West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-07-11

and tell mo whore the silver AMI the
money is.
Rob was white, but his voice didn't
trcmble a bit.
! There is no money in the house." he
said.
Ii was true, but the man wouldn't be-
lieve him, and he had his pistol TO his
head, and threatened 10 shoot Rob
didn't finch a bit. You ought TO have
seen him Just stand there! The man
believed after awhile.
We'll. show me the silver" he said.
"lcs all in the sidebOard and tho
CHINA closet said, pointing toward
the dining room.
WASH going to have him shoot Rob
for the sake of silycr-ware. IL il was
! grandmother toJ-scrvicc and spoons,
and all the silver Aunt Penolopo had
when sho was married. He tossed IL
all into his pack, and his pockets.
/ grumbling because IL wa 50 little. IL
SCENE rs If | couldn't stand by and
/ see him do II, knowing what treasure
/ 1t was to Aunt Penelope, and saw Rob
clench his fists. But what could we
do?
lie took of his coat, and sat down at
\ the table, and began To eat, but he com .
! planned that there was nothing to drink.
and ordered us To bring him some cider.
! was going 10 say that there WASH [
any. for il was true; Uncle Rufe hadn /
made any. But Rob motioncd TO me to
keep quiet.
The barrel isn't opened, and nete
isn't any bung-holc TO it" said Rob.
! Live me Il hammer or hatchet or
something, and I'll open it pretty
quick, said the man.
! Rob got him a 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 tho
wotld Rob meant couldn't think, for
| knew there wasn't n drop OF cider i'm
that cellar | fo lowed To find out
Rob led the way to the long C osct i'm
the corner, where the barre S of apple,
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.
don't suppose the man had ever no.
ticcd that there was a door there, and.
anyway, he thought we were too fright
cned to think of such thing. was.
but Rob, rs it happened. wasn't Such
swearing rs came out of that closet
never want to hear again, and the way
he pounded that door; and it was only
lock and no bolt.
He, II open it just rs lac did the
other" | said to- Rob.
81 thought of that as soon rs he
asked for the cider" said Rob. IL
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-pockct up
stairs. The lock is old. anyway and lac
may break it. I'm going to- put the
bolt on it that 'Lisha bought for the
carriagc-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.
"lf he should get out | 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 Beelzcbub in her apron and gone
into the dark closet in the hall, where
she was afraid to 90 usually, and Philly
had lighted the lantern and gone out to
the barn TO take care of his Guinea pigs.
lie wasn't going TO let the thief have
those anyway he said.
! suppose 1t was only an hour or two
aftcrward that 'Lisha came. but il
seemed to me halt as long rs all the
rest of my life. That man kept pound
U inO and fnnnn1iY,or
any I'M mute but he might get out. |
tell you it was awful! We thought of
| going for help, but we didn' { like. either
OF us, to leave the children, and the
snow was SO deep it would take a lone
time.
don't think / shall ever hear, in this
world, any sounds so joyful as 'Lisha
stamping the snow OF his feet, and
whlstling TO us.
'Lisha is an awfully big fellow, but
he grew as white rs could be when we
told him what had happened and he
heard That man pounding and swearing
/ away down cellar He opened the pack,
/ ana II 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.
'Je oshaphat. you've caught one of
/ the bank robbers, and the reward is
! live hundred dollars, Rob, " said Lisha.
That will help Uncle Rufe out of all
his trouble" aid Rob; and then, brave
and splendid rs he had been in the dan
ger, ne burst right out crying, Just like
u girl, at that. He was SO clad no
/ couldn't help il.
Lisha went after the officers. and
they came and hand-cufied the man
| they didn't have very easy time doing
! 1t and carried him away.
And Rob got the reward The can
turc 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 Bob's head will be turned.
| He is too sensible.
The farm is safe, and Uncle RUFF
says he shall pay the money back to
Rob and every cent shall 90 for his cd
/ ucatiOn
If you ever should hear Of n very dis.
/ tnguishcd man from our town you'll
/ know-but Rob say, the story is done. 3D.
| EhzdbcH BtgeioU, no BuiiOTs MonthIy.
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