Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-12-01
A QUEER BURGLAR.
How Old stufTy Guarded the House While
billy Was Away.

RnIy Was Away.
Say, Riliv, amt you going with us2"
yelled the boys standing on tip-toe to
peep into the kitchen window
The Maverick farmhouse was on a
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 We're going to have a corn
and apple roast down there There's
lots Of fellows coming"
20, do wish could CO." 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 rue to keep house"
Ibid they s'pose the bears was going
20 carry off the house2" 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 IL the
thieves were TO come" sneered Peter
Wise.
Well, guess can handle fathers
old muskst as we'll as another man."
said Billy, with some pride.
But 1t amt that, father says. The
burglars only try locked-up houses and
those where the folks are all away"
Well" shifted Peter, III a burglar
climbs this steep road he must be hard
up for something to steal, that's all
have 10 say about it."
do come, Bill, urged Jaycox. Were
going to have q regular good time!"
Billy looked wistfully at the other
boys. "0h, l only wish | could" said
he.
Your folks will never know" said
Jaycox, coaxingly.
mo, don't suppose they will. as
scented Billy. But"
Herman Smith; 1--WE can't stand here
waiting all day IfMaverick is coming
let him come. II he amt let him say
SO. Are you ready, fellowsP Now
then. one-two three march"
And away went the little band of
boys at double quick
Billy looked longingly after them
Boys are naturally of a gregarious ma
ture, and he had been alone all the
afternoon.
II might just IA well go as not" said
he, aloud, to the old clock ticking away
behind the door ITS lust exactly as
Peter Wise says-there amt a burglar
going that would take the trouble to
climb the mountain road It's all nom
sense for me to stay here,"
Billy Maverick as you can easily see.
children, had never studied the story of
"Casabianeaw If he had been ION the
burning deck" il isn't at all probable
that he would have remained long
enough for anybody to make a story
about. And vet Billy was a very good
sort of little fellow after all
And / won't stay" said Bill, so
there! I'll fix up fellow to keep house
for me, and I'll run across the woods
and over the broken bridge and be at
PiXley's woods just as quick as the
other boys get there.
So Billy, whose resources were truly
wonderful, drew the old roclling-chair
OPP by the fire aud put bolster into it
which he first dressed up in an old coat
Of his fathers and battered hat
With its back well toward the window,
it really did look like an old man warm
ing his hands at the fire
There, old Smffy!" said Billy, as he
gave it final pat on one side and
shake on the other. Now mind you
take good care of the house
And scrambling out of the shed win
dow so as not To unfasted any of the
bolts and bars, he slid down the roof,
dropped into thicket of blackberry
bushes at the end, and only pausing to
rub himself little, started off at run
down the mountain side.
For, he argued within himself, ''all
that father and mother wanted me to
stay in the house for was to make peo-
pie suppose that It wasn't left entirely
alone and why can't old Stuffy do that
Just as well as me?"
He made such good speed 10y swing
ing himself recklessly across the frame
work of the broken bridge that he got
70 PiXley's Woods nearly as soon as the
other boys, who went 10y the regular
pathway bright blaze of dry wood
and leaves had been kindled under the
shelter Of huge rock, the corn apples
and sweet potatoes were put down to
roast, and the boys beguiled the time
by dancing break-downs, singing comic
sOngs and telling tales and riddles
The first lot Of smoking corn had just
been lifted out Of the ashes when little
LsSFy Pike came plunging down the
rav1ae.
"HaHoo, fellovsl" said he. breathless
with the haste he had made, have you
nSayd the nevs?'
"News What news?" said Herm an