Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-31
CAUGHT THE BURGLAR.

81 am very sorry to leave you, boys,
but since Aunt Sarah needs me so badly
l think it is my duty to CO." said my
mother, as father was preparing to help
her in the carriage.
ooh, we won't mind it in the least"
replied l.
The carriage was soon lost from view
around the curve In the road, and we
were masters of the place.
We lived in a country village of New
England, in large, old fashioned, ram
bling house. Mother had received word
that her sister was very sick, and as it
was only few miles, father was going
to drive over with her, and then come
back the next day. We were all to take
our meals at a neighbours house, and,
altogether, we expected to have fine
time by ourselves.
By ''we" I mean Fred, my brother. and
myself, unless you counted the dog,
Fritz. In that case there were three
of us.
We busted ourselves at first one thing
and then another until it began to grow
dark. After supper we tried to read, but
somehow we could not get interested in
any book or paper that we could find.
"What if burglar should come around
here to-night--what would you doy' in
quired Fred.
"Do?" replied in scornful tones, for I
rather prided myself on my courage;
why, Of course, we would do the best
we could. If he was stronger than both
of us l suppose then we should have to
give In; but If he is not then he had bet
ter keep away from herew
"But there might be two of them"
"Weu, let's talk about something else
1t is not probable that anything of the
kind viii happen, said 1, quite willing
to let the subject drop, since Fred was
bound to have more than one Of them
will Andrews" continued Fred, told
me today about cousin Of his that had
his house entered at night by four men,
and they bound and gagged him, and
then made him give UP everything that
they wanted"
"Oh, that's nothingi" I replied, and
proceeded to give an account of another
one more dreadful than that
We told of first one terrible thing and
then another until it grew late.
We'll, let's go to bed" and taking the
lamp, started to lead the way. ''rd
just as soon you would go first, Fred
not because l am afraid" hastily add
ed, for fear he would think that I was
! coward, ''but because-because"-
Didn't you hear something then?'
asked Fred, as he drew closer TO me.
That's nothing but the wind rafting
the vines on the stoop," answered l.
We finally got to bed, though not with
out good many looks about the room,
as the stories that we had been telling
each other had the effect of making us
rather-well, little careful.
Father was the possessor of a large old
fashioned revolver, and. armed with
this, we felt reasonably secure against
any attack that might be made upon us.
Are you sure that you locked the
door," inquired Fred after we had got
into bed.
''Of course 1 have" 1 replied. with
some sharpness, for l always wanted it
distinctly understood that did not make
such foolish mistakes.
| think it was about II o'clock when
Fred pulled me by the arm and woke me
up.
What's the natter 1 asked.
Listen. Somebody's in the hall"
The room was perfectly dark; but We
could hear somebody going up to the
farther end of the room, which was very
large. and then we heard the closet door
creaking on its hinges.
Fred trembled, and so did l, wholly
forgetting the revolver which was rest
ing peacefully under my pillow.
Hes gone in the closet" said Fred,
between his clutches at me.
And then what did that boy do but
slowly crawl out of bed, go noiselessly
I'D to the door OF the closet and shut it!