Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-12-23

Now run away and play" said. But
all the same, l was not at all as assured
as seemed; and there are few things
more unpleasant than to he convinced
that there is way of getting into your
house Of which you know nothing.
The next day my wife said that real
ly something must be done, or We should
find that the cost of our living at this
out-of-the-way rustic spot would be
considerable more than we were accus-
toned to spend IN town; the victuals
went rs fast as before, although, since
the tap of the beer-cask had been re-
moved for safe custody, the rats had
not INDUCED in moist wood as they had
hitherto done.
So | was resolved that Round Robin
should be got lid of, for it was very
evident that he, and no one else, was
responsible for these mysterious pro-
ceedings. called him into the study -
Robin" said, 81 gave you fair
warning last time. and did not think
you would continue your depreda.
| tiOns.n
MY what, sir?" said the injured in
nocent. MY dilapidatIonsp l haven't
! DrOken single tnlng, SlT!'
"No, no; mean your Well to
put 1t in plain language, your larcenies, ~
l said impatiently.
"My largeness, sir? l can't help it,
sir; if | don't carry my largeness, sir, /
don't know who Nonld,n he answered,
with the utmost simplicity.
swell, think you had better live
with your friends III the village"
said; "my servants are quite sufficient
for our wants"
Every well, sir,' ha said; you'll
find that things will go on 'xactly the
same when I'm gone; and then you'll
say, Poor Old Robin, l treated him un-
common bad, and III AK his pardon. ,
Howsomedever, sir, I'm off," and, with
profound salute he eft the room.
RobIu had been gone a week, yet the
disappearance of viand5 continued.
Evidently had been unjest to him,
and j sent to the village to find him out
but nobody had seen him.
awe held , council of war; the SER
wants were called up, and said unani-
mouSly that nobody could get TO the
larder without their being aware OF it.
The larder itself was examined, and
the only possible means of ingreSs for
the leanest Of cats-suppoSing it could
have climbed perpendicular wall some
twelve feet high-waS by small grated
window near the roof. The village
locksmith examined the bolts and locks
of the entire establishment, strengthen
ed some, and put in new ones. In fact
we did all, so we thought, that could
be done to render the house impregna-
bic.
Ore night there was a violent storm
of wind and rain. My ''study" abut-
ted on the long gallery, and in my med
itative moods l used often to stroll up
and down amidst the pictures. At
about eleven O'Clock, when the storm
was at its height, 1 was startled by a
tremendous crash. t ok my reading
LAMP to sea tie cause, and found that
one of the large pictures, hung but a
few inches above the floor, had fallen
face downwards. placed the lamp on
the floor, and stopped to raise the pic.
ture, when l felt a pieIcingly cold
draught of AIR. Bringing the lamp to
the panelling, examined it, and saw
what was evidently the cTevice of a
door Immediately behind where the
picture had hung. Examining it fur
ther, saw a very small iron knob,
scarcely noticeable amidst the orna-
mentation of the woodwork. Pressing
this, the door flew Inward, rush of
cold air came in, and, peering before
me, beheld flight OF steps leading up
and down into utter darkness.
L began the descent. ard, to my hOr-
TOR, had hardly taken three steps
when the door by which 1 had left the
gallery closed gently behind me, and to
all appearance l was literally walled up.
However, / thought the steps must
lead somewhere, so j continued my de-
scent.
1 went straight down for long time,
and then came sharp turn to the left.
Evidently leads out into the garden"
l thought. Suddenly was face to face
with blank wall. was about to re-
turn when my eyes caught small bolt
l moved it, and discovered that half
the stone slipped back, making tiny
aparture. Up to this l brought my
lamp, and by its light / looked directly
into the larder. Notwithstanding my
position, / almost shouted at the dis
coyery. This was evidently Mr.. Robins
watch hole. Now how did he get inl
And, although searched every inch of
the wall, could find no appearance of
an entrance.
retraced my steps past the gallery
door, which was fast closed, and ascen-
ded. The stairs made turn to the
right; was walking on planks. and
guessed that was over the gallery,
and that after all, there was reason III
what the children had SAID about hear
ing footsteps above their heads. Then |
came to small wooden door aiar. |
pushed it noiselessly, and my astonish-
ment may be imagined when | found
mvself in fair sized room. in which
were bed and, snugly snoring In IL,
Mr. Roblnl On the floor at the foot OF
the bed were the remains of a cold leg
of mutton and an empty beer-bottle--
nv Ia luton and my beer-bottle of course!
4 ladder in the corner leG Up 10 the
roof, and by the sound of the wind and
the rain | guessed that thereby was ac'
cess TO be gained to the leads, so that
the appearance Of the smoking adjuncts
thereon was sufficiently explained.
Now what was to be done? L must
awaken Round ROBIN, or else make up
nv mind to be immured for the night.
very much to my own discomfort and
inconvenience and, what was more, to
the alarm of my wife. Suppose, when
awakened him, he should grasp my
situation at once, turn ferocious, and
- Well, at any rate, l put away the
knife lying beside the mutton.
touched Round Robin on the shoul-
der. lie nuImured that it wasn't his
turn to sing song, as Mike Hedges
hadn't sung-bis dreams were OF the
parlor of the "Plough." touched him
again; this time he started with snort
and 81 up.
Gradually, as his returning senses
mast cred the fact that there was a man
standing over him with shaded lamp
the expression on his face changed from
irritated boredom at having been dis
turbed TO the most genuine asto1lsh-
ment nave ever seen on human fea-
lures before or since. At length lie
exclaimed