The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-16


in their occupations and stared hard at
little Larry.
Thieves" said he, painting for
breath. I'm Mavericks house? And
jerks has gone for the constables, and
Will 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 red
chestup in the garrett
They don't know" said Larry.
They've got the house surrounded sc
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, how are
they to know how many robbers there
may be, or how well armed they are?"
oH' odit VIM ioR
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 '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, neighbor, was leaning
against the farm-yard gate, hidden by
cluster of cedar bushes, as Billy came
running up. He caught at the lad'sarp
to stay his steps.
Don't go 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 there?'
1--WE don't know yet" said Jones.
''Pike saw one man through the kitch'
en- window. He was warming himself
at the fire, very much at home in your
fathers old rocking-chair. ] suppose
the rest are scattered through the
house," .
lone man. said Billy, "at the kitchen
fire.
Yes" said Jones, with snuff-col,
ored overcoat on"
Billy stood minute, staring at Lyon
Jones-then he burst out laughing.
"It's old Stuffy." said he. And he
broke away from Jones and ran up the
path as fast as he could go, calling;
Come on. come on! There are no
burglars at ALL"
The neighbors, 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 at
the door of the kitchen, waving both
his hands above his head.
Come int he called out, again ex.
ploding with laughter. Come in and
see the burglar. He won't hurt you,
I'll go bail. Why. he's nothing on
earth but bolster, dressed up in faith
ers old clothesw
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
"old Stuffy" 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.. Mavericks
turned to his son.
st is all an excellent joke" he con
coded, "and l am heartily glad that
your old Stuffy' is the only burglar W,
have had about the premises. But
Billy, would almost rather have the
old silver stolen than know that my
boy can not be trusted to keep hi'
word"
Billy hung down his yellow. curly
head.
II am sorry. father" said he. "ll
never desert my post again"
And the little incident furnished al
the neighborhood with gossip anC
amusement for at least a week. N, Y
and Paris Bazaar.