The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-09-15

voice:
"You'll have TO get out ofthe house
before Mamma Edith comes home, or
I'll hurt you awfully"
The man was so much astonished
that he dropped his cigar and his
hands, and sat staring at the valiant
little soldier before him. Then the hu-
mor in the situation came over him,
and he leaned back and laughed heart
lily.
"Iou needn't laugh" cried the boy,
holding his sword and never fiinching.
"You can't come in here and steal
without getting hurt. You'd better go;
this swords awful sharp"
'Mercy, now you frighten mew
cried the burglar, pretending to shiv-
er. "But you are surely not going to
turn me out of the house, when am
hungry and tired. | came here think
ing that | might get something to
eat"
"You can't get a thing till Mamma
Edith comes home," declared the little
defender of the house, sturdily. "And
you've got to be shut up, so she can
talk to you through the keyhole. I'm
not going to have her scared to death"
"You're not very big" said the
burglar; suppose l shut you up, and
then take what like?'
"You'd better not try itp' cried the
boy, -bracing himself and raising the
point Of the sword in a threatening
"Tm not going to have any
burglar stealing Mamma Edith's
things. Just get up, now, and march
into that room, and stay there till
Mamma Edith comes home, ani then
I'll get her to feed you, if you are hun
cry"
The burglar Strengthened himself up,
and from his great height he looked
down upon the little fellow with the
sword.
"YOu see that | am ;f>great deal larg-
er than you are" he.ssd, as he leaned
an elbow on the mantel, and twirled
his moustaehe. II really believe
might give you the worst of it if We
should have u pitched battle. What
would you do then?''
The blue eyes travelled, all the way
up the mans tall form until they reach
ed his face.
II would just keep fighting" said
the little soldier.
The burglar laughed, and said:
"Well, then, there is nothing for it
but TO obey your orders. Which room
have you set aside for my prison? This?
All, see it has no rocking-chair. Will
you allow me to take this one in:
Thanks. Don't fail to call me when
Mamma Edith comes home"
And the burglar sat down on the
and Jack turned the key in
the lock.
Mamma Edith, coming in to see
what was detaining the boy, met the
little fellow at the front door, his face
pale, his lips quivering. He had for
gotten to put the sword away, and he
clung TO her As he cried:
'Oh, Mamma Edith, I've shut up \
burglar in your room. Don't go up
there alone. I'll get Mr.. Brown to
come over and go with Us, and the
burglar says he's hungry, and you'll
give him something to eat, won't your
Mamma Edith was not one of the
kind, and so she did not faint.
A few minutes later, little procession
of them went up the stairs, and into
Mamma Edith's sitting-room. Then
they approached the door of the inner
room cautiously, Mr.. Brown in the
lead. Mrs. Strong would have been
close behind him, with the baby in her
arms, but Jack had pushed her aside
and stepped in front, determined to
protect her ut all risks. And then,
while they all held their breath, the
key was turned by Mr.. Brown, who
was well armed for the occasion, the
door was thrown open, and there sat
the burglar, serenely rocking and
smiling at them.
And then Mrs. Strong cried out:
"Oa, Frank, have you come home
At last?" and she threw herself, baby
and all, into the burglars arms. Mr.
Brown laughed and excused himself,
and Jack was left standing at the door,
sword in hand, looking at the scene
with widening eyes.
Ii was the burglar that thought Of
him first.
"Come here. little man." he cried in
his iovial way; and when the boy came
near, he held the little face between
both his hands and studied it.
"Do you know who you are, my little
defender of helpless women and ba-
bies?" he cried.
"Pm Jack" said the boy quickly.
"Yes, but you are more than that"
.a;d Mr. Sfronp aEotl're the son of