The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-12-05
THREE BRAVE "MEN."


Their Little Sister.
afraid: just like girl! Why, Well
take care Of you. Nothing can happen
to you with three men in the house"
So spoke the eldest Of the ''three
men, aged twelve; and Dick, the Sec
ond, copied his gruff base tones to ask:
"What is there to be afraid OF, Id like
to know?'
.Well, there's robbers-and there's
bcars-and there's pockerpickets." Nelly
answered, timidly.
81 just wish the pockers would come.
I'd AK EN-" said Bertie. He was not
much more than baby, hut he looked
very big, striding up and down with
his battery chest on" as his father used
to say.
Dick climbed upon chair and took
down an old sword from its nail on the
wall.
ssThis is what Til do il bears or rob-
bers come along" he cried, and BRAN
dished it in such fierce way that Nelly
began to put more trust in her pro-
tectors.
That's rusty: Id rather have the gum"
said Fred; and taking his fathers rifle
from its corner he shouldered arms,
marched to the door and presented the
mnzzle to the keyhole.
Hi, there, Mister" he shouted to an
imaginary burglar on the other side of
the door, mo admittance here without
lcave!"
What would Major Barric's state of
1rI hos ham S,,Ct t1nn Nnnld hn hacn
known that his rifle was in Fred's un-
skillful hands? As 1t was, no felt no
uneasiness, believing that Bridget, the
big Irish servant, would take good care
of the children during his absence of a
day and night.
Biddy was not so trustworthy as he
thought. After the tea dishes were
washed, she went out with some
cousins from Oirland," and left the
four little ones alone. They didn't mind
that at first. The three men had all the
better chance to show their courage.
Sitting around the fireplace, they told
all the stories they had ever heard or
read of wonderful adventures and hair
breadth escapes. This was all very we'll
IS long as the least bit of daylight last
ed; but by and by there was nothing but
freight In the room, and you know how
such stories make you feel, told in the
arelight. They began to cuddle closer
together and to speak lower; and If
.oal fell in the CRATE, or mouse stirred
under the floor, they would all start and
latch hold of one another.
II wish Biddy would come back"
whispered Nelly at last. with little
,hiver.
Listen! That must be her now" said
Fred, as they heard tho latch Of the gate
click.
.,Oh, I'm 80 glad" Nelly exclaimed,
jumping up and running to the window.
The gate was ut some distance from the
mouse, but by the light Of the snow
Nelly could see something that made
ner scream.
.'Oh, boys" she cried, 'it isn't Biddy!
IT'S man! It's man. and she ran and
;lung to Fred.
You should have seen our three brave
non then. They tumbled, helter-skelter,
out Of the room, almost knocking ono
another down and screaming wildly.
They found their way somehow to the
closet under the stairs where the flour
and apple barrels were kept. The apple
barrel was almost full, but Fred scram-
bled in and curled himself up SO that
aothing could be seen over the top.
There was more empty space in the
aour barrel, and Dick climbed in there
md whispered that there was room for
one more. Poor little Bert was trying
TO swarm up the outside, and crying b.
,ause he couldn't Nelly gave him a
helping hand and soon had him in. She
pulled the covers over the barrels, hav-
ing presence OF mind to leave q little
breathing space. Then she tried to
creep behind; but no, they were close
again the wall. There she was, left
alone and defenseless-allhe her protectors
barreled up!
There was no time to look for another
hiding-place, for just then the door
opened and shut, and q mans step
sounded in the hall. Nelly's heart was
beating very quickly; she began to cry
mlittlo. The footsteps could be heard
now in the room the children had just
left, and now on the stairs-and how the
four little prisoners shuddcred as they
passed directly over their heads! Then
they could be heard coming down again.
Next, q match was struck. None but
Nelly heard that sound, the others be-
ing covered up. The next sound seemed
to her the most joyful she had ever
heard in her life. II was her father
blowing his nose. The next moment she
was in his arms, bringing him to the
closet and calling out all the way:
Its papa, boys; it's papa!"
Sure enough, the burglar from whom
they had been hiding was no one more