Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-11-03
A ouEER RuReLAa.
How Old stunv Guarded the House While
Billy Was AWAY.

Inc Maverick farmhouse was on q
lovely plateau Of land halfway up ii
dreary mountain-si1e Ard Billy sal
alone by the fire, trying very hard t.
get interested in an old volume OF
Capt. Cooks Adventures" which he
had read over and ever agniu. He
jumped up at the sound OF familiar
voices.
Going where?" said he, learning ont
of the window
Down to PiXley's Woods. said John
Jaycox. ''We're goinr to have corn
and apple roast down there There
lots Of fellows coming
20, ! do wish could go" said Billy,
with sigh.
'Well, come on then, roared Herman
Smith, only make haste.
but | can't" said Billy. "Fathcr
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 can handle fathers
old musiSet as we'll as another man,
said Billy, with some pride.
,f,st thu 18Th. I'll
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
mp for something TO steal, that's all
have to say about it."
''Docome, Bill, urged Jaycox. We're
going to have a regular good time!'
Billy looked wistfully at the other
boys. 'oh, | only wish could" said
he.
Your folks win never know" said
JaycoX. coaxingly.
NO, | 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, ne-two-three- march"
And away went the little band Of
boys at double quick
Billy looked longingly after them.
Boys are naturally of 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 ITS iast exactly as
Peter Wise says-there amt burglar
,oing that would take the trouble to
limb the mountain road. Its all nom
sense for me TO stay herer
Billy Maverick, as you can easily see.
children. had never studied the story OF
Casa blanca" I he had been "on the
burning deck" it isn't al all probable
that he would have remained long
enough for anybody to make a story
about. And vet Biiiv wae very good
sort Of little fellow after all
And ! won't stay. said Rii, 80
there. I'll liXup fellow to keep house
for me, and III ran across the woods
and over the hrp2en bridga and be st
Pixley's woods Just as quick as the
other boys get there.
So Billy. whose resources were truly
wonderful drew the old roclJing-chair
up by the fire and put bolster into it
which he first dressed mp in an old cont
of his fathers and battered hat
With its back well toward the windoys
it really dill look Ike an old .lan warns
ing his hands at the fire.
There, old Stulfy!" said Billy, as he
gave it a final pat ON one side and a
shake on the other. ''Now mind YOU
take good care of the house.
And scrambing out Of tho she'd win
dow so as not to unfasted any Of the
bolts ard bars, he slid down the roof,
dropped into a thicl1et OF blackberry
bushes at the end. and only rqusing t.
rub himself little. started CT at a run
down the mountain side.
''For, he argued within iqsclf, "all |
chat father and mother wanted me to
stay in the house for was to make peo-
pie suppose tia: it wasn't left entirely
alone-and why can't old Stuf'y do that |
just as we'll as moo
lie m de such good speed bv swing |
ing himself reclslessly across the frame
work Of the broken bridge that he got |
to Pixley's Woods nearly as soon as the |
other boys, who N-eat by the regular
pathway A bright blaze of dry wood |
and leaves had been IEindled under the |
shelter Of a butra rc.lx the corn anr,IeS |
and sweet potatoes We're 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 ont Of the ashes when little
Larry Pike came plugging down the
-avine
.lIaliOo. fellows. said he breathless
,eith he haste he had made, "h4ve you
ID a-.s