Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-07-16

sudden close by a loud rap on the
outer door.
Two men stood on the doorstep, i'll
looking fellows, and very dirty in APP
pearance.
"Can you give us something to eat3'
asked one.
''Sartin, sartin; come right in and 81
down." said the old lady, busting of
to the pantry. What do you lik,
best. apple pie or custard?" And soor
a bountiful repast was spread upon tn,
table, and the good things vanished
without ceremony.
The boy eyed the two sharply, Will,
grandma. after receiving somewhat
crusty answers to her few kindly ques
tons, sat placidly rocking. The eye.
of the two men moved searchingly
about the room. Finally one asked:
Folks gone to church,"
la, yes, replied the old lady limo
Gently. ''Our folks never stay at home
for nothin'."
The speaker threw quick glance to
ward his companion, and the Other
nodded. Neither movement escaped
the watchful eyes in the corner.
moment after the boy left his seat
sauntered across the room and stopped
by the window to look up the road
and then going through the little hall
which led out of the Kitchen, he called
from the foot of the stairs:
Dave! Dave! you asleep up there?'
"What do you want?n sounded .
gruff voice from the stairway
Come down, can't you, and bring
along Tige and Fritz! Don't 90 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 if in confirmation of her fears 8
low growl sounded from the room
overhead. Then came sharp yelp,
followed by little whines of impotence,
and with careless Hurry up, Dave, .
the lad walked leisurely back to the
kitchen. AS he reached the door,
grandma, overwhelmed with conster.
nation, made desperate rush for the
bedroom beyond, locking the door be.
hind her.
The men in the meantime neared the
outer door.
Got some dogs up there, have yep
one said with disagreeable leer
You heard 'em, didn't you?" wa:
the careless rejoinder.
Come on JIM" addressing his com.
panion, I'VE might as well clear; our
games up"
Don't be a fool" was the reply in
an undertone. who's afraid O. pups?''
Yer dogs amt fierce, be they,
youngster?"
Fritz amt over and above friendly
to strangers, replied the boy coolly
land if | were you wouldn't be round
here when Tige gets out for run. y
Then in louder tone:
Dave, amt YOU coming? But don't
let Tige loose till these men get away. y
At this the men moved off, cursine
the dogs. and muttering low, wrathful
threats, while the lad, with a final 81
advise you TO put a good piece O.
ground between YOU and Tige." closed
the door, softly liding the bolt.
Then going to the room where
grandma lay crouched upon the bed,
scarcely daring to stir, he called
through the kcyhole:
They're gone. You can come out
now"
The dogs?n gasped faint voice.
There amt any," he answered
softly. open the door snd I'll tell
YOU"
The bolt was cautiously withdrawn,
and the old lady's face appeared, white
and terrified.
Come and sit down." said the boy
tenderly. 81 am sorry | frightened
You So was afraid it would. but |
couldn't help it.
Il won't stir a single STEP" said
grandma, stoutlv. "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.
Twas only me, grandma. saw
something had to be done pretty
quick; SO | made believe there was
somebody up there"
but the dogs" cried the old lady.
bewildered. "Where are the dogs?"
Il made EN- bark-listen.
And then came from the throat OF the
little ventriloqust such a torrent OF
growls, whines and yelps, interspersed
with Down. Tige" and "Bc still.
Fritz that the door was swung open,
and grandma leaned against the wall
eXclaiming:
well, | never in all my life! If you
don't beat all the boys l ever did see!
And there | s'posed you was connivin'
with them critters, and was so scarf ]
was just as weak as a rag"
A while after this fright at the farm
house, old Billy, with his load of three,
was plodding along peacefully over the
brow of the little hill a quarter of q
mile from home, when suddenly Mrs.
Changers voice, wild with terror rang
out sharply on the still air:
1.-The house is a-fire!" she screamed.
"And grandma!-oh, Solomon, il
grandma's killed I'll never forgive my
self, never Why did we leave that
boy? Oh, run the horse. Solomon,
run the horser'
Nonsense" said the easy-goine
farmer. Nevertheless, he whipped up
old Billy, and anxiously scanned the
corner of the roof that was just visible
behind the trees where the smoke was
curling up gray and thick.
A dozen or more pals of water had
done their work, however, and only
wet, soaked timbers and blackenec
pile of rubbish met the farmers eye
when he sprang from his wagon anc
alighted 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 fear.
to flight in an instant. But there wa.
story to relate, and the boy stood
modestly by while grandma dwell
upon the exciting events of the las
hour. The tramps, it is supposed. wer,
the incendiaries, but, happily the fir,
had been discovered in time to proven
any damage.
The returning loads of ehurch-goers
eager to know the cause of the unusua
stir, stopped at the farm gate, and tn
lad suddenly found himself the hero o
the hour.
II told 'em all the bad qualities o
Tige and Fritz, Uncle Georges dogs!'
exclaimed the boy, unmindful until tn
words were spoken that his nearer
had never heard of Uncle George
before. Then, with a bright blush, h
dropped behind one of the men, and lie
the talk 60 on UNDECIDED.
Il do believe that boy saved M
life. Lowry. Depend ont, the Lor,
sent him.
And grandma. concluding her stor,