South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-10-14
KornIkc BIT AeAsDLg.

me afteTnooa With & Tread about
t90 miles away, and when the sue
sank behind the western hiils. Mr..
Burton started off TO bring her
home.
Lock and bar the door after
ns,' h said, as he stepped out
cato the porch. sI'ye made all
the other doors and the windows
fast--snd don't let anyone in while
I'm gone" Then he added: "You
won't be afraid, will you 20.
nNo, indeed, father" replied
Jack, answering for his sisters %
well as himself. you'll be back
in two or three hours, any how, and
/ guess we can take care OF our
selves as long az that"
"Weil, good bye, and Mr.. Bur-
ton, after waiting minute to hear
the door locked and the bar put MP,
took his departure.
The Burton cottage stood in a
lonely street IN suburban town.
with no houses nearer than 200
feet, and for that reason the chill
dren had never been left alone be-
fore. Nor had IL been intended
that they should be this time, but
their uncle, who had promised to
come and stay with them during
their parents absence, had been sud
denly called elsewhere. However,
as tho neigbborhood had ALWAYS
been very quiet and peaceful one,
Mr.. Burton felt no real fear when
he left them. There were three of
them--Jack, boy of twelve, Roxy,
girl OF nine, and darling wee Liz
zie, not quite three. They went
back into the kitchen, after max
ing the front door secure, and sat
! down to their supper OF biscuits
aud apple butter, aud warm milk.
And while they were laughing and
talking between bites and drinks,
they heard sound which caused
Jack and Roxy to stop and look at
each other with pale faces. 1t was
the sound OF footsteps. Someone
was coming up the cellar stairs,
which led to a little landing, from
which a door opened directly into
the kitchen. This door was sell
dom locked, as the barring of the
cellar door was considered sufficient
protection and it stood partly OPEN
ed now, for Jack had taken the
crock of butter from shelf in the
landing, and not thought it worth
while to close it till he put the
crock back again. "Quick, quick"
hs whispered to Roxy, "the back
stairs.
Roxy fed with Lizzie in her
arms, but before Jack could follow
her, big. Unlocking fellow walk
ed into the kitchen.
I'm just in time" said he,
with a coarse laugh, "for Pm hun
CRY as a wolf. Sorry / disturbed
you at your supper, but the young
uns ought to allus wait till the gen.
tlemen are through" And seat
ing himself at the table, he went
on: "fBread and milk and sweet
stuff won't do for me though. Give
me some meat and whatever else
you've got"
of you will wait till my father
and mother comes back" said
Jack, in voice that he tried his
best to keep steady, "they will give
you a good supper. / expect them
every moment !"
That's a lie" declared the
tramp. 81 was abiding behind a
tree when your pop went, and heard
all you and him said, and he won't
be back for two or three hours, aud,
with all his fuss, he forgot to fasten
the cellar door, which made it han
dy for me. Now, look lively and
step lively, and bring out the beat
you've got, for faint likely you'll
ever have a prince in disguise to
supper again. Aud after I've feas-
ted I'll go through the house and
select few little things to remem-
Der you by"
Jack brought out the cold beef
and pickles, and half mincc pie,
and o slice of cheese, and placed
them before the unlimited guest.
'>That's all there is" he said.
"Ihat'll do" replied the man,
but l want something to drink
with it." Haven't you any beer?"
There's few bottles in the eel
lar" said Jack.
"Go and get 'em for me. No,
stop; you'd be a-cuttin' out and
raisin' a row. I'll go first, and
you como behind me with candle
and show me where they are. And
be quick about it, too. I've vast
ed too much time already. You
needn't pretend there isn't any
candle, cause there's one on top
the cupboard. Light it, and bur-
ry mp"
Jack lighted the candle. Then
the fellow led the way down the cell
lar stairs aud the boy followed.
"Tho beer Is in box in that cor
ner, SAID Jack, pointing ia The Iii
rcction Of the collar door. AS the
tramp bent over to look. he flung
candle ard candlcstick with his
might on top Of his head, and flew
back 70 tho stair. lie had the great