The Florence daily tribune., 1899-01-09
/ Under the Window Sash
- Nssshsu SAiss. -.
.RED APPLEBY wa. IS. tall. .tro

Applebys and the Niitons occupied sd-
joining cottages at Lake Beach. and
thus Fred and Tom always set on their
Fourth Of July freersckers' together.
The former seemed TO know how &c
do almos, every thing. from construct
ing a big kite to sailing . boat: 40
when the Wiltony decided to take
fortnight's trip to the White noun
tainx. and were compelled TO shut uy
their house meantime, as the servants
unexpectedly ief; in body. it wa.
quite natural that Tom should Ask
Fred to keep~n eye on 1t.
you remember how angry that Eng
lish coachman was when father dis
charged him last week?" he hurriedly
explained, just before the train left
well. he nigh, hear in some way
about our all going on, aud. although
don't suppose held risk breaking In
himself. he may send friend Of his
down from the city, you know. So
keep"
But al that moment the cars moved
on. and Tom had to run for them.
Fred, however. fully 'comprshended
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
culated TO keep small boys very re-
spectful in his presence.
a, soon as he had seen Tom safely
gain the rear platform OF the laet car.
Fred walked back to the cottages,
which stood apart from the other
houses in the village, the Wilton's be-
ing bounded on one side by wood
There was neither fence nor hedge
TO separate the grounds frcm the APP
plebys' and after making sure that
every shutter had been closed. Fred
strode back across the lawn to his own
piazza.
They might almost as well be open,
though" he reflected. "as all one has
to do is TO slip his fingers through the
Stats and lift the latch. They ought 10
have nailed them up as they do in the
winter: but stop, l 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 Away.
stared back at him with the same
closed, inhospitable air. and at she
end Of week he concluded that the
wrathful coachman must have forgot
ten all about the Wilton- and Lake
Beach. However. he still kept up his
careful daily inspection OF the prem
ises. thereby winning from his mother
Siuta hn ss,h
guardsman."
One day. just before lunch, he caught
up the baseball bat he always carried
on these occasions, and started on his
noon patrol. A, he crosSedith divid-
ing line between the grounds. he dis
tinctlv heard shutter slam in the di-
rectiop of the Wiltons' dining-room.
and quickeuing 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 hix
head and arms being already inside.
"Caughi in the act." exclaimed Fred.
under his breath. as he dashed forward
and fear'essly grasped the burglsr's
coat with one haud. dropped the sash
with the ether. and then held his man
down under IL with both.
The robber screamed and kicked Wig
orously. but Fred paid no attention
20 the former and skilliully managed
0 avoid the latter: however, now that
he had captured his man. like n good
many other people similarly situated.
he did not know what to do with him.
He could not stand there holding hi.
D.
'eini'e period. and yet he did not like
release him. for fear he should prove
, oe stronger than himself: a. il was.
had the rascal at "a decided disad-
lntage. ard Fred finally decided to
ep him there while he shouted for
lip.
i'ui on whom ehould he call? There
ls no man about the place. excep.
~ and hen an old 1rishman. who at
feed 10 ihe garden. and in an emer-
-ency ike he presenthe was scarcel,
o be deAcnEod on: nevertheless. b.
was better ihan nobody. so the Young
guarsIsman began to shout: mike,
Niket' with all his lungs. al the same
sine pressing down the sash little
tighter or the thief, who. a. Fred
couiu now make ont. was youth not
much older than himself. and very
slim.
That Englishman hasn't forgotten.
after all, mused Fred. between his
cries for the gardner: and mas been
sharp enough TO send some ono with
smaller hSIds than his own. too. But
why he should have chosen broad day
light for his attempt passes me. al
though, &c be sure, he may have
thought. and with some show of sense
that nobodyd be on the lookout for
burglars then. / wonder il couldn't
manage This young fellow by myseit?
But, no. must have somebody here to
bring rope, help me bind him, and
stand guard while I see if there's such
thing as constable over in the viii
iage"