Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-07-26

enough to set it. Then Teddy retired to
au ambush, a thick evergreen, strung his
bow with a care that would not have been
discredi,able to Denys AimselC aud wait
ed all cOmerS.
About half an hour afterward Mr.. Prem
tice. walking leisurely down to the bank,
like a man who could afford to take his
time, caught sight of a golden curly
head in Mr.. Rowland's front yard. He
stopped. for he was fond of Teddy, and
often paused to say a word to him. Teddy
thought Mr.. Prentice the greatest man in
the world-next to his own father So,
when the banker rubbed the little curls
with his gold-headed stick, and said,
'Hullo, Curly head! Are you too proud
to pass the time of day with friend this
morningl' Teddy rose from behind the
tree, tip-toed close TO the fence, and re
piled almost in a whisper, "Good-morn-
ing, Mr.. Prentice. Please teep twiet, and
go away, please, as twick as you cant"
Somewhat surprised and alarmed, the
BANNER asked, rs your mother sick,
Teidyi"
scNo. Sir. She's well; but she's afraid"
"Afraidi Afraid of what Where is
your father' Anything wrongf' Mr..
Prentice had children of his own, and
wild visions of contagious diseases, ac-
cidents and disasters were jumbled in his
brain.
20 /
was afraid, too" said Teddy, sagaciously.
what is it, Teddy'" said the banker,
sternIy
'Its wolf" replied Teddy, in a mere
whisper, looking uneasily around and
wishing for the first time that Mr.. Prem
tice would stop talking to him and not ir-
terfere with his plans.
"A wolf ~ said Mr. Prentice, first look
ing blank and then laughing heartily,
mo wolves for hundred of miles around.
Someone has been making fun of You.
Eyes, there are! There's one wolf any
way" said the boy, with nod of wisdom.
what makes You think sol" asked Mr..
Prentice, for he was one of those who
think it not an unwise precaution to find
ont what children mean before laughing at
them.
Teddy was pleased by the respectful
tone. and felt wish to be polite in turn.
So, trusting that the enemy would be
kind enough to defer the attack for few
moments, he told his grown up friend
how he had heard papa tell Mama that
he didn't know how he was going to keep
the wolf from coming in at that door,
and" continued Teddy, 81 got the
wolf out of my Noah's Ark, so that
could tell him when he came, and l got
the twap out for him, and my gun. Papa:
got to be down at the store, SOS if anybody
should come there. And Mama cant
fight, cause she's a girl, and there's no
body at home but me-unless you will
stayl' Teddy glanced at the face above
him. as if even his brave heart would not
disdain a companion in arms.
my gun hurts, toov' he resumed with
pride Qor the banker had not said a word
in reply) "Want to seel" and he Offered
to demonstrate its effectiveness against his
| friends leg.
Mr. Prentice looked toward the door o.
the house. There lay the trap hal
hidden under spray of evergreen. Then
he picked up the brave little huntsmar
and gave him kiss, put him down softly
and walked away without word. Hi
hands were clasped behind him and he
was thinking something about "-and thy
neighbor as thyself."
Teddy went back to his post, but he was
puzzled, and his singleness of purpose wa:
gone.
During the day, Mr.. Prentice spoke t.
Mr. DuStan, one of the directors of tht
bonk. "Seen what nice store it is, tina
| Mr.. Rowland hast He's a new conner
You ought to give him little of your Gus
tom now and then; he's one of our depos
itors, you know, and one good turn de
serves another Really, Dustan, he's go
nice family, and you'd oblige me ifyor
could favor him with an order now ant
then"
| Mr.. Dustan said he would-of course hC
would. Time he changed, anyhow; the
other tradesmen were becoming careless
competition was good thing! Then they
talked about banking matters.
Mr.. Prentice managed to say another
word to another friend that same after
noon; and to yet another the next morn
ing, and he did not forget to take care thai
his suggestions should bear fruit.
The result was very bad for the wolf
Teddy did't see him. In fact, after din
ner, Teddy forgot all about the animal, foi
one of the older boys came along and took
| the hunter out fishing.
Mr.. Rowland was a. first much surprised
at the sudden tide of custom and prOsperi-
! ty. Many came, and finding ''the new
man" civil and obliging, accurate and
punctual, they came again.
Some weeks later Mr.. Rowland said to
his wife, with an air of some profundity:
"Anna, my dear, patience is sure to tell IN
the long run. came very near to giving
up in despair, but, you see, the darkest
hour was Just before the dawn. There is
nothing like bold front to scare the wolfe
from the door"
Mrs. Rowland looked lovingly at her
husband and thought him very clever
man.
But Teddy was sleeping the sleep of the
lust. and as for Mr.. Prentice, he never
.oIJ tba story of their little wolf hunt