Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-11-22

"Je- ruSMemI again remarked Miles
RuGgles, under his breath.
"Who?" persisted Reuben. "What
chest :"
The burglar" said Dotty. Hes
in the old chest up stairs. tipped
him into it. And, oh, | was SO afraid
afterward that he would suifocate to
death, because he was SO still for a
minute or twov'
"Astonished, maybe" suggested
Miles Ruggles, under his breath. "
should a-been, l know"
but when he began to kick" said
Dotty, with "a little gasping breath,
land swear, knew he was all right"
II should think sor' said Reuben,
with lowering brow. "How did the
villain get in, Dotty?"
'I-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 stairs, when he came
shuliling up, and saw the old silver
milk jug in his pocket. He wanted
old clothes; and l told HIM we had
some in the chest; and when he stopped
over to look, l just pushed him in"
"Brave little her ine." said Rankin.
"And locked it tight" nodded Dotty
THE best thing you could have
DONE" declared Reuben, admiringly.
Jerusalem" commented Miles
Ruggles, 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 com.
pletely bathed with perspiratiCn, in con-
sequence of the vain efforts he had
made to get free.
Gomez roared Reuben, who was o
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?"
"Old clothes in exchange for china
vasesp he family stammered.
"Then what are you doing with ouI
silver milk pitcher and ten forks in
your coat pockets ?" demanded Reuben
"And what the Jerusalem business
hev you a-prowlin' round and scarin
the women folks" said Miles Rugglcs,
coming valiantly to the front. Here
Rankin, III get up the old one-hoss
wagon-your mas got the shay-an'
cart the feller off to Justice Gilliland's
He'll settle him in quick time, l tell
We what. Jest tie the fellows hands,
and make him all ship-shape. That's
all L ask of your
So the sinister scoundrel, in black
velyeteen, was borne unceremoniously
off by stout Miles Ruggles, as the first
stage toward a two years captivity in
the nearest states prison; and Dotty
was relieved at last from the incubus
of his presence.
First she laughed at Rankin's idea
that she was a heroine, and then she
cried and shuddered at her vivid per-
ception of the terror she had endured.
"But, Reuben and Rankin" she
said, "you must promise - solemnly
now-never to tell Aunt Themis that
l disobeyed her and left the door OPEN
And the two young men bound
themselves solemnly ever to keep the
VOW of eternal silence upon the sub
ject.
"Since there is really no harm DONE"
said Reuben, laughing.
Except Dotty's fright" said Ran
kin, 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 a
disembodied ideal And it took the
two young men all the afternoon to
console DOtty.
And when Aunt Themis came home,
full of the preacher, and the brethren,
and the camp meeting, they all listen
ed in dutiful silence, and she never
once mistrusted that anything had
happened.
"But I'm sure" whispered Dotty to
Rankin, when they went out together
to get pail of spring water, "it will
always be a lesson in obedience to me-
Helen Forrest GraUeS.
A MOngOl Characteristic.
With many good qualities, and with