Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-12-01

In their occupations and STARED hard at
little Larry.
''Thievesr' said he, painting for
breath. 'sIn Mavericks house2 And
jerks has gone for the constables. and
Will Maxwell has trotted off on his ia
Tiers horse 10 tell Mavericks folks at
camp meeting"
Isis anything stolen?" said Billy.
thiaking Of his grandmother's silver tea
spoons and the spare money his father
always kept in the till Of the big red
chest up in the garnet.
They don't know" said Larry.
They've got the house surrounded 50
that 60 one can get out, and now they're
waiting Tor help"
"rhander! what fools they must be!'
said Johnny Jaycox. why don't they
go in and knock daylight into the
scamps? ! wouldn't wait if I were
there"
But, said Larry, wisely, "how 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 breeths 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 neighbor. was leaning
against the farm-yard gate, hidden by
a cluster Of cedar bushes. as Billy came
running up. He caught At the lads arm
to stay his steps.
Don't go any further, Bill" said he,
in whisper. Don't give the alarm
until we're ready TO tackle the fellows"
Where are they?" said Billy, hoarse-
". 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. l suppose
the rest are scattered through the
housed"
zone mani" said Billy, "at the kitchen
firev'
Eyes," said Jones, with snuff-col-
ored overcoat on"
Billy stood minute, staring al Lyon
Jones-then he burst out laughing.
otis old Stuffy!" said he. And he
broke away from Jones and ran up tho
path as fast as he could go, calling:
Gene onl come onl There are no
burglars at alll'
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
er's old clothesr'
And then as the four sturdy men
came somewhat sheepishly in, he
showed them the outlandish imitation
of humanity, which he himself had de-
vi6e6.
BY the time his father and mother re-
turned from camp meeting everyone
was in a fit OF hearty laughter, to think
that they could possibly have mistaken
odd StuffY" for one of a 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.
ut is all an excellent joke, " he con-
coded, and l am heartily glad that |
your old Stuffy is the only burglar we
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 his |
word"
Billy hung down his yellow. curly
head
Il am sorry, father" said he. 'I'll |
never desert my post again.
And the little incident furnished all |
the neighborhood with gossip and |
amusement for at least week-N. Y. |
and Paris Bazaar.