Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-07-25
RINGING A DOOR BELL.

RINGING A DOOR BELL.
Belvidere Street was q favorite haunt
Of th.e boys on moonlight summer nights,
whether for play or mischief.
Low-branched Gins and lindens stood
on each side, casting deep shadows
which %contrastcd with the white walls
and piazzas OF the houses, and afforded
the youngsters 2 convenient retreat
from the observation of persons upon
whom they ventured to play off mis-
chievous tricks. Sometimes they would
tie strings across the pavement and trip
up some young spark escorting a lady
home from a concert; or q rock
with a tattered straw hat, and laugh to
see some old gentleman tryAo kick it
out Of his way, and then hop around on
his bruised toes, growing angrily at
'.those rascals of boys and again they
would hide behind the tree-trunks and
throw tiny torpedoes at the feet of
timid old ladies coming home from
evening prayer-meeting.
1t was thus that they had been anus
ing themselves on one particular July
evening, when Phil Hampton, a bright
looking boy of fourteen, suddenly
claimed:
'.There goes old Foiger to roost.
That's his light in the window over
there. He's an early bird; goes to bed
at half-past eight sharp, and gets up at
six in the morning"
"That's the way he catches all the
worms" said another. "He's one of
the richest men in town, as well as the
meanest. TWAS he that threw my new
baseball into the river. just because it
happened to fall into his yard. I owe
him one for that"
"Let's pay him off now. Let's ring
his door-bell."
This proposition was received with a
grin of deli ght, only Will Hart remark
ing:
''It's a risky business, meddling with
Mr.. Folger. He's as sharp as a fox, and
always knows how to turn the tables
upon one"
"Who's afraid?" said Phil detiantly.
''I'll ring the bell myself, if none of you
will. Won't it be fur to see HIM poke
his head out Of the window, and halloo:
Who's thcre?' or open the door and
search round the house in his dressing
SO"u' > L oaNs DOySs luluu YOU hccp
| quiet, and leave this tree-trunk for me
when l run back"
Crossing the street, he cautiously UNI
latched Lawyer Folger's little front
garden gate, and, leaving it open to
facilitate his retreat, assembled the steps
on tip-toe and gave q sharp ring at the
door-bell. Then he dashed swiftly
back to the cover of the linden shade,
where they all stood stiff and motion
less behind the trunks to observe Mr..
Folger's proceedings.
Some moments elapsed, but the door
was not opened, 0 even the window
raised.
"Hc didn't hear" said one of the
boys. "Go back, Phil, and ring again.
Give him a rouser this time"
Phil retraced his steps, and, Selling
the b%ell-handle, gave q loud, resound-
ing peal which rang through the house
and could be heard across the street.
And, then. in a spirit of mischief, he
rang again, a Still more startling
alarm, and instantly turned-to feel a
firm grip on his shoulder and find him
self face to face with Mr.. Folger, who
had Just come in at the gate. They
had been mistaken in supposing the
light in the window to be his. 1t was
only a servant arranging the room for
her master.
So. said the old gentleman, turn
ing his prisoner round in the moon
light and peering into his face-'so.
I've caught you, have II"
! Phil was cool in an emergency, and
generally quick-witted. So, now, after
the first shock, an idea occurred to him
Of how he might get out of this scrape,
Looking up into the face of his can
tor, he said:
"Please, sir, does Doctor--Doctor
Smith live here?"
He had mentioned the first name that
occurred to him.
Mir. Folger peered sharply into his
face, with his keen, black eyes.
$50 you are looking for a doctor
are you? Somebody sick-hey?"
''Y-ycs, SIR" answered the bow.
consoling himself with the thought that
he was not telling an untrutn after all.
since he had heard his mother remark
at breakfast that she did not feel we'll.
"Let me see. l think I've seen
you before, somewhere. What's your
names" inquired Mr.. Folger, still firm
ly grasping his arm.
Philip hesitated.
He was not by any means an untrutb-
full boy; but he felt very unwilling to
have Mr.. Folger find out who he Vas.
So he again uttered the first name that
occurred to him, and which happened tn
be one that he was accustomed TO .ee
on a ~shoemaker's sign around the cor.
ner.
''Peter Grubbs."
"Ah! Well, Peter, since O are in
such a hurry, and no doubt anxious
u this poor, sick person. will myself
show you to Doctor Smiths house. #
Is no great distance from here"
And, to the boys dismay, Nh. Folocr
lea him down the steps and un ihe
street, while, on the opposite side a
group OF shadowy figures stealthj]v
Kept pace with them, and once tfe
sound Of a suppressed giggle distinctly
reached Philips ear.
lie began to feel very uneasy and
rost've under that firm clutch upon his
arm. and \Vac iuct +b;,L:- 'S