Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-07-27

Thus stung. Julian ran his hand
into his jacket pocket, and pulling
out his lately-acquired treasure, flung
it over the table at Chris. Take it,
then; now you've got to pay up your
debts"
Il haven't got any," said Chris,
seizing the money, paid 'em yester-
day; Charlotte gave me fifteen cents
Just before she went, cause she shook
me for telling Mr.. Bacon that she said
his brother Fowler danced like a gir-
alfe."
Charlotte didn't me any fifteen
cents" cried Julian with an envious
howl
"Well, she didn't shake you. did
she?" demanded Chris, "that's the
difference; [ earned it. She was
afraid she'd get killed on the railroad,
| s'pose."
The other boys now returning
with the announcement, "All right,
we're going to stay all Dight," priv
ate discussions were dropped to give
undivided attention to the feast.
About eleven o'clock four sleepy
boys crept up stairs. Chris and Julian
bearing the fire shovel and tongs, for
what purpose, they did not say. But
in the middle of the night the visit
ors found ont, for terrible gathering
awoke them from the uneasy slum-
bers into which the feast had plunged
them
"What is it," they cried, sitting
erect in the middle of Mrs. Stebbins'
best bed, from which the spotless
spread and stiff pillow shams had
slipped in heap to the floor. Chris
j -li-auw
Il guess I'm big enough to take
care of burglarl" cried Julian strut
ting in, wearing night-robes as pom
pously as Roman ever sported his
toga "You couldn't haYe driven
'em off, Chris Stebbins, with all your
Dragging. There were three of 'em :"
"What have you done?" cried
Chris. who had jumped cut of bed at
the frightful noise, and running in
from their room across the hall
Flung the tongs down stairs, :"
said Julian promptly, with another
flourish of the toga.
"Flung the toDgs' down stairs?"
repeated Jack, while Chris gasped
Did you really see him?"
Julian pretended not to hear this
question; but after his brother had
carefully locked the door, be proceed
ed to extort by means he knew very
well bow to employ, the information
desir ed, so that at last it came. "No,
but | heard 'em as plain as day, they
were coming up stairs-I've scared
'em off"
81 don believe word of it," cried
the two visitors. hopping out of bed.
"I'm going to look over the banisters
and see." Which they did, first light
ing the gas at the top of the stairs.
"Mee.ew w-mee- e-ew"-and then soft
purring, and pat pat over the hall
mattiDg-and big maltese with the
air of pet, ran in between their feet,
to the two brothers waiting within
the guestroom.
"Phob! it's the cat!" roared Claude
doubling up-"Jule Stebbins, flung
your tongs down stairs at the cat.
Hob -hoh!"
1t seemed to Julian az if they
never would get through with their
amusement At last Jack peered
again down stairs. 81 see something
white on the aoor-it's all in little
bits. You've smashed something,
julie Stebbinsin
At that all four boys ran down,
while the cat jumped up into the mid
die of the deserted bed and rolled her
self into a sleepy ball.
"It's mothers big royal Worcester
vase" said Chris in tones of horror.
you've knocked it off the bracket
Oh-oh!"
Julian's eyes were wild with fright,
and he collapsed on the lowest stair.
"And all because you got so scar
ed. If | We're you, | wouldn't get up
to fling tongs at q cat. But then
you're so little" christopher finished,
Strengthening up his slim figure at
least head taller than his unfortua
ate younger brother.
The destruction of all the royal
Worcester vases in the world could
not quench the fury that now posses
sed Julian. He arose. from his col
lapse, and advanced with hard little
fists, and desire for satisfaction in
his eye, on his brother.
you've called me little, twice, !"
he said, with batcd breadth, NOW
come on and see it | can't whip you. "
"I'm not going to fight in my night
gown" said Chris with a superb air
of knowing the rules OF an honorable
encounter.
"And nonsense to yoaw cried
Claude and Jack each seizing
an arm of the would be- valiant.
"we're all going back to bed. Here.
give US hand, Chris, and pitch this
fellow up stairs"
SO instead Of exhibiting splendid
prowess to turn the spectators green
with envy, Julian was hustled sum
marily up stairs, and amid much
laughing. tumbled unceremoniously
into his bed, to reflect on his woes,
the chief Of which was, to use his
own words. that he wasn't big
enough to whip those three chaps
out of sight"
"But III do it some day" he said
savagely burrowing into his pillow.
The consequence was, the next
morning be oversight. Chris, slip
ping out softly, his shoes in his hand,
caught hasty breakfast, with the
two guests, left the kitchen door un-
locked for Peter the indoor man to get
in, and the three departed, Jack and
Claude turning off at the corner
while he ran on in the direction of
fremont street.
"Say-where is the nearest intelli-
gence Officer" he asked a policeman
down by the Common.
That city official pointed with his
thumb up the thoroughfare. "There's
a plenty, and on Washington street
too | don't know. the numbess" !"
And he hurried off to help an old
woman over the crossing.
X,l.1 ,tr