The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-16
A QUEER BURGLAR.

How Old Stuffy Guarded the House While
Billy Was Away.
Say, Billy, amt you going with us?"
yelled the boys, standing on tip-toe to
peep into the kitchen window.
The Maverick farmhouse was on
lovely plateau of land halfway up a
dreary mountain-side. And Billy sat
alone by the fire, trying very hard to
get interested in an old volume of
Capt. Cooks Adventures" which he
had read over and over again. He
jumped up at the sound of familiar
voices.
"Going where?" said he, learning out
of the window.
down to Pixley's Woods" said John
Jaycox "Werc going to have corn
and apple roast down there. There's
lots of fellows coming
80, do wish could 60, said Billy,
with sigh.
well come on then, roared Herman
Smith. only make haste"
"But | can't" said Billy. "Father
and mother went to the camp-meeting
to-day and they left me to keep house"
did they s'pose the bears was going
to carry off the house," contemptuously
inquired Herman.
"No," said Billy. "But old Mrs.
Tricks house was broken into night be-
fore last when she was gone to tea at
Elder Jones. And father says it amt
safe to leave the place alone"
"Much good you would be if the
thieves were to come" sneered Peter
Wise
"Well, guess I can handle fathers
old musiet as well as another man."
said Billy, with some pride.
But it amt that, father says The
burglars only try loclSed-up houses and
those where the folks are all away"
well" shifted Peter, IF burglar
climbs this steep road he must be hard
up for something to steal, that's all
| have to say about it."
"Do come, Bill, urged Jaycox. "We're
going to have regular good timer
Billy looked wistfully at the other
boys. ''Oh, only wish | could" said
he.
'Your folks will never know" said
Jaycox, coaxingly.
NO, I don't suppose they will" as
scented Billy. But"
"Oh, come now" hoarsely shouted
Herman Smith; 1--WE can't stand here
waiting all day. If Maverick is coming
| let him come. If he amt let him say
so. Are you ready, fellows? Now,
then, o-thrce-march"
And away went the little band Of
boys ut double quick
Billy looked longingly after them.
Boys are naturally OF a gregarious ma
ture, and he had been alone all the
| afternoon.
81 might just as well go as not" said
he, aloud, to the Old clock ticking away
behind the door. "It's just exactly as
Peter Wise says-there amt a burglar
going that would take the trouble to
climb the mountain road. It's all non
sense for me to stay here"
Billy Maverick, as YOU can easily see,
children, had never studied the story of
"Casabiancaw If he had been "on the
burning deck" it isn't at all probable
that he would have remained long
enough for anybody to make a story
about And yet Billy was very good
sort Of little fellow after ali,
"And | won't STAY" said Bill. $50
there! I'll fixup fellow to keep house
for me, and I'll run across the woods
and over the broken bridge and be at
pixlcy's woods just as quick as the
other boys get there.
s. Billy, whose resources were truly
wont>rful, drew the old rocling-chair
up by thc fire and put bolster into it
which l.a first dressed up in an old coat
of his fathers and battered hat
With its ba tx well toward the window
it really did look like an old man warm
ing his hands at the fire.
There, old Stuffyr' said Billy, as h,
gave il a final pat on one side and {
shake on the o,her "Now mind you
take good care of the house"
And scrambling out of the shed win
dow so as not to snfasted any of tn,
bolts and bars he slid down the roof
dropped into thicliet of blackberr,
bushes at the end, and emily pausing t.
rub himself little, started off at run
down the mountain side.
For, he argued within himself, "al
that father and mother waited me T.
stay in the house for was to nialte pee
pie suppose that it wasn't left entirel,
alouc-and why can't old Stuffy do tina
just as we'll as me?"
He made such good speed by swing
ing himself reclllesslv across the frame
work of the broken bridge that he &c
; to Pixley's Woods nearly as soon as tn
other boys, who went by the regula
pathway. A bright blaze of dry WOO
and leaves had been llindled under tn
shelter of a huge rock, the corn, apple
and sweet potatoes were put down {
roast, and the boys beguiled the tim
: by dancing break-downs, singing conn
| songs and telling tales and riddles.
, The first lot of smoking corn had iu'
. been lifted out of the ashes when littl
: Larry Pike came plunging down ii
ravine.
"Halloo. fellows said he, breathle'
| with the haste he had made, "have yo
4 1 Il