The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-12-08


very clearly audible. The window up
stairs, directly over the one chosen by
Jimmy for his house-breaking expert
ment, was partly open, for ventilation,
no doubt, and right across from it was
his unele's aud his annt's room.
After few minutes, during which
no move that they could hear or see
was made in the house, head slowly
appeared from the window above
Jimmy could see it distinctly outlined
against the sky, and as it turned from
right 10 left be muttered to himself:
"Where on earth are his whiskers?
Who can that be, anyway? 1t isn't
Uncle Charles, that's certain"
Then he ch1ckled so hard that he
needed both hands and his handker-
chief to smother the sound, and he
crawled along the ground to the first
of the other boys and whispered:
They've heard it and he has sent
Aunt Carry to look out of the window.
/ guess he isn't slfraid-is he?"
perhaps he's coming down to the
door; maybe he'll have pistol, and if
he sees US he'll shoot" suggested will
lie Bates, one of the choir boys, whom
Jim had invited to see the fun.
mighty funny he doesn't come out
or do something" said Jim. "Pll go
back and bore some more, just to liven
them up" and he slid along the ground
back to his place, and again that
stealtby grind could be heard on the
night air.
Still there was no notice taken of it,
except that his aunt's head again APP
peared at the window above. Jim was
disappointed; he slipped away from
the window and slowly collected the
boys on the other side of the street.
"It's no use, fellows; either we've
scared him to death, or he won't show
up. Did any of you see anything?"
"Yes, saw the two boys dodging
round on tiptoe, and Charlie hiding be-
hind every chair; he isn't afraid-oh
no-but didn't see anything of Uncle
Charles"
"Well, don't understand it. Where
is he? don't blame the boys for be-
ing afraid; 1 didn't think how badly it
would scare them. L thought that,
with their father to see to things, they
would like the excitement"
They all sat in the dark angle OF the
steps, and were just thinking the whole
thing a miserable fizzle, when they
heard steps coming down the street.
Then they crowded back into the dark
ness, like y litter of puppies, one on
top of the other. at the same moment
a window in their aunt's room opened,
the gas was turned up brightly, and
they heard her call out:
"Ofieer, come over here; there is
someone trying to get into this house,
The policeman-for it was police
man, they saw his buttons glitter in
the lamplight-erossed over, and
Charlie opened the door for him, and
he went in.
"NOw's our time, fellows-scoot P'
whispered Jiill, aud, as silent as shad-
ows, they took themselves Off to their
respective homes, and Jim erept into
bed a very much bewildered boy.
Somehow his plan to test his unele's
courage had failed. Where on earth
could he be? Was he sick? If, so,
then Jim was sorry. Or was he afraid?
Jim rolled over in bed in disgust.
"I'd never let my wife shield me, not
if 1 died Of scare p' he said aloud.
whats that you are saying, you
young rascal" called his father from
the next room.
"HelloI Are you awake, papa?"
said Jim, to turn off the question.
"Yes, and you are dreaming l guess
talking of your wifel Go to sleep p'
So ended Jim's performance, but there
was another side to the story.
The family were at breakfast next
morning, Jim still excited and curious,
and his father, who knew him well,
fully aware that he had been up to
something as yet unexplained, when
Charlie and his little brother came into
the room.
"Aunt Molly, can you go over to our
house? Mamma is so nervous and
worn-Out that we can't go TO school
and leave he-, papa says, unless some
one can go over and stay with her,"
"Why, what is the matter?n every
one asked.
Charlie looked important, and Jim
looked at his plate, and his father look
ed at them both, and he knew that
whatever there was to tell, his son
could do the talking just as well as
the boy from the other house. Then
little Bob broke the news.
'There was a burglar in our house
last night"
"He didn't get in," interrupted Char
lie; "he got scared when he found we
were awake and were not afraid, so he
cleared out"
"But mamma got policeman TO
come in, and he found the hole that
the man made, just under the window.
Papa says it's funny place"
"But where was your father?"
Papa was in town; he did not get
home until after two, and the man was
there at about one, should say, and it
has made mamma sick; women are
very easily frightened, it seems to me.
/ knew nothing would happen, and 1
wanted to go right out and see if |
could get a look at him, but mamma
wouldn't let me-"
$50, the hole is IN a queer place."
said Jim's father.
"Yes, it isn't near the bolt Of the
window, at all"
That's odd, very odd. The burglar
must have been drunk; but I'm glad
you were not a coward, Charlie; hate
a coward, not that for q boy to be afraid
of thief would be cowardly, but for
boy to be afraid of results, especially if
he has produced them himself, would
be, Think" and he got up and walk
ed TO the window.