Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-11
CAUGHT TIE BURGLAR.

Il am very sorry to leave YOU, boys,
but since Aunt Sarah needs me SO badly
think IL IL my duty To go, said my
mother, as father was preparing to help
her in the carriage
'Oh, we won't mind 1t In the least. /"
replied
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 neighbor's house. aud,
altogether. we expected 10 have fine
time by ourselves
by I'VE mean Fred. my brother. and
myself. unless YOU counted the dog,
Fritz. In that case there were three
OF us
We busted ourselves ut first one thing
and then another until ii began to grow
dark. After supper we tried 10 read, but
somehow we could not get interested in
any book or paper that we could find
"What If a burglar should come around
here to-nigbt-what would you dor in.
quired Fred.
''Duf" replied | in scornful tones, for
rather prided myself on my courage;
why, of course. we would do the best
we could If he was stronger than both
OF lis suppose shen We should have TO
give in. but If he il not then tic had bet
ter keep away from here
but there might be two of them
swell let's talk about something else
II is not probable that anything Of The
kind will happen. said |. quite willing
u let the subject drop. since Fred was
bound 70 have more than one Of them.
will Andrews, continued Fred. told
me tnday about n cousin of his that had
his house entered al night by four men,
and they bound and gagged him. and
then made him give up everything that
they wanted
"0h, that's nothingf' | replied. and
proceeded To give an account Of another
one more dreadful than that
w A1ld III INST tftI LtA IfttlE anti
then another until it grew late
We'll. let's go 10 bed. and taking the
lamp | started To lead the way. I'D
just as soon you would go first. Fred
not because | am afraid, | hastily add.
ed, for fear he would think that was
Il coward. "hat because becatisen-
"Didn't you hear something them
asked Fred. as he drew closer To me.
That's nothing but the wind rattling
the vines on the stoop. answered l.
We finally got to bed. though not with
out a good many looks about the room.
as the stories that we had been telling
each other had tile effect OF making us
rather-well Il little careful
Father was the possessor of 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 goi
into bed,
"0f course | have" | replied, with
some sharpness. for | always wanted ii
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 asked
''Listen. Somebody's IN thu hall"
The room was perfectly dark: but vi
could hear somebody going up 10 the
farther end of the room, which was very
large. and then we heard the closet door
creaking ON its hinges
Fred trelnbled and so did |, wholly
forgetting the revolver which was rest.
ing peacefully under my pillow.
lies gone in the closet. said Fred.
between his clutches at me
And then what did that boy do hnl
slowly crawl out of bed. 80 noiselessly
up to the door of the closet and shut 1t,
II was large. massive door. on strong
hinges. with large bolt ON the outside,
which he fastened.
then and there solemnly made upmy
mimi never to plague Fred WIKI being d
coward again.
lie hurried back To tho bed and took
hold of me. and then we both ran To the
other end of the hall 10 mothers room
We locked the door this time, jumped
into bed and pulled every one of the bed
clothes over our heads We heard the
burglar making considerable noise for
eonie time AMI then all was quiet, except
the beating OF our hearts. which Fred
insists 10 this very day that lie heard.
The closet was large and contained a
window, through which the burglar
rould have escaped had it NOT been Sc
high from the ground
: Fritz Is barking right under that win
dow, said Fred
Yea wonder why he did not bark
when he was coming inf DO you sup
pose there's more than one OF thamY'
inquired.
Perhaps there's dozen, and II they