Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-11-03

IN their occupations and srared hard at
little Larry.
Thieves" said he. painting for
breath. 'In Mavericks house? And
jerks has gone for the constabes. and
VIII Maxwell has trotted off on his IA
theirs horse to tell Mavericks FOLKS at
camp meeting"
isis anything stolen?" said Billy,
thinking of his grandmother's silver tea
spoons and the spare money his father
always kept in the till of the big rel
chest up in the garnet.
'They don't know" said Larry.
They've got the house surrounded SO
that no one can get out, and now they're
waiting for help
Thunder! what fools they must be-"
said Johnny Jaycox. why don't they
go in and knock daylight into the
scamps? | wouldn't wait if ! were
there.
But, said Larry, wisely, chow are
they TO know how many robbers there
may be, or how well armed they are?"
oh said Johnny, who had not
thought of this, and all the boys drew
long breaths and looked at each other
with the intensest interest Truly"
thought they. "this is almost as good
as a 'to-be-continued story in a weekly
paper.
But Billy Maverick broke away from
the rest and ran as fast as he could to-
ward the solitary farmhouse on the
mountain plateau. Whatever came of
this dreadful state of things he should
always feel that it was his fault
Lyon Jones, a neighbour, was leaning
against the farm-yard gate, hidden by
a cluster of cedar bushes. as Billy came
running up. lie caught at the lad'sarm
to stay his steps
"Dou't 60 any further, Bill, said he,
in a whisper Don't give the alarm
until we're ready TO tackle the fellows.
Where are they?" said Billy, hoarse-
ly. '"What have they taken? How
many are Thereof
eve don't know yet, said Jones.
pike saw one man through the lIitch-
en- window He was warming himself
at the fire very much at home in your
fathers old rociing-chair. ! suppose
the rest are scattered through the
house"
Zone mani" said Billy, Eat the kitchen
fret"
yes said Jones, with snuR-col-
ored overcoat on.
Billy stood minute, staring at Lyon
Jones-then he burst out laughing.
ITS old Stuffy!" said he And he
broke away from Jones and ran mp the
path as fast as he could 60. ealline
Come on come on! There are no
burglars at all!'
The neighhors. issuing from their va
rious hiding places, followed him. and
gathered around the door just in time
to see Master Billy scramble up the
shed-roof bounce into the little win
dow and disappear
Presently he once more appeared ~
the door of the kitchen. waving both
his hands above his head.
Come in he called ont again cx-
ploding with laughter. Come in and
see the burglar He won't hurt You
I'll 60 bail Why. he's nothing on
earth but bolster, dressed up in faith
er's old clothes
And then as the four sturdy men
came somewhat sheepishly in, he
showed them the outlandish imitation
Of humanity, which he himself had de.
vised
BY the time his father and mother re-
turned from camp meeting everyone
was in fit of hearty laughter. to think
that they could possibly have mistaken
odd Stutfy" for one of gang of bur-
glars.
Mr. and Mrs. Maverick smiled. too II /
would have been difficult to help it.
But when everybody had gone home. +
and they were all alone, Mr. Maverick /
turned to his son.
1T is all an excellent joke" he CON /
coded, 'and ] am heartily glad that I
your old Stuffy' is the only burglar we +
have had about the premises But. /
Billy, l would almost rather have the /
old silver stolen than know that my
boy can not be trusted to keep his /
word
Billy hung down his yellow. curly +
head
81 am sorry father, said he. "I'n 7
never desert my post again.
And the little incident furnished all +
the neighborhood with gossip and /
for at least a week N. Y.
md Paris Bazaar.
A GREAT ARTIST.