The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-17
FER TIER KID"
The fodder Faced the Burglar and
Would Not Be Scared.
From KGte Fields Washington.


Would Not Be Scared.
From Kate Fields Washington.
He put one hand upon the sill above him
and drew himself up to the level Of the win
dow. He was able to bold his position for
a minute by clinging close against the wall,
and in that time he made quick examine
ton of the room within 1t was dusk; but
q big roaring fire on the open hearth made
everything light, except in the corners
where the flames sent uncouth, dancing
shadows. Then when he saw this, he drew
a breath Of relief and pulled himself up and
half way in the window; but very softly, so
that they could not hear him below. The
servants were down there, aud in the front
part of the house were the owners Of the
place, and he had reasons for not wanting
either of them to find him here.
He squirmed like huge turtle over the
window ledge and was just drawing his legs
up when he heard soft little sigh from one
corner of the room. 1t was not sigh Of
fear or in any way threatening sound; on
the contrary, it was quite subdued and
seemed to indicate that the one who gave it
had just had something settled very salts
factorily. Nevertheless the man at the
window gave quick start and for an in
slant acted as if be would retreat. just
then a log on the fire blaZed up more
strongly and he saw something In the COR
ner which made him pause and hold on.
1t was only baby after all, and he con-
cluded to wait. There the little fellow stood
in one corner where moment before there
had been dark shadow. That was the
reason the other had not noticed him. His
chubby fingers were closed over a chair
back and only his head could be seen, as it
was half turned and the big round eyes
looked wonderingly at the dark shadows
and at the face of the man.
For a moment they inspected each other d.
Then the curly mop of the baby disappeared
and suddenly came out again on the other
side of the chair back There was a dane
ing light in his eyes this time, and without
hesitation the man threw his leg over the
sill and climbed into the room. He looked
for the baby. The head had again been
withdrawn, but peeping roguishly from be-
tween the rungs of the chair were the same
laughing eyes. 1t was plainly an invitation
at any rate, nothing to be afraid of-the
other told himself, so he went quickly to
the bureau where he saw the sparkle of
gems.
He had put his hand covetously upon the
prize when he felt tug at his trousers leg.
Despite himself-and he prided himself on
being very brave burglar-he gave
nervous backw ward jump and faced around
fiercely. But 1t was only the baby again,
and he cursed himself silently for his fear
The baby stood there with its arms still out
stretched, as if it held his clothing as it had
the moment before. 1t was wondering, he
could see, why it's prisoner had jumped so.
But he could not waste any time there
looking at it, SO he bent again over the bu-
reau and quickly, feverishly commenced a
search of the drawers. Again, however, he
felt the tiny touch on his trousers, and
again he started guilty. He pulled himself
rudely free without LOOKING down; some-
how he didn't like to. Then for a short
moment he was not interrupted; bus sud-
denly the curly head was again at his side
and two small hands were caught over the
edge of the drawer, and their owner tried to
pull himself to its level 30 he could see in-
side and find out what was there which was
SO interesting the man. Failing in the at
tempt, the baby stood dIscomf1tted for the
instant Then he toddled over to a near by
screen.
The man did not look up. He wanted to
get through with what he had come for
and he was getting nervous. He did not
understand why, or perhaps he did and was
ashamed to own it.
Suddenly he was again startled and this
time by laughing crow. He glanced up
quickly and saw around the edge of the
screen the baby face. He would have
turned and let it go unnoticed; this time
there was a protest, He cursed again, and
more savagely than before, bus though it
was at the baby the latter did not hear it.
1.-The kidll get me caught, certain =" said
the man to himself. "Blast his eyes
Whatll doc"
Another impatient crow; and the man
turned from the bureau and moved toward
the screen. There was fierce light in his
face; the old look of ungovernable rage
which was so dreaded by his companions at
the Meek" But the baby did not seem
afraid he only looked laughingly from
around his barrier aud crowed softly as if
he were vastly amused. In sheer wonder
the man stopped. He was not used to this
sort Of thing. They had always covered
away from him or put themselves on the
defensive when he looked that way. 1t was
SO new, so strange. that he did not under-
stand it, even in a BABY. The malignant
look in his eyes gradually died out, and he
did not go any farther toward the screen.
He hesitsted whether to return to the bureau
or not.
There was queer look in his eyes when
he turned and laboriously scrubbed some
thing on scrap Of paper with the stub of
a pencil and left it fastened on the pin -cush-
ion. Then he wheeled quickly about to the
baby, who was calling softly to him from
his hiding place. and made as if he would
eaten him. There was delightful cry from
the screen, a scramble, and only pair of
short boots showed from under the bed. For
a minute the baby waited. Then he crowed
impatiently once or twice. He wondered
why his playfellow waited so long before
catching him but when be bawled out at
last, dusty and tired, there was no one TO be
found, though he looked in the corners and
even in the closet.
On the cushion of the bureau, when they
came up a few minutes later, they saw a
diamond pima big flashing one they had
never seen before. 1t was thrust through a
piece of paper on which was scrawled "Fer
9her Kid" -a'
THE BEST TIME