The leader., 1898-01-19
Old Jacks Opportunity.
,eeeesesssseseeeesse'

table and fruit farm near my Iather )
larger farm.
Nv name is James, but the boys of the
peiehborhood abbreviated it to Jim, and
,dolph Switzer always called me
"shim." while | called him "Dolph.'
Dolph had lank, stupid, homely dog
named Jack, of the most disagreeable
shade of yellow. He always declared
that his "Yack" had the making of a
GREAT dog in him, but none of these
latent powers had manifested them
selves when Jack was six years old, and
Dolph and were IA. However, Dolph
still felt entire confidence in his dogs
abilities: they were merely waiting, he
said. for their chance to show them
seNes-for an 'obberdoonity."
This dog was always at our heels. ]
eay ours" because Dolph and l were
the warmest of friends, and spent all
our spare time together.
| was milking our cows out in the
harvard one evening in September
when heard the familiar voice of Dolph
call out:
20 Shim!"
| looked around over my shoulder,
and saw Dolph's round, red face be-
tween the top bars of the. fence.
Hello, Delphi" said.
SAY, Shin, you want to have some
goot fun?'
some fun?" asked. "What doing?'
well, | will let you know. My folks
are all gone away und want you to come
over und stay all night nit me, hey?"
Il will if l can, Dolph. But what
shall we do for fun?"
ooh, We will dink up someding, hey?''
My father gave me permission to
spend the night at Dolph's, on condition
that l should get home very early in the
morning. Mr.. and Mrs. Switzer and
their two little girls had gone to Dolph's
grandmother's to stay until the follow
ing day, leaving no one at home but
Dolph. II was the first time he had
ever been left in sole charge of the place,
and he seemed to feel that it was an
event in his life.
"Now, Shim," he said, as soon as we
were in the house, sin the first place We
viii eat all We can holt. My mutter said
can eat anyding want und all want
of it."
So Dolph began our "goot fun" by
making raid on his mothers pantry,
cellar and milkhouse, and setting forth
a great array of German delicacies.
After gorging ourselves, we played a
few games of checkers, told riddles and
brought our exhilarating time to close
by getting ready for bed.
We had both worked hard that day
and were accustomed to early hours. So
it was hardly nine o'clock when we
went upstairs to Dolph's little bedroom
over the kitchen. But first we had gone
around with candle, locking all the
doors and making sure that every win
dow was securely closed.
81 vas not afraid, mind you, Shim,' u
Dolph said; Il have no need to be scared
of anyding nit old Yack in the house,
hey?"
The dog was right at our heels, as
usual
Il guess he wouldn't hurt anybody
said.
He would not, hey?" Dolph retorted,
sharply, Il like better it vas you as
me dot would get Yack after him at
night, hey?"
They say that there are burglars
around l replied.
You don'd say sol" Dolph turned
around and faced me suddenly, and ]
thought his face paled little.
Yes" | said. "They got into Mr.
Lanes house last night and stole lot
of things"
They did, hey? Shin, come NIT
me-"
He led the way to his fathers room
and took from the wall huge, old
fashioned musket, and from trunk a
par of horse pistols and an old sword.
handing me one of the pistols and the
sword, Dolph said with savage shake
OF his head:
"Now, Shin. we need not be afraid
OF noding, hey? l would like shance
10 use dis, und to show you dot old
lack was no Coward"
Some time after midnight l felt
Dolph's elbow thrust sharply into my
side, and heard his whisper shrilly into
my ear:
20 Shim!"
What is it?" whispered.
You vide awaken"
"Yes."
Have you not heard noding?"
"No."
81 hat, shim."
'What?
"T-e-e-eyes!"
The appalling word was fairly Kissed
INTO my ear.
Thieves!" gasped out.
hey?"
20 Dolph.n
"sh-sh-sh! BE not afraid We hal
betl"
Hell do no good therel"
He viii COON out ven he is needed.
oet up und get your sword und peestol,
und-ach, listen!"
Some one was certainly moving
around in the kitchen below US. We
neard tin pan fall to the floor and
'hen the creaking of hinge as door
was opened.
Dot vas de bantry door" Dolph wills,
pefea TO me. III goes sque-e-e-k like
aoI' shin. vas you scared?"
! was, but ] would not say 50. and
Knew that polph was scared. too. o.
AoaEh he was trying hard to 30 brase
We reached ont and liehfatl the canals
MI % q chair b. the hsdllds. Each d