The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-08

I
of the wire.
Covering the two call bells on tn
telephone with his hand to deaden tn
sound of the ringing. Larry turned tn
crank once, and taking down the re
ceiver, listened for the reply of the ope
rator at the central office.
Give me 49," said Larry. in low
tone of voice. when he received tht
CHEEKY Hello OF the girl at the cen
trail office.
In another moment he distinguished
the voice of the night clerk at the Mu.
tual District Messenger office and the
familiar "Well?" with which that per
son answered all telephone calls.
Mister Fisher, this is Larry" said
the boy in a whisper.
so 1 observe" answered the night
clerk.
Ssh. not so loud. If you Place" eau
toned Larry, forgetting that Mr.. Fish
er's voice, however loud. could not be
heard beyond the receiver at his own
ear. Mister Fisher. I'm at the Cola
more's. and there's burglars up stairs.
Send word to the police station, quick.
/ am in the library
Larry spoke slowly and distinctly and
evidently Mr.. Fisher took in the whole
situation Immediately. The exclama-
ton of surprise which he uttered was
half cut off by his closing the telephone
clerk would act promptly. and that
help would be forthcoming at once.
He closed the telephone and stole soft
ly back to the window, confident that
at that very moment a patrol wagon
load of men would be leaving the sta
ton house.
Yes. and thin omadhauns will be
afther driving up the avenue ringing
their gongs and giving the whole thing
away" said Larry to himself as he
climbed out of the window. II think
I'd better ride down and meet them"
Putting on his shoes. but not stop
ping to lace them, he mounted his
into the avenue over which he sped at
his best endeavor. After a few min
utes riding he saw two specks of red
light far down the avenue and knew
that the patrol wagon was coming in
answer to his message. Disseminating,
he unfastened his bicycle lamp, and
after lighting IL, stood in the middle
of the street. Directly he could hear
the clatter of the horses feet, and sure
enough, occasionally the clang of the
gong as they passed a street cross
ing.
When the patrol wagon was but half
square away Larry swung his lamp
from side to side as a signal to stop
and was rewarded by the driver pulling
up the team alongside him.
In few words he told the sergeant
of the situation at the Collamore villa
and suggested that the burglars might
be easily captured II the police should
surround the house without noise.
The patrol wagon drove on and Larry
mounted his wheel to return to the Of
flee.
"Onyhow, I've done me duty" said
Larry, as he rode along; AN If thin
felleys don't catch the rogues, it's no
fault av mine"
When he reached the Office he was
besiged with questions by the night
clerk and the other employees, and for
the time Larry was quite a hero. In
about half an hour the patrol wagon
drove back on its way to the police sta
ton and inside, securely handcuffed,
were the three burglars. They had been
completely surprised. and had sur
rendered without a struggle.
When the wagon stopped I'm front of
the office Larry mounted the step and
said: There's just one thing 1 would
like to ask you felleys, who turned in
the call for messenger bye?"
THAT must "a been me-" answered
one of the burglars. Il was feeling
along the wall to get to the door of
that liberty and / ran my coat sleeve
up against a little kind of crank that
moved and made a sort of clicking
noise"
THAT accounts for the call not COM
ing in full" said Larry to the night
clerk, the crank only went back half
way"
And now, me friends" remarked
Larry to the burglars, me advice TO
you is, don't try to rob a house whin
there's call box in the library, and
Larry Dolans on duty" A muttered
growl from the trio was the only an
swer, as the wagon drove on.
Colonel Collamore had spent the
night in the city and the first news he
had of the attempt to rob his house
and the failure of the effort, was the
announcement in the morning papers.
In the afternoon he drove home and
stopped at the Mutual District office
on his way out, where he found Mr.
Fisher just coming on duty for the
night. The colonel had some converse
ton with him and then drove on.
That evening when Larry came on
duty he found a large square envelope
on his table bearing the Collamore
stamp. When he opened II he found
a check for $50 and the following
note:
Colonel Collamore presents his COM
pliments to Larry Dolan and begs to
apologize for the unfortunate incident
or last summer which placed Larry Do
Ian in an embarrassing predicament for
a short time. Colonel Collamore also
begs Larry Dolan to accept the en-
closed as slight testimonial of the
services rendered by him
last night"
Faith, he's apologized at last" said
Larry TO the night clerk "and av coorse
MS apology is accepted. Moreover. I'm
no longer Messenger &c. but Mister
Larry Dolan."
A IadyIIke SuIndI.r