The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-10-17

by the window to look up the road, ard
then going through the little hall which
led out Of the kitchen, he called from
the foot of the stairs;
Davcl Dave! you asleep UP there9
What do you wantp sounded a gruG
voice from the stairway.
Come down, can't you, aud bring
along Tige and Fritzl Don't go to sleep
again.
Grandma heard this in mingled
amazement and alarm Could the boy
be in league with these two men, and
another be in waiting up stairs.
AS II in confirmation of her fears q
growl sounded from the room overhead.
Then came sharp yelp, followed by
little whines Of impatience, and with
careless Hurry up, Dave the lad
walked leisurely back to the kitchen.
As he reached the door, grandma, over
whelmed with CONSERVATION, made
desperate rush for the bedroom beyond,
AO1hlAAen NAlt NASOl btLlllAu AGls
The men in the meantime neared the
outer door.
Got some dogs up there, have yep
one said, with disagreeable leer.
z You heard them, didn't you% was
the careless rejoinder.
Come on, Jim, addressing his com.
panion, I'VE might as well clear; our
game is up
Don't be fool was the reply in an
uHdertone. Who's afraid of pups?'
YEP dogs Amt fierce, be they, young,
sterP'
Fritz amt over and above friendly to
strangers, replied the boy coolly; 'and
If | we're you l wouldn't be around here
when Tige gets out for rum Then in
louder tonel
Dave, amt you coming? But don't
let Tlge loose till these men get away
At this the men moved off cursng the
dogs, and muttering low, wrathful
threats, Willie the lad, with final 4
advise you to put good piece ofground
between you and Tige,' closed the door,
softly sliding the bolt
Then going to the room where grand
ma lay crouched upon The bed, scarcely
daring to move, he called through the
keyhole. .
They are gone; you can come out
now.'
'fhe dogsP' gasped faint voice.
There amt any, he answered softly.
Open the door and l will tell YOU
The bolt was cautiously Withdrawn,
AMI the old iady's face appeared, white
and terrified,
Come and sit down. said the boy
tenderly. I am sorry frightened you
so. was afraid that it would, but l
couldn't help it,
4 won't stir a single STEP said grand
ma, stoutly. What do you mean by
all this? You can't fool me! heard the
dogs, and the men, too
A low pleasant laugh sounded through
the room.
1T was only me, grandma. I saw
those men meant mischief, and knew
something had to be done pretty quick
so made believe there was somebody
up there
'But the dogs cried the old lady, be-
wildered. Where are the dogs2'
4 made them bark listen
And then came from the threat Of the
little ventriloquist such 4 torrent OF
growls, whine3 AMI yelps, interspersed
with Down Tige' ana BE stlH Fritzp
that the door was swung open. and
grandma leaning against the wall ex-
claiming!
We'll, 1 never in oil my life! If you
don't beat all the boys ever did see
And there s'posed you was conniying
With them critters, and was so scarf |
was just as a weak rag
A while after this fright at the farm
house, oil Billy, with his load of three,
was plolling along pc scefully over the
brow Of the hill aquarter of mile from
homa, when suddenly Mrs Granger's
voice, wild with terror rang out sharply
on the otiiI air:
THE house is a-irep she screamed.
And granlml!-oh, Solomon, II grand
mas killel I'll never forgive myself,
never, Why did we Leave that boyPOh,
run the horse, Solomon, run the horsel'
Nonsense, said the easy going farm :
er. Nevertheless, he whipped up oil
Billy, ani anxiously scanned the corner
of the roof that was just visible behind
the trees where the smoke was curling
~ gray AMI thick.
a dozen or more pals of water had
done their work, however, ami only
wet, soaked timbers and a blackcnei
pile of rubbish met the farmers eye
when he sprang from his wagon and
alightei at the side Of the breathless
little worker.
The sight of the house and barn un-
harmed and grandma standing in the
doorway, alive and well, put all fears to
flight in an instant. But there was
story to relate, and the boy stood by while
grandma dwelt upon the exciting events
of the last hour The tramps it is sup
posed, were the incendiaries, but,happi-
ly the FIRE had been discovered in time
to prevent any danger
The returning loads of church-goers,
eager to know the cause of tine unusual
stir, stopped at the farm gate, and the
lad suddenly found himself the hero of
the hour.
Il told 'em all the bad qualities of
Tige and Frits. Uncle Georges dogsr
exclaimed the boy. unmindful until the
words were spoken that his hearers had
never heard of Uncle George before.
Then, With bright blush, he dropped