Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-11-05
But Rob motioned TO me TO

made any. But Rob motioned to me TO
keep quiet.
''rho barrel isn't opened, and there
isn't any bung-hole to ii" said Rob.
"Give me hammer or Ratchet. or
something, and I'll open it pretty
quick" said the man.
Rob got him hammer.
"Here, you come and hold the light
for me-" he said.
He started down cellar, and Rob fol-
lowed with the light. What in the
world Rob meant l couldn't think, for
knew there wasn't drop of cider in
that cellar followed to find out
Rob led the way TO the long closet in
the corner, where the barrels of apples
and potatoes were, and pointed to the
last barrel. The man went by Rob,
and raised the hammer to open the bar
rel. In an instant Rob stepped back,
and closed and locked the closet door.
L don't suppose the man had ever no.
ticed that there was door there, and,
anyway, he thought we were too fright
ened to think of such thing. / was,
but Rob, as it happened, wasn't. Such
swearing as came out of that closet
never want to hear again, and the way
he pounded that door; and it was only
a lock and no bolt.
"He'll open il just as he did the
other" said TO Rob.
81 thought of that rs soon as he
asked for tho cider" said Rob. 81
think that the tools that he picks locks
with are in his pack, but he may have
them in his pocket It's lucky for us
that the pistol is In his coat-pocket up
stairs. The lock is old. anyway and no
may break it. I'm going TO put tho
bolt on it that 'Lisha bought for the
carriage-house. "
And while that man was in there
pounding and raging away, Rob fast
ened the new bolt onto the door.
We went up stairs, then. and Rob
climbed up to the barn chamber and
loaded that gun.
eli he should get out l want to be
ready for him." he said.
But he couldn't pound that door
down! When grandfather built White
Oak farmhouse he had doors that would
stand something.
Rob and drew two good long breaths,
and hunted for the children. Dolly had
taken Beelzebub in her apron and gone
into the dark closet in the hall, where
she was afraid to go usually, and Philly
had lighted the lantern and gone out to
the barn to take care of his Guinea pigs.
He wasn't going to let the thief have
those anyway" he said.
suppose IT was only an hour OF two
afterward that 'Lisha came, but it
seemed to me half as long as all the
rest of my life. That man kept pound
ing and pounding, and we didn't know
any minute but he might get out. l
tell you it was awful! We thought of
going for help, but we didn't like. either
of us, to leave the children, and the
snow was SO deep it would take long
time.
don't think shall ever hear, in this
world, any sounds so joyful as 'Lisha
stamping the snow off his feet, and
whistling to us.
Elisha is an awfully big fellow, but
he grew as white as could be when we
told him what had happened, and he
heard that man pounding and swearing
away down cellar. He opened the pack,
and it was full of burglars tools, and,
fastened in the canvas covering, he
found package of papers-bonds and
such things-and some of them had the
name of our bank on them.
"Jehoshaphat! you've caught one of
the bank robbers, and the reward is
five hundred dollars, Rob-" said 'Lisha.
That will help Uncle Rufe out of all
his trouble" said Rob- and then, brave
and splendid as he had been in the dam
ger, he burst right out crying, just like
a girl, ut that. He was so glad he
couldn't help it.
'Lisha went after the officers, and
they came and hand-cufled the man
they didn't have very easy time doing
it-and carried him away.
And Rob got the reward The cap
ture Of this burglar led to the capture
OF the whole gang to which he belonged,
and weren't people glad, and didn't
they praise Rob? But nobody need be
afraid that Rob's head will be turned.
He is too sensible.
The farm IS safe, and Uncle Rufe
says he shall pay tho money back to
Rob, and every cent shall 60 for his ed
ucation.
If you ever should hear of very dis
tingushed man from our town you'll
know=but Rob says the story is dome
Elizabeth BigeIoO, IN BattouS Monutty.