The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-06-12
So LONDONDERRY, VT. THURSDAY 1884,

sure she would jump out of hsr skin If
they did not stop. AT last she perform
ed this impossible operation as nearly
as she could, upon which her husbp1d
0xclaimed:
"Oh, Kate, are you awake? What
do you suppose that noise is?"
Goodness knows" whispered Mrs.
Through, "but its dreadful. Where do
you suppose it is?'
There was some disagreement on this
subject, so husband and wife sat up In
bed and discovered it was directly over
their heads.
perhaps they're putting down car
pets" suggested Mrs. Ebrough.
Lets hope they haven't many,
then," said her husband.
1t seemed they had not, for after the
noise had lasted about an hour, and
Mr.. Through had begun to dress him
self so as to go up stairs land remon-
strate, the torment ended, and the
weary couple dropped asleep.
But the next night the same myste-
rious noise began just after midnight.
Mr.. Through calculated "Ghosts" in a
sepulchral tone, upon which his wife
buried her head in the bed-clothes.
Suddenly Mr.. Through sprang into the
middle Of the floor, dressed himself,
took revolver from a bureau drawer,
and, in spite of a hoarse whisper Of
Don't from his wife, went upstairs
and rang the bell Of the fiat overhead.
The door was opened almost instant
ly, and Ebrou Oh felt rather ashamed Of
himself, for in front of him stood a little
woman who seemed entirely composed
and was neatly dressed, while he felt
that his face was wrinkled, his hair in
disorder, and his clothes awry. Never
theless he proceeded to business by say
ing:
"I'm very sorry to disturb you, mad
am, at such an hour, but there is a
most peculiar noise seems to come from
your apartments am the tenant OF
the floor below-I feared perhaps a
burglar was at work here"
"Noise ?" said the woman. Burglar ?"
"There it is now!" exclaimed Eb-
rough, as the dreadful blow-not loud,
yet quick and hard fell upon his ear.
"That!" said the woman. "Oh, that's
only the drum
"Drum?" echoed Through.
"Please come in a moment, sir, and
Ill show you," was the reply. Through
entered and was shown into the front
paTlor, where he was simply ,saralyz4d
by the spectacle that met his gaze. On
a large rug, spread en- the floor, were
arranged inclined planes, ladders, hoops,
balls, barrels and trapezes, all in minia-
ture, and over and through these four
little dogs were doing tricks, some quite
difficult, their changes being regulated
by taps upon drum, which was beaten
by an inoffensive looking man, whom
the woman add diessel as professor"
81 suppose you've seen them before,
sir; though, of course, you wouldn't
recognize the two smaller ones, they
being only learners at present"
II can't say that l have" replied
Through, when he recovered bis tongue.
"Why, how strange" said the
woman. "We've had them at every
variety show in the city, Give me one
Of our cards, dear"
The card was produced, and Through
read "Proffessor Ratlino and Mile
Ranino, sole owners and managers of
the marvellous performing dogs, Lulu
and Sprite. Twenty minute specialties
N. B.-Managers are warned to beware
Of persons who initiate our name as
nearly as thu law allows"
"This is the first year that my name
has been on the bills" exclaimed the
little woman; "but there's more busi-
ness to be had than the Professor can
do so, as you see. we're training new
couple of dogs for me to show OF
course, Pm Mrs.-Mr. Raf1in the 90 is
only put on, you know-Mr. Rallin and
l were married ten years ago. but NJ lie
is better for business"
Il see," said Through, meditatively;
"Dut wouldn't it be better to train
them by daylight"
"Oh, dear, no, said the little woman,
WIN u iidil pioy III oLAiiO. lucy iitN
to act by gaslight, don't you see, so they
must be trained by gaslight. and the
lest time to do it is after the older dogs
have been playing at the theatres
they're thoroughly woke up then"
"Just like us" murmured Through
20 himself, Then he meekly asked:
"How long will it take to train the
new ones? ?"
"Well," said the woman, meditative-
", "it's now almost May; I'm trying to
bring myself to believe that 1 can risk
tax .ng engagements for September"
"Good evening-please excuse my in.
trusion-I assure you it was well
meant" said Through, rising abruptly
The woman saw him to the door, and
said conlidentially:
"Be thankful you're on the second
fiat, instead of this. Oh, the noise, the
noisel Alameda, the three fingered
cornet-player, is over us. He's peace