Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-03-27

seat, sauntered across the room, stop
ped by the window to look up the
road, and then, going through the
hall which led out of the kitchen, he
called from the stair:
"Dave! Dave you asleep up
there?'
"What do you want?'' sounded
gruff voice down the stairway.
''Come down, can't you? And
bring along Tige and Fritz. Don't
go to sleep again.
Grandma heard in mingled amaze
ment and alarm. Could the boy be
in league with these men and another
waiting up stairs?
AS if in confirmation of her fears,
low growl sounded from the room
above. Then came a sharp yelp, fol-
lowed by little whines of impatience;
| anu. Will CdIcleoo I1uIIy up.
Dave p the lad walked leisurely back
to the kitchen. AS he reached the
door, grandma, overwhelmed with
CONSERVATION, made desperate rush
| for the bedroom beyond, locking the
door behind her. The men, in the
meantime, had neared the outer door.
SCOT some dogs up there, have
| ye?" said one with a disagreeable
leer.
''You heard 'em did you?" was the
careless rejoinder.
"Come on, Jim!" addressing his
companion. ''We might as well
clear-our games upp'
''Don't be fool" was the reply,
in an unde1tone. ''Who's afraid O.
pups?"
eyer dogs amt fierce, be they,
youngster?'
''Fritz amt over and above friend
ly to strangers replied the boy cool
ly, "and if | were you | wouldn't be
t found here when Tige gets out for q
run" Then, in a louder tone:
) "Dave, amt you coming? But
don't let Tige loose till these mer
: get away''
At this the tramps moved off, ours
ing the dogs and muttering low
wrathful threats, while the lad, will
a final II advise you to put goo(
piece O road between you and Tige ?
closed the door, softly sliding th'
bolt.
Then, going to the room wher,
; grandma lay crouched upon the bed
scarcely daring to stir, he callec
through the key-hole:
"They are gone. You can COM
= out now"
e "The dogsl'' gasped a faint voice
"There amt any," he answere'
t softly. 'Open the door and I'll tel
y you"
The bolt was cautiously withdraw
d and the old lady's face appeared
f white and terrified.
d ''Come and sit down." said th
d boy, tenderly. Il am sorry fright
ened you so. 1 was afraid it would
S but 1 really could not help it,
Il won't stir step!" said grand
II ma, stoutly. ''What do you mea
by this? You can't fool me- hear
IS the dogs and the men too
h A low, pleasant laugh sounde
lie through the room.
5, "'Twas only me, grandma l sa
those men only meant mischief, an
a, l knew something must be done pre-
ID ty quick, so made believe there ws
s. something up there
''But the dogs!'' cried the old Lao
bewildered. ''Where are the dogs
III Il made them bark. Listen y
And then came from the throat I
the little ventriloquist such a torrel
Id of growls, whines and yelps, inte
ok spersed with s'Down, Tige'' al
st ''Be still, Fritz p that the door WI
a swung open, and grandma lean'
against the wall, exclaiming:
a, "Well, / never in all my life
dis you don't beat all the boys l ever d
VS. see! and there l supposed you W
It connivin' with them critters, and
ng was so scarf was just as weak as
O rag"
Awhile after this fright at t
n farmhouse, Old Billy, with his To-
en- of three, was plodding peacefully oy
the brow of the little hill quarter
Sc. mile from home, when sudder
I'd, Mrs. Changers voice, wild with t.
ror, rang out sharply on the still al
s'The house is afire y she screa
ed. "And grandma oh So
mon, if grandma is killed, [ will ne
en- er forgive myself, neverl Why
as we leave that boy? Oh, run t
er. horse, Solomon, run the horse"
5he Nonsense !" said the easy-goi
,ry farmer. Nevertheless, he whipp
up Old Billy, and anxiously scam
a the corner of the roof visible behi
ter the trees where the smoke was coli
up gray and thick.
ep, A dozen or more well-drect
in pals of water had done the wol
however; and only wet, smoked tt
to bers and blackened pile of rubb
met the farmers eye when he spra
md from his wagon and alighted at
ing side of the breathless little worker.
Tou The sight of the house and ba
nd untouched, the grandma standing
cad the door alive and well, put all fe:
lgs to fight in an instant. But there v
!, c+orx, 70 ,.olo+o on1 tho how mr.