Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-11-14

be kept in a cage ready to send with
note when occasion required.
One rainy day Tom Nelson, having
nothing to do and finding the time
banging heavily on his hands. thought
II a favorable opportunity for him to
pay his cousin a visit, and had caught
ap his hat with that intention, when his
father. passing through the kitchen
where he was, said:
tom, l am going to the village, to be
gone several hours, and 1 don't want
you to leave the house. have noticed
several tramps around here lately and
they might be troublesome to your
mother If they found her alone"
"All right, SIR" said Tom, who felt
somewhat disappointed. but he had
long ago learned to not grumble about
trtfies.
II feel uneasy about that money.
George" said Mrs. Nelson, who had Ell
tered the room and was looking anx-
lously at her husband.
What money! asked Tom.
Why" said his father, 1.-The school
BOARD at their last meeting made me
treasurer and handed me all the funds,
amounting to little over $500"
Where 10 it," asked Tom again.
Safely hidden away where no one
will be likely to find It," answered his
father, laughing. III you and your
mother don't know where 1t is you will
not be able to tell any one, that's GER
tain" and he went OF.
81 never feel safe with 80 large an
amount In the house." said Mrs. Nelson,
and she went about her work with a
preoccupied air.
Tom busied himself writing a note to
his cousin, and when 1t was ready he
went to the woodshed and brought in
the cage containing the messenger. He
was Just going to tie the note to the
birds wing when the kitchen door
opened and a man walked In without
knocking. a man Of the real, genuine.
unadulterated tramp species - dirty,
ragged, unkempt and brutal-looking.
"Villain" was written Ia unmistakable
characters on his ugly countenance.
He asked abruptly for. or rather de-
manded. something to eat, and Mrs.
Nelson. with a troubled glance at him,
set about preparing a meal, pretending
to take no notice OF the furtive glances
which her unwelcome guest was cast
Ing around him.
Tom, who was a slightly built lad of
Is, did not seem a formidable obstacle
to this burly rogue, for after one care
less glance in the boys direction he
took the chair offered by Mrs. Nelson
and sat down to his dinner.
Tom. remembering his fathers part
Ing words. was in a sore dilemma He
Inst - ctively feared the man. for he
knew that he had not the strength to
contend with him if violence was Offer
ed, and he felt sure there would be
trouble when the tramp had refreshed
himself. There were no near neighDors,
aud he could not leave his mother alone
while he went for help.
While all this was passing through
his mind his glance fell upon the note
he had written, and he started as a
thought entered his mind. Selling the
pen, he opened the note and hurriedly
added:
"A rascaily looking tramp has just
come in. Mother is feeding him. but
there is TO tellin. what he Will be ui'
to when lie gets through eating. ASK
uncle and Mike to come over as quick
rs they can. Father is away.
Fastening the note securely to the
pigeon. he went to the door, and opeu-
ns It let the bird go. AS he did SO the
nln sprung from The table where he
hud been swallowing his food In great
gulps. caught Tom by the shoulder and
aung him across the room, saying,
roughly:
..Set down, sonny. and make yourself
easy Coin to call the neiShbors, was