Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-12-09
DESERTED HIS POST.
How Old Stufy Guarded the House Will
Billy Was Away.

"Going where?" said he, learning out
of the window
Down to Pixley's Woods" said John
Jaycox. We're going to have corn
and apple roast down there. There's
lots of fellows coming"
30 do wish could 60" said Billy,
with sigh.
"Well, come on then" roared Herman
Smith. "Only make haste"
J, But can't" said Billy. Gather
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.
mo" 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 musket as we'll as another man."
said Billy, with some pride.
But it amt that, father says. The
burglars only try locled-up houses and
those where the folks are all away"
"Well," shifted Peter, ''if burglar
climbs this steep road he must be hard
up for something to steal, that's all l
have to say about it,"
"Do come, Bill, urged Jaycox. "We're
going to have a regular good time!"
Billy looked wistfully at the other
boys. "Oh, only wish l could" said
he.
"Your folks will never know" said
Jaycox, coaxingly.
mo, I don't suppose they will" as
sented Billy. But"
"Oh, come now" hoarsely shouted
Herman Smith; 1--WE can't stand here
waiting all day. If Maverick il coming
let him come If he amt let him say
so. Are you ready, fellows? Now,
then, one-two-th ree-marchr
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, cts just exactly as
Peter Wise says-there amt a burglar
going that would take the trouble tc
climb the mountain road. It's all non.
sense for me to stay herem
Billy Maverick, as you can easily see
children, had never studied the story Of
"Casabiancaw If he had been ION the
burning deck" it isn't at all probable
that he would have remained long
enough for anybody to make story
about. And yet Billy was a very good
sort of little fellow after all.
"And ] won't stay" said Bill, "sc
there! I'll fix up a fellow to keep house
for me, and I'll run across the wood,
and over the broken bridge and be a
Pixley's woods just as quick as the
other boys get there.
So Billy, whose resources were truly
wonderful, drew the old rockingham
up by the fire and put bolster into it
which he first dressed up in an old Goa
of his fathers and battered hat
With its back we'll toward the window
it really did look like an old man warm
ing his hands at the fire.
"There, old Stuffy!" said Billy as h
gave it a final pat on one side and
lr1, 10 al,
take good care of the house."
And scrambling out of the shed win
dow so as not to unfasted any of tn
bolts and bars, he slid down the root
dropped into thicket of blackberr
bushes at the end, and only pausing t,
rub himself n little, started off at rul
down the mountain side.
"For,"he argued within himself, "al
, that father and mother wanted me I
stay in the house for was to make pee
pie suppose that it wasn't left entirel
alone-and why can't old Stuffy do tina
just as well as me?"
lie made such good. speed by swing
ing himself recklessly across the frame
! work of the broken bridge that he &c
l to Pixley's Woods nearly as soon as tn
other boys, who went by the regula
, pathway A bright blaze of dry WOO
. and leaves had been kindled under tn
shelter of huge rock, the corn, apple
and sweet potatoes were put down
!. roast, and the boys beguiled the tim
by dancing break-downs, singing com
songs and telling tales and riddles.
! The first lot of smoking corn had iu.
| been lifted out of the ashes when lit
, Larry Pike came plunging down tt
ravine.
"Halloo, fellowsw said he, Breathe.
with the haste he had made, "have yo
heard the news?"
"Newsl What news?" said Herm a
Smith, while all the boys stopped sho
in their occupations and stared hard a
little Larry
Thieves" said he, painting f
breath. ~"In Mavericks house? An
: jerks has gone for the constables. an
: viii Maxwell has trotted off on his 4
theirs horse to tell Mavericks folks
camp meeting"
Isis anything stolen?" said Bill,
thinking of his grandmother's silver te
spoons and the spare money his faith,
always kept in the till of the big rt
chest up in the garrett
They don't know" said LAIR
They've got the house surg unded