Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-11-20
A BRIEF NAP.
"I,eterp

"M-m--m. Hullo. is that you. moth
err What's upi"
Fathers got the lumhago dreadful this
morning, an | wouldn't let him get up
You'll have to drive the milk cart, an Jack
can go with you for company"
"All righ.. What time IN IL, motheri"
"Half past 2. You an Jack can eat the
breakfast laid out for father In the kitch
en-. You don't mind goini"
mot "A bit"
Half an hour afterward the milkman's
sons were driving thn0ugh the deserted
streets. with the milk cans playing "A mo
notonous tuue in the back Of the wagon.
Jack soon fell asleep. and Peter had hard
work not TO follow his example. City
streets are still as the grave at 3 O'Clock in
the morning. He wished Jack were
awake. They might have been able to
talk. and he could have kept of the drow.
siness that was gradually overpowering
him. He sat up straight In an uncomfor-
liable position, so that he might not lose
control Of himself, but gradually his mus
eles relaxed, his body sank on one side,
till he leaned against the side Of the wag.
on and his head dropped on his shoulder.
Meanwhile Old John trotted laxily On.
IL was the first time he had been driven
by a sleeping charioteer.
"Harki What was thati"
Peter awoke with start. Old John had
stopped under some trees close by fence.
How long the wagon had stood there he
had no idea. IL was very dark. but Peter
could see by the nearest lamppost that
they were on Macon street.
On the other side Of the trees there was
sound of low voices. This must have
awakened him. Broad awake, he listened.
kaH
Of the voices.
"Yes," said another voice.
Then I'll light out. There's no use my
hangin round here"
"Well, just give me a boost first. The
cop won't be round for an hour or more"
Then there was the sound Of window
opening, and a moment later the hurried
steps Of "A man walking down the street.
Peter shook his brother. "Jack, wake
upand listen Don Z make the least noise
not the slightest. Now. are you awakei
Whisper"
"Ye-es." said Jack. and in the desired
whisper. "What's upS"
"Well-now listen. Take of your boots
In the cart here, jump down quiet and run
for your life TO the police station OH Pom.
fret street. Tell 'em there's a burglar In
Judge Shermans house; that there's no
up a gang o. men,"
Jack slipped off his boots. stepped down.
and was off like an arrow.
Peter then took Off his own shoes, step
ped down, stole round to the front gate, In
through the yard that surrounded the
house and up grass bank to the window
where he had heard the men talking. 1t
was open. He pulled himself up by the
sill and climbed in.
He stood still for a moment, in doubt
what to do. Suddenly he heard u football
almost directly overhead. soft but dis
tinct
Peter stepped out into the front hall. 1t
was black as pitch. Stretching his hands
before his face, he groped into the back
hall. There window let In enough light
for him to see the stairs. He crept up.
One stair creaked He stopped. listened
and crawled on.
It was close work now. Listening, he
could hear footballs in the room above the
window where he had entered. He work
ed his way on tiptoe to the half open door
and looked in. There was a dark lantern
on the table. Full against the side of the
room was a mans shadow.
With the utmost surety Of movement.
Peter felt with his hand on the inside of
the door close below the handle. The key
was in the lock. He drew it out like a
flash, regardless Of noise now, slammed
the door and locked 1t. Then he drew in
to the darkest shadow and waited.
Silence. The man was thinking. What
would he dor Try to break open the doori
Probably. Luckily 1t opened into the
room.
Yes. Bang, bangi The man was bat
tering the door. 1t held, but how long
woulditi Slam, bangl One of the panels
gave way, letting out long streak Of
light from the dark lantern. Oh, he had
left the key in the lockl Peter realized
that as an arm was pushed through the
broken panel, the door unlocked and the
man came rushing out
But boy doesn't go to public school
for 10 years without learning somethingi .
Peters foot was extended at just the
right time, and burglar and lantern came
headlong to the floor with CT IN. The
man swore, got up and examined his Ian
tern. 1t was still lighted. He turned II
slowly round the hall till it fell on Peter
In a corner.
He caught the boy by the shoulder,
swearing. "Who are you, you little brati"
were the words Peter made out.
Peter was frightened. Where were the
policemen The lantern turned toward
the wall gave a subdued light, but he
could see no one On the stairs.
"That was a poor job o. yours leavin
that window open," he said with a show
OF bravery, ~ gain time.
"You ratr' said the other. "I'll make
you sorry you ever saw that window"
He drew a revolver.
Peter was listening. There was now a
ghost of sound on the stairs.
"Oh, you'd best not shootw he said
quickly. "Hangin II you kill me; only 10
years without"
The man laughed. "You're not 80 far
wrong there" said he.' I'll just simply
give you the worst licking you ever had in
your lifep' He was standing with his
back to the stairs. As he spoke dark
shadow rose and paused close behind his
shoulder. He raised his hand to strike.
But Peter was not frightened now. "Glad
TO see you, officer" he said politely, look
ing with a smile beyond the man.
The burglar turned his head, with his
hand still raised. BY the dim light Of
bis lantern he could see two curving rows
Of brass buttons and a revolver muzzle
within yard OF his head
Ten minutes later Peter and Jack were
booted and jogging on again behind old
John.-Washington News.
Feminine Longevity.
The well known fact that women live