Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-11-02
Under the Window Sash
BY Natehsu White, Jr.
IHRED APPLEBY was Is. tall. strong

and from Philadelphia, while Tom
Wilton was one year younger and from
New York; but during the summer, the
Applebys and the Wiltons occupied adj
Joining cottages at Lake Beach, and
thus Fred and Tom always set off their
Fourth of July frecrackers together.
The former seemed to know how to
do almost every thing, from construct
ing big kite to sailing a boat; so,
when the Wiltons decided to take q
tortnisht's trip to the White noun
tains, and we're compelled to shut up
their house meantime, as the servants
unexpectedly left in body, it was
quite natural that Tom should ask
Fred to keep an eye on it.
You remember how angry that Eng
Hsh coacEman was when father dis
charged him last week?" he hurriedLy
explained, just before the train left
well, he might hear in some way
about our all going off, and, although
l don't suppose he'd risk breaking in
himself, he may send a friend of his
down from the city, you know. So
keep"
But at that moment the cars moved
off, and Tom had to run for them.
Fred, however, fully comprehended
what was required of him, and re-
solved to prove himself worthy of the
trust.
His mother being a widow, he had
for the past two years been man OF
the house" at home, and, indeed, his
height and weight combined were cal
ri
spectful in his presence.
As soon as he had seen Tom safely
gain the rear platform of the last car
Fred walked back to the cottages,
which stood apart from the other
houses ia the village, the Wilton's be-
Ing bounded on one side by wood.
There was neither fence nor hedge
to separate the grounds from the Ap-
plebys' and after making sure that
every shutter had been closed, Fred
strobe back across the lawn to his own
piazza.
They might almost as we'll be open.
though" he reflected, las all one has
to do is to slip his fingers through the
Stats and lift the latch. They ought to
have nailed them up as they do in the
winter; but stop! I don't believe a
man could get his hand in. So won't
worry about that point Of approach"
Three times every day Fred walked
around the cottage. which always
stared back at him with the same
closed, inhospitable air, and at the
end OF week he concluded that the
wrathful coachman must have forgot
ten all about the Wiltons and Lake
Beach. However, he still kept up his
careful daily inspection of the prem
ises. thereby winning from his mother
and sister the title of ~the young
guardsman."
One day, just before lunch, he caught
up the baseball bat he always carried
on these occasions, and started on his
noon PATROL As he crossed the divid-
ing line between the grounds, he dis
tlnctly heard a shutter slam in the d.
reetion of the Wiltons' dining-room,
ard quickening his steps, he rounded
the corner of the wing in time to see
the body and legs of man dangling
from window On the ground floor, his
head and arms being already inside.
L
under his breath, as he dashed forward
and fear!essly grasped the burglars
coat with one hand, dropped the sash
with the ether. and then held his man
down under it with both.
The robber screamed and kicked Wig
orously. but Fred paid no attentic.
to the former and ski11fu1ly managed
to avoid the latter; however, Gow tina {
he had captured his man, like a good
many other people similarly situated,
he did not know what to do with him.
He could not stand there holding his
prisoner under the window for an IL
definite period, and yet he did not like
to release him, for fear he should prove
to be stronger than himself; as it was.
he had the rascal at decided disad-
vantage, and Fred finally decided to
keep him there while he shouted for
help
But on whom should he call? There
was no man about the place, except
now and then an old Irishman, who at
tended to the garden, and in an emer-
gency like the present he was scarcely
to be depended on; nevertheless, he
was better than nobody, so the young
guardsman began to shout: 'Mike!
Mke!" with all his Lungs, at the same
time pressing down the sash little
tighter OF the thief. who, as Fred
could now make out, was youth not
much older than himself, and very
SLIM
THAT Eng1ishman hasn't forgotten.
after ALL" unused Fred, between his
cries for the gardner; "and mas been
sharp enough to send some one with
smaller hands than his own, too. But
why he should have chosen broad day
light for his attempt passes me. al
though, to be sure, he may have
thought, and with some show Of sense.
that nobody'd be On the lookout for
burglars then. T wonder If couldn't
manage this young fellow by myself?
But, NO, must have somebody here to
bring a rope, help me bind him, and
stand guard while I see If there's such
q thing as constable over in the vii