Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-03-16
Mr.. Crabbe'S Burglar.

Crabbe, an exceedingly crusty old
Dachelor, the back parlor adjoining
We never knew whether it was hi.
name that made him so grabbed, OF
whether his natural disposition had
given him his name. Between him
and the Misses Brown, the said maiden
ladies, war ragged almost without cessa-
don-till recently.
Mr.. Crabbe owns an uncommonly
vicious parrot, which generally has
the freedom of its owners room, and
the ladies have very large Maltese
cat, which they claim is far more in
telligent than the average man. Sum-
mer days Jack, the parrot, sits in the
open transom over Mr.. Crabbe's door
and abuses the big cat, who is rendered
almost delirious by his inability to
climb the door casing, which Mr..
Clabbe has carefully covered with
zinc, and annihilate his enemy.
Harry Clark and Dick Allison, two
bright, manly young fellows, also room
In the house. They are the life of the
place, running over with fun and ac-
tvity. We all take our meals in the
next house, and at table such conversa-
tions as these have been frequent
From Miss Priscilla Brown:
"Good morning, Mr.. Crabbe. | hope
that abominable bird of yours talked
itself hoarse Yesterday"
"Thank you madam; | am happy to
say that Jack seems in uncommon good
health and spirits, though | think the
fact is remarkable, considering the
way that vicious cat of yours worries
him"
"Vicious, indeedI" This from Miss
Abigail. 81 assure you, sir, that
Sampson has always been noted for his
quiet disposition and gentle manners"
"Yes'm, he seemed quiet that day
when he clawed the paint all off my
door trying to get at poor Jack! L
guess the zinc I've put on will 1ix his
uails," chuckling.
"Indeed, Mr.. Crabbc-" begins Miss
Priscilla, with dignity. The sisters
usually take turns in attacking the en-
emy, but about this time Harry Clark
interrupts the beligereuts and adroitly
turns the conversation.
Now it happened that the Misses
Brown were mortally afraid of bur
glars, and on the hottest night the
transom over their door was kept
tightly closed. Mr.. Crabbe, on the
contrary, as in duty bound, if only
that he might oppose his neighbors,
professed the utmost fearlessness as
regarded burglars, limiting darkly as to
what might happen should he be mo
Tested.
81 hope, sir" said Harry Clark.
"that you wouldn't shoot; we don't
want a murder in the house"
"NO, l shouldn't shoot"
"Might one inquire what YOU would
do them" asked Dick Allison.
"No, sir, one mightn't" replied the
old gentleman testify. "If YOU hap
pened to be the burglar, you'd find
out"
A conversation like this seemed to
take place every few days.
One day Dick said to Harry
'Let's get up joke on old Crabbe.
He's Dragged so much about not being
afraid of burglars; let's scare him and
see what he will do III an emergency"
So the two put their heads together,
and shortly evolved a dummy, sur
mounted by very black negro mask
and an uncommonly woolly wig.
".Wonder what he'll do when that
phiz appears over his doorway" said
young Allison.
1t was AN uncOmmOnly hot July
night; everybody but the Misses Brown
slept with transoms and windows wide
open, Mr.. Crabbe included.
About one o'clock the Two Young
men stole SOFTLY down the stairway,
bearing Between them the combination
Ihat was to scare Mr.. Crabbe. They
made their descent nOiselesslv, with no
trouble, as a light always burned in
the hall, and they were barefooted.
Nobody has very clear idea of just
what happened after the conspirators
reached the door and placed the dummy
in position. 1t seems, however, that
the old gentleman, who is a light sleep
err, IS awakened by a slight noise,
and starting up, he saw the head of Il
negro appearing in the open transom.
Slipping out of bed he noiselessly climb
ed upon a table near the door which,
occupying a little recess, was not visi-
BILE until the head and shoulders of the
intruder had entered. Upon that ts-
bic were two large pals of ice water;
he prepared them every night, we learn
I'd f'erward. The head of the dummy
-es.cI on the door; all was still.
81 don't believe he's awake" whis- |
Derea Harry. ''Let's give it another
shove"
The shove was accordingly given; |
he negro's shoulders came in sight, !
when, like a second deluge, a whole |
pail of ice water went through the
ransom, and as the young men were
on the floor directly beneath
/, of course they were drenched. The
lummy fell TO the floor willie thump.
With a cry which they could not
wholly suppress, Harry and Dick
prang away and sped upstairs, just as
second pailful came through. Un-
luckily, Sampson, who always roamed
through the house at his pleasure, felt
a,lleI upon to pass that way just then,
nd he second instalment fell directly
Ipon him.
W,u, the cat made no effort whatever
o Disguise his feelings; the house rang
With feline anguish in just two sec
nds. MIR. Crabbe's door and that of
he Misses Brown flew open simultane-
usly, and the three gazed at each
ther in well nigh speechless anger.
)ick and Harry were safe in their
Dom, dodgers in various kinds of un-
ress uniform thronged the hall and
tairways, making incoherent inquiries
8 to ''What on earth is the matter?"
The dummy lay on the floor.
trcams of ice water were pouring !
yer the oilcloth. Sampson, the in
tant his mistress door opened, went
trough it like a meteor and disappear
d under the bed; Jack, awakened
rom his slumbers, perched on the
oor and remarked
''Well, 1 neverl"
Il suppose" said Mr.. Crabbe. when ,