The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-22

of great variety Ruth had fished out of the
garnet an ancient horse-pistol; Aunt Betsey
armed herself with club of applewood; Ag-
mes had the poker; jamie the carving-knife,
while I, like a feminine George Washington,
brandished little Ratchet.
We had made the arrangement that Agnes
was to be sentinel for the first half of the
night and Ruth and 1 the latter.
But it was some time before we could get
to sleep. The rats made such noises in the
garnet, the wind howled around the chin
neys and ratified the shutters-theSe and a
dozen other noises made US wide awake and
eager to scent danger.
The clock struck 12-then 1. Agnes had
just come into our room and Ruth and were
preparing to take her place, when suddenly
all three of us heard faint click of the front
gate-latch, followed by footsteps on the
frozen ground.
Ruth sprang to the window and drew aside
the curtain. Look, girls! look!' she whis-
pered eXcitedly.
And there, stealing in and out among the
tall evergreens down by the gate we did see
a dark figure But at this instant, two loud
noises resounded throughout the house. One
was great Gathering OF tin-ware; the other
a violent splashiug. Our first thought was
that burglars had already entered the house,
but when, armed with our respective wea-
pons, we proceeded to the places from
Aunt Betsey and jamie, not satisfied with
sleeping ingloriously while we mounted
guard, had risen and started on a private
tour of inspection through the house.
But alasl Both forgot the various traps
that had been placed here and there for the
benefit of midnight marauders and the first
thing Aunt Betsev knew she found herself
sitting like Mr.. What's -his-name among the
ruins of Carthage Milk-pans, cake-tins, a
horse-radish crater and a cookey-cutter were
scattered about, while the colander, like
Achilless helmet was perched upon her
disheveled locks.
jamie we fished out of the tub Of water,
looking like veritable mermaid. Forum
ately, no serious damage was done to either
and, as soon as possible, all five of us were
in the parlor, watching the burglar down by
the gate.
He was still there, skulking in and out
among the trees in most mysterious way,
At last when our patience gave out entirely,
Ruth said, boldly:
81 mean to see what thai villain is doing.
Come, Agge, will you go with me?'
Goodness me! Surely, girls you don't
mean to go out of the housed" said Aunt
Betsev
Yes, that's just what we do mean" Ruth
replied, as she proceeded to wrap shawl
about her. There seems to be only one of
the rascals. and 1 guess we can manage him.
our rescue. Come, Aggie," and minute
later the two girls had slipped out of the
front door, and were quietly making their
way around the shady side of the house
down to the gate.
Now near the fence, and just few yards
from the gate. there stood a small building,
formerly used as a dollhouse. We had made
it a kind of notwithstanding here tools,
grader seeds, corn for the chickens and va
rious other things As the building never
contained anything of value, we had
only a slight fastening to it t. a
wooden button and rusty hook.
When the girls reached the building, they
knew by certain mulfled sounds that the
burglar was proving about within. Quick
wittcu Ruth seized the opportunity which
presented itself, and, without minutes hes
itatlon, slammed the door shut and confined
it by button and hook.
A violent exclamation, mutter of cha
grim were heard from Within but the girls
did not wait to hear more, for with swift feet
they rushed back to the house and told US
what they had dore.
OF course We we're all wild with excite
ment. The whole house was in commotion,
and poor mamma added to the general con
fusion by ringing the dinner-bell with the
most frantic energy.
Now that you've caught the thieves,
Ruth, what do you mean to do?'
plexity I'VE certainly ought to have help
to secure the thief, for 1t would be too bad to
have him escape now that we have actually
captured him. But Pm really afraid that
he'll be able TO work his way ont of the tool
house-the fastening isn't much to boast of,
YOU know Some OF MS must hurry over to
Farmer Jacksons. and get him and his hired
man to come over"
That's So" said Agnes, and she added, de-
cidedly: But, seriously, Won mustn't think
of going, Ruth, because your throat ism t
we'll yet, and miles walk in this cold
windy air would be the very worst thing you
could do! Edith can't go, of course, and
venture out after her impromptu bath.
can go better than any OF you. No, don't
shake your head aunty! There is really
nothing to be afraid of nor to worry about
I'll take my horse-pistol along and so shall
be able TO defend myself in a very heroic
manner" and not needing our remonstrances,
Agnes proceeded to wrap herself up warmly
and sally forth ON her errand.
You can easily imagine how anxiously we
awaited her return. Sundry thumpings down
at the Toulouse notified us that its inmate
was zealously striving to effect his release
but, much to our qualification, the old bolt
and wooden button proved stronger than We
had thought
In less than an hour, two dark figures we're
seen Approaching ilOul UoWh VIC AOOhlII
road.
Thank goodness There are Aggie and
Farmer Jackson!" cried Ruth.
No it isn't the farmer" said jamie, whose
eyes we're sharper. 1T is too tall for either
him or Hans, his hired man."
II heard at the sewing society last week
that the Jacksons kept boarders" Aunt Bet
sey observed. Maybe the farmer was down
with the rheumatiz-he has spells of it-and
so one of the boarders come But dear mel
if that varmint in the Toulouse is desper-
ate, one man can't manage him!"
"Well, he and Aggie are undoing the door
now" jamie cried excitediy.
Just then, as i'll luck would have it, a dark
cloud sailed across the moon and the indis-
tinct light was changed to deepest obscurty
None of us watching at the window could
distinguish what was transpiring down at
the Toulouse, but we listened in BREATH ess
suspense. expecting to hear shrieks pistol
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