The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-12


the highest part of the roof, when an
unwelcoIne sound arrested their atten-
ton and sent a sudden chill over their
spirits. Some one on horseback was
turning into the lane that led to jog
gins barni It must be either Mr.. jog
gins or the hired man, though the boys
supposed they were both in bed and
asleep long before this time.
Crouching down on the roof, out of
sight as far as possible, and scarcely
daring to breathe, the boys anxiOusly
awaited developments. 1t was decided
y thrilling moment, and when they
heard Joggins' voice saying, "HellOi
What's that ladder doing there2
Thought l left it under the shed, they
would have cheerfully given all their
jack knives and other valuables to
have been safely out of the scrape.
But if JogginS had discovered them
or suspected the purpose for which
the ladder had BEEN placed there, he
made no sign. Putting his horse into
the stable, he fastened the door, then
removing the ladder, he carried il back
under the shed where the boys had
found it, and went on to the house,
whistling softly to himself.
well, now we are in a nice fix" ut
tered Will Perkins. dolefully. as the
door closed behind Joggins. This other
ladder won't reach half way to the
ground, even if we could spare it from
where it is. Joggins has got us freed,
and when ne comes out in the morning
and discovers us he will probably send
for the constable and have US all locked
up"
''Wouldn't blame him bit if he did"
said Carl Bunker But we mustn't stay
here to be discovered. Where is the
rope we had Just now hauling up the
wagon? Won't that reach to the
ground, or far enough so we can drop
the rest of the way without breaking
our legs or our necks?'
1T might if we only had it here, ;"
groaned VIII Perkins, but [ threw 1t
down to the ground after we got this
COMPOUNDED blackboard up here. Say,
boys; no use talking, 1 can't stand it
up here until daylight; I'm going to yell
for Mr. Joggins to come out and let us
down.
Yes, and get US all arrested" ut
tered Carl, reproachfully.
.sWSll, if we are going to be arrested
we might as we'll be arrested now as in
| the morning. I'd feel enough sight more
comfortable and safer in the lookup
| than roosting I'D here on the peak OF
! this barn all night. I'm chilled through
now. So here goes, no matter what
| happens. Hi, there. Mr.. Jogginsl Hal
Loo help halloo!"
Mr. Joggins promptness in respond
| ing to this appeal looked somewhat suS-
picious, almost as though he had been
standing with an ear to the keyhole lis
tening for it
well, what's wanted?" he demanded,
sticking his head out of the door as the
final shout died away.
Were up on the roof of the barn, a
lot of US boys, and want to get down, ="
explained VIII Perkins in tones that
were far from mirthful.
"Shol you don't say 500" calculated
! Joggins: and then, without another
word, he tramped out to the barn, took
the ladder from under the shed, placed
! it against the side of the barn where
he had found it when he came home;
! then, climbing carefully to the top, he
poked his head over the roof, and, gaZ-
| ing in apparent surprise upon the scene
| before him, remarked:
well, well, boys it was real good of
! you to come UP here to get that wagon
down for me, and I'm much obliged to
you, I'm sure. Tramps must have car
ried it up there, 1 reckon-and then,
when you boys discovered it and went
up to bring it down and put it back
were it belong. l came laundering
! along and took the ladder away, and
left you all penned up there like lot
of sailors cast away C. desert island.
Just like me; I'm always doing some
thing of that kind.
But seeing you boys are bound to
take that blackboard down to the
| ground for me, 1 spOse l ought to men
ton that the easiest way to handle 1t
is to take it apart. I'll go down and
get the wrench, and-oh, you've got
one already, have you? Well, now, that
was real thoughtful of you, too, to so
clear home after a wrench when you
saw the fix the wagon was in. And
now, if you will just take off the wheels
and the thills and pass them along
we'll have that blackboard down on the
ground where it belongs in a jiffy.
The boys were somewhat undecided
whether these remarks were intended
for irony or in earnest, but upon one
point there wasn't the slightest room
for doubt, and that was that Mr.. jog
gins was treating them much better
than they deserved to be treated; and
they set to work like beavers, and in
half an hour the wagon was standing
in it's accustomed place under the shed
apparently none the worse for its ad-
venture
III.
"There bows you've done first class -