open the door and I'll tell you"
The bolt was cautiously withdrawn
and the cid lady's face appeared, white
and terrified.
Come and sit down" said the boy,
tenderly. am sorry frightened you
so. | was afraid it would, but could
not help it.
81 won't stir step" said grandma
stoutly. What do you mean by this
You can't fool me! heard the dogs
and the men, to-"
a low, pleasant laugh sounded |
through the rooms.
"'Twas only me, grandma | saw
those men only meant mischief, and | |
knew something mnst be done pretty
quick, so ! made believe there was
somebody up there"
9. But the dog "--cried the old lady, |
bewildered. " Where are the dogs?"
T." made them bark-listen y
And there came from the throat of
the little ventriloquist such torrent Of
growls, whines and yelps, interspersed
with "Down Tiger and BE still,
Fritz !" that the door was swung open,
and grandma leaned against the wall |
eXclaiming
Well, never in all my life ! If you
don't beat all the boys | ever did see
and there | supposed you were conni-
vim with them critters, and | was so
scarf | was 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 hill quarter of mile from
home, when suddenly Mrs. Changers |
voice, wild with terror, rang out sharp |
ly on the still air.
''The house is afrel" she screamed
"And grandma!-oh Solomon, ifgrand- |
ma is killed, | will never forgive myself, |
neyerl Why did we leave that boy? |
Oh, run the horse, Solomon, run the
horse"
"Nonsenser said the easy-going
farmer, Nevertheless, he whipped up
Old Billy, and anxiously scanned the |
corner behind the trees where the
smoke was coiling up gray and thick.
dozen or more well-directed pals
of water did tho work however; and
only wet, smoked timbers met the !
farmers eye, when he sprang from his
wagon and ahghted at the side of the
breathless little worker
The sight of the house and the barn
untouched, and grandma standing at
flight in an instant But there was Il
story to relate and the boy stood mod
estly by while grandma dwelt upon the
exciting event of the past hour The
tramps, it was supposed, were the incen-
diaries, but happily the fire had been
discovered in timet to prevent any dam
age.
The returning loads of church goers,
eager to know the cause of the unusual
excitement, stopped at the farm gate;
and the lad found himself the hero of
the hour.
Il told 'em all the bad qualities of
Tige and Fritz, Uncle Georges dogs"