Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-04-05

room, the InilQrcu rose ID IhelI sINtss
some stood on their desks. xnd one lit !
lie thing screamed out at the top Of hsrs
voice. Murder! Thieves! Murder!
~
Such a ridiculous exclamation, at
such q time, upset my gravity com
pletely, and laughed aloud A few
moments later / saw the ugly form Of
Peter Croly sneaking past the window
towards his home.
/ do not think, for all his cowardly
braggadocio, that he actually would
have attempted to break up the school
had it not been for the bullying of the
school-children, telling him they knew
he wouldn't dare do anything, for he
was too much afraid.
Peter Croly was one OF those men
who boast loudly of their bravery in the
presence of those who are weaker than
themselves, but whose Wanted cosrage
vanishes like mist before the morning
breeze when they meet those who are
stronger.
But this was not the end Of the affair.
Twas telling the Pelters Of the Incl
dent that evening, when Mrs. Pelter
remarked that the neighborhood had
never been a peaceable one since the
Crolv family moved into it, and that she
would be very glad to have them leave.
She had scarcely finished speaking,
when the door opened and in marched
big, red-faeed woman, whom ! had
never before seen. but Immediately
recognized by the strong resemblance :"
her ill-favOred son. Without stopping
to speak to any one, she planted herself
directly in front of me.
"Be's you the schoolma' ami" she
asked.
II am,' replied.
What d'you try to kill my boy for?'
Without giving me time to reply, she
proceeded to abuse, growing more ex-
cited every moment. 40.
well, let me tell you," she continu-
ed, shaking her ponderous fist in such
close proximity to my nose, that it made
me tremble for the future existence of
that useful ornament, ''people needn't
think they're going to beat my boy to
death, least of all a woman! Jest wait
till my man gifts home; he's comm
Saturday; he'll burn yonr dirty old
school-house over your head! Dye
hear what sayp" she shrieked.
made no reply to this abuse, as l
considered it useless to do so. So far
she had made no use of profane Ian
guage, but at this juncture she broke
into fearful storm of oaths; swearing
in the most shocking manner at me, at
Mrs. Pelter for permitting me to remain
in her house, and at the children for
going to school to such mean woman,
who did nothing but murder people.
Mr.. Pelter was absent, but George, a
tall, slim boy of sixteen, rose indignant
" from his seat, and told the woman he
would not permit such language used
in his fathers house. He told her she
had better take herself off.
This threw her into greater passion
than ever; she seized the boy by his
coat-collar and shook him as if he had
no more weight than an infant.
'I'll have none of yer sass, young
mani" she screamed. "Jest keep yer
tongue in yer head, will yeP'' and with
another terrific shake, she let the dazed
and bewildered boy 60.
- Sill -shAkinn- hnr-fst in an angry
saying she was going to catch that Lou
Tompson, John Hidden and Charley
| Monroe, and teach them not to beat her
boy. But the boys, knowing what to
expect, kept well out of her way, and
she never had the satisfaction of wreak.
ing her vengeance upon them.
There was considerable excitement in
the neighborhood, lest damage should
be done to property in the night time by
old Mr.. Croly, who was desperate
character and had, previous to his COM
ing into the neighborhood, served two
terms in the penitentiary.
Four boys - George Pelter, Louis
Tompson, John Hidden and Charley
Monroe-laid secret plan to sleep
nightly in the school-house, expecting it
to be set on fire, and determined if pos
sible to catch the culprit in the very
act. About nine o'clock on the evening
after Croly returned, they crept to the
building, provided with ropes and
blankets, the former tou in securing
their prisoner, and the latter to serve as
bed.
The situation was novel and pleasing
to the boys, because it was so wholly
unlike anything they had ever partici-
pated in before. The time was passed,
until sleep overcame them, in telling
stories and relating anecdotes they had
either heard or read
About twelve O'Clock of this same
night Lou Tompsen, who was a very
light sleeper, was awakened by low,
creaking noise, as of some one trying
to raise a window, softly.
He quickly aroused his companions,
who were on the alert in an instant.
A moment later sound was heard,
as of some light bundle thrown into the
room. Then they were sure they heard
man trying to draw himself through
the window
1t was an unusually dark night, and
nothing could be discerned at yards s
distance. To Judge by the sound of the
mans footsteps, he had moved to the
farther corner of the room and was
making slight rustling noise.
"He's brought some shavings along" :"
George whispered in a low key.
"Hush"' whispered Charley, and
nothing more was said.
Suddenly there was flash of very
bright light, shooting up nearly to the
ceiling.
With a bound and u yell the four
boys sprang toward the man, whose
form was now plainly visible in the
glaring light
Without even stopping to look around
he made frantic leap, and succeeded
In getting part way out Of the window,
when John, who was foremost, seized
him hv the lans and nllllad him hark 60