Middletown transcript., 1896-10-10
on fresh fuel, and soon had bright.
dancing blaze that sent its cherry light

dancing blaze that sent its cherry ligl
: into every corners
"That's more likei" he soliloquizet
perching himself in an armchair, an
setting his chin meditatively betwee
J This hands, quite oblivious Of their RI
cent contact with the coal. "Expec
this amt SO poor a place. neither
Heard him say that white stuff, owe
in that jar, is one Of the most valuabl
medicines he knew of. Cost as mucl
as diamonds mebbe, and he's got a 10
of it. But if was goin' burglarin
wouldn't steal no such nasty tastil
stuff. Ughp'
A soft rap at the door interrupted
him suddenly. He started to his feet
and, after an instant's hesitation, ven
tured rather uncertain "Come inl'
He had not heard the light step on tht
stairs, and that surely was suspicious
circumstance. When the door opened
itsrevealed lady, which was more
suspicious still, ard she wore a brown
veil--that was the most suspicious thing
Of all. ice didn't at all like the appear
ance Of things.
SIS the doctor in?" asked the
stranger pleasantly.
Joe retreated little as she advanced
and responded succinctly, ''No'm."
"Willhe be back soon, do you know?'
questioned the visitor.
"Guess so-'fore long. But he's
dreadful strong, and he carries all his
money in his pockets" replied Joe dis
couragingly.
''Ah?" the lady looked surprised
disappointed, Joe thought, and he
volunteered another dissuasive re-
mark: ''I'm- awful hard to get to
Sleep"
"Are you sure you are wide-awake
now?" asked the visitor, half-laugh-
ing, but with a puzzled scrutiny of bis
face.
'.Bet am" affirmed Joe promptly,
winking hard to convince himself Of
the truth of his assertion.
81 wonder,n murmured the lady, II
the doctor didn't leave anything for
me. I thought should find what I
wanted if he had gone out"
Joe's eyes opened round and large;
he changed his position uneasily, and
did not feel at all certain that he might
not be getting drowsy in this perilous
state Of affairs. The lady's glance
swept the room, and as it rested re-
fiectively on the precious white jar, Joe
grew desperate.
s'See here, mebbe you might find
something real nice in the other room!'
he burst forth eagerly. doctor leaves
lots of things there sometimes"
"Does he, so that people can get them
when he is away? Probably he has left
what want there" Her face bright
ened; she paused an instant as if ex-
pecting Joe to lead the way, then
asked: "Where shall I lookp"
"Under the-on the table in there, !"
answered Joe, points toward the article
mentioned but following at respectful
distance until she was fairly within the
room. Then he sprang suddenly for
ward, closed the door and locked it,
piled two or three chairs against it, and
surmounted them with the coal-scuttle.
s'There nowl' he CRIED excitedIy.
"Open the doorp' demanded the
lady's equally excited voice from within.
sSuch joke is very, very rudel What
do you meanp''
''Mean to keep you till Uncle Max
comes, cause he told me to-that's
whatl You can't put me to sleep nowl"
said the young jailer decidedly.
1.-THE child must be insanel' ex-
claimed the bewildered prisoner.
But Joe was quite certain of his SAN
ity, and as his alarm gradually sub
sided into feeling Of security, since
his captive had no chance Of escape,
he became convinced that he had done
an exceedingly brilliant thing.
"Ohl l know all about you'll" he, ex-
planned courageously. 'sThe doctor told
me to keep you till he got back. but I
don't s'posa he thought I could do it.
I will, though; you can't get out. and
you shan't steal nothin' either.''
HSteal anything? What an ideap' A
slight laugh rippled through tie lady's
voice, though the situation was serious
ly annoying. ssYou have made some
strange mistake, little boy. I have
long walk to take, and it, is growing
dark. Please open the door, she
urged coaxingly.
But the small sentinel proved a very
model of faithfulness in the discharge
of duty. He could not be frightened,
persuaded, nor bribed, and the pris-
ioner finally relinquished all efforts
to move him. She attempted to raise
a window, but it resisted her slight
strength, and glance at its height
from the ground revealed the USE
lessness Of such an undertaking. So
she stood silently gazing out into the
deepening dusk and gloom, perpiexed,
indignant, and little anxious, too, as
to what all this could mean, and when
it might end
In the outer loom Joe marched
about, seated himself upon the table,
and swung bis feet to and fro, ''mon-
arch of all he surveyed" But not
withstanding his elation, the time pas
sed very slowly, and the stiffness grew
oppressive
s'Must be hours and hours" he NUT
tered as he waited, listening for his