New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-05-13

lit the lamp. II always read it be-
fore / go to bed. You can go now if
you wishS .....
NO" he said in low, tone, '1'd
like to hear it, mother used to read it
to me-" -.
So Miss Keziah put on her go1d-rim-
med spectacles and read on in a hard,
rasping tone from Luke, glancing UP
at last to see that he was nodding his
head and having very hard time to
keep his eyes open.
"Humph,' said she, closing the
book, Il guess you'd better 60 to
bed"
g! am sleepy" he confessed, draw
ing his hand across his eyes, s:but 1
heard it all.''
She called the cat i'm and saw that
everything was carefully locked and
bolted. Then she opened the door OF
little chamber adjoining the dining
room.
.'That's where you're to Sleep" she
said brusquely. "Good night!5'
"Good night and thank you!' was
his response. E'Thank you verv
much"
She waited a few minutes and then
with the lamp went up stairs to her
room.
"Ive done a very foolish thing, T
know, 'she grimly said, "but Icouldn't
help thinking OF little Ephriam. How
can [ tell what that boy is? He
may be i'll league with cut -throats and
robbers. It'll be a mercy if I'm not
killed tonightn'
She was very careful to look under
the bed before she retired and it was
some time before her eyes closed in
sleep.
He has an honest-looking face"
was the last thing she said; ''but one
can't tell about people nowadays. He
may be waiting even now to let those
men in"
The katydids chirped outside and
the crescent moon sank low. The old
fashioned clock monotonousIy licked
two hours away
Suddenly the stiffness, of the night
was broken by a tremendous noise
and Miss Keziah, in her frilled cap
sat up in bed.
"It'sjust as I thought, she groaned,
trembling like leaf. Hes let the
men in and they're ransacking the
house. Why didn't put that interest
money in the bank"
She was about to fly to- the window
and scream for help when she heard
an excited voice call up:
'EDon't be scared, ma am! I've got a
man locked up in the closet. Come
down, quick!''
The words brought confidence to
her, and, lighting her lamp, she quick
ly dressed and went fearfully down
the stairs.
Fierce but futile blows were being
rained against the stout oaken panels
OF her sitting-room closet, and she
could hear the smothered curses of
some one inside
AS she looked in the room she saw
the boy, with the hatchet tightly
grasped in his hand. His eyes were
glowing with excitement.
GIVE got him!' he cried, "Never
fear, ma am, he can't get out"
GLOW did he get in?" asked Miss
Keziah, who was SO weak that she
had to lean upon a chair for sup
port,
"He came through the window and
woke me-" was the response. l saw
him 60 to the closet and I locked him
in
"Well you're a brave boy" said
Miss Keziah, 'but there's no time to
speak OF that now. I'd better 60 for
the Constable at once"
She hastily threw her shawl over
her head and left the house, while the
boy remained on guard, apparently
undisturbed by the threats and inn
precautions volleyed at him through
the keyhole.
Down theroad skinned Miss Keziah
like q frightened bird, and in a short
space OF time she was back with the
village policeman, constable and sew
eral other men whom the worthy
preserver Of the peace thought it pru-
dent to call upon to assist him.
The robber was taken from the
closet in a half-suffocated condition
and marched to the town lookup
| while Miss Keziah endeavored to COM
pose her ruff1ed feelings in sleep.
The next morning, after the break
fast to which he had been invited, her
small guest arose and said:
And now, ma am, think I will be
on my way. Is there anything else l
can do for you before go? Do you
IMP"
"Don't be in any hurry" said Miss
Keziah, and she laid one hand upon
his curly head. "1've changed my
mind; l do want a boy, and you're
the very boy want. Pm getting old,
and need some one to drive those
chickens out if they come in again,
not to mention anything OF burglars "
Cincinnati Post.