Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-09


the night. There was good coal fire IN
the stove, and the impromptu bedroom was
comfortable; much more so than Mrs.
O'Flaherty's dingy apartments.
He placed the weapon under his pillow
and lay quite still. He could not sleep; the
newness Of the responsibility coming so
suddenly as it did, together with an outlook
for friend, seemed such grand, good news
that it drove repose far from him.
After some time had elapsed Otto thought
he heard some one at the door. Presently
it was unlocked and some person came in
very quietly.
The boy slipped of the couch with the re-
volver in his hand, and crept to the middle
door. The burglar was busy rummaging in
the darkness at the counter. Presently he
came down the room toward Otto. No; he
was going to the closet "He must know
where the safe is" unused the boy, as he
heard him turn the key in the lock-
Then the burglar struck match, and
Otto peeped around to see what he was do
ing. Why, he had gone into the closet and
was already at the safe.
The boys heart throbbed wildly. Would
he kill him nowa No, he would do better
He would slip up to the door, push it shut,
Otto could scarcely repress shout OF tri-
umph at the prospect of corraling real
live burglar.
Cautiously creeping along, guided by the
light from the stove, he reached the closet
door, threw himself against it, and shot the
bolt above his head into place.
and the occupant Of the, Closet tried the
5oor p,,< xHf, ofo hp1S hAfd him 70 OF
so, I've got youi" shouted Otto, in a
frenzy of delight, as he put down the re-
volver and lighted the gaa Then he
touched the button in the wall. In few
minutes the old German rushed Ia.
"Mein Gottl me poy; and now where ish
he." and he swung around so fast Otto
came nearly being Knocked down again.
in the closet" answered he, lodging
the roly-poly waltz of the excited grocery
man.
"Call der berlice," cried the old fellow,
popping his head out of the front door and
screeching something Otto never could re-
member.
1t was enough, however. to bring trio
of ''biue-coats," and the old man pointed to
the closet exclaiming: "De poy, he watch for
him, ond coop him oop NIT de closet.
Bully for de poy."
One broad-shouldered policeman nodded
his approval on Otto, as he leisurely pulled
back the bolt and let the light into the
closet.
Away back in the corner, squeezed in be-
tween the end of the safe and the wall, all
shivering, sat the Identical clerk who
couldn't ''vake oop when de burglars
come"
cash I Iif, it be's you, Hans Veil, veil ~
and the old Teuton, completely collapsed,
sank back on the end of store-box to re-
cuperate.
"You thought when you vent away on
freshness the coast would be clear, ond
you'd hat some goot times getting some
more cash-trawers ond Something's. l see
now Why you couldn't wake oopl"
The policemen whisked Of the guilty,
ouaking Hans in trice, leaving the aston
ished grocery-keeper and Otto to speculate
alone together.
"vell, vellr' said the old man, after
dwelling on the rascality of Hans for some
time, sit seems hat no CLERK shust now.
Now, mine poy, would you mind sthaying
NIT me for avile!'
sand clerk for you!" asked Otto, putting
his hands together prayerfully.
.'Can you cipher Something's If somepody
puys, ond don't get cheated!"
Il think can figure TO suit you, sir; let
me try"
"vell, Pfc no objections. I'm all oopset
nit this rascally Hans"
So Otto staid. And the old German never
tired of telling ''shust how he took in an
angel unavares, when his CLERK vas away on
Freshness" MANDA l.. CRoCKER.