The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-10-31
And flying down stairs, she seized the old

the morn OF honceSYalleS " over hill and
dale.
Reuben, swinging his scythe on the side
hill, stopped to listen, Rankin dropped his
milestone, and Niles Ruggles, the hired
hand, cried out
Je-ru-saleml it amt twelve O'Clock
yeti"
There's something up, anyhow p cried
Reuben, making grasp at the linen ccat
which hung on the nearest tilberry-bush.
Mother amt home, and Dotty is all
alone /" exclaimed Rankin.
Wal, eff there's anything extraordinary
on the carpet declared Miles, po;u't
a-goin' to be LETT out in the coldn
Up hill and down dale, over log-bridged
stream and across hummocky swamp has
tened the three brave recruits, without loss
of time, and rushed, all abreast, into the
kitchen-door.
Dotty stood there, with The broom in one
hand, and a saucepan of polling water 10
the other, pale but resolute
Dorothy !" cried Reuben, what on earth
is the matter ?"
&C He's up stairsl" gasped Dotty,
"Who is up stairs ?" demanded Rankin,
ns he reached down a loaded revolver from
the very top shelf in an odd little three
cornered cupboard
And think he's kicking through the
side Of the chest faltered Dotty, clingine
to Rankin's arm.
g Je-ru-saleml" again remarked Miles
Ruggles under his breath
Who?n persisted Reuben. What
chest ?"
g The burglar.n said Dotty. He's in
the old chest up stairs. tipped him into
it. And, oh, was so afraid afterward that
he would suffocate to death, because he was
so still for minute or two!"
" Astonished MAYBE suggested Miles
Ruggles, under his breath. ct should
a-been, know"
" But when he began to kick, y said Dotty,
with little gasping breath, and swear,
knew he was all right"
"a should think so |" said Reuben, with
lowering brow. " How did the villain get
in, Dotty?"
I'll left all the doors open," confessed
Dotty, with conscience-stricken air.
Aunt Themis told me not to; but
thought there was no harm. And / had
hardly got up stars, when he came shut
fling up, and saw the old silver milking
in his pocket He wanted old clothes, and
told him we had some in the chest and
when he stopped over to look, just push.
ed him in"
" Brave little heroine !" said Rankin.
!" And locked it tight" nodded Dotty.
:" The best thing you could have DONE.
declared Reuben, admiringly.
Jerusalem !" commented Miles Rug
giles, shifting the kitchen-table with one
horny palm.
So up they proceeded, in solid phalanx,
and released the velveteen captive, who was
very sullen and completely bathed with
perspiration, in consequence of the vain eff.
forts he had made to get free.
g Come ~ roared Reuben, who was
young giant of six feet odd inches and
broad proportionately, as the miserable
prisoner scrambled out and stood covering
before them, what are you doing here p
Old clothes in exchange for china
vases |" he family stammered.
Then what are you doing with our silver
milk pitcher and ten forks in your coat
pockets ?n demanded Reuben.
And what the Jerusalem business hev
you a-prowlin' round and scarin' the wo-
fa1I
valiantly to the front. Here, Rankin, I'll
get up the old one-hoss wagon-your mas
got the shay-an' cart the Teller off to JUS
tice Gillland's. He'll settle him in quick
time, tell We what. Jest tie the fellows
hands, and make him oil ship-shape. That's
ell / ask of you |"
So the sinister scoundrel, in black velve
teen, was borne unceremoniously off by
stout Miles Ruggles, as the first stage to.
ward two years captivity in the nearest
States Prison and Dotty was relieved at
last from the incubus of his presence.
First she laughed at Ranlin's idea that
she was heroine and then she cried and
shuddered at her vivid perception of the
terror she had endured.
" But, Reuben and Rankin" she said.
"you must promise-solemnly now--nevei
to tell Aunt Themis that disobeyed her
and left the door open"
And 'ne two young mon bound Themselves
solrmnly ever TO keep the vow of c.e,re..
silence upon the subject.
Since there is really no harm dore ;
said Reuben, laughing.
Except Dotty's fright" said RsrS;s.
quite seriously
So the chicken fricassee WAS made, and
the vanilla puffs but the ice-cream was
postponed indefinitely, and the chocolate
cake remained forever disembodied ideal.
And it took the two young men all the after
noon to console Dotty.
And when Aunt Themis came home, full
of the preacher, and the brethren, and the
camp-meeting, they all listened in dutiful
silence, and she never once mistrusted that
anything had happened.
But I'm sure" whispered Dotty to Rau.
kin, when they went out together to get
pail of spring water, it will always be
lesson in obedience to me. Helen Forrest