Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-09-20
keeps his money in, a. sure~ tn

was not very late yet. The cock nae
Just struck ten. Ii WIS possible that
Stewar, was still at The STATION. al work
on his report for the month. Ii he
could Only cal him up.
OH try it, deciGeG Billy.
lie took a quilt from The r-7 ant
dropped it lightly over the register.
"That'l keep the Sound of the ,nstru
ment from getting down to the NAV"
ne thought.
Then he got out of bed noiselessly and
tip-1oed across the room to, the table
on which the instrument stood.
His hand shook as he touched the key
of the sender. so fearful was i.e that
Stewart would have left the office. He
sent the "call" and waited almost
breathlessly for a reply.
Presently click. click click. went the
machine. and Stewart answered him.
~ burglar here he SAID to the sta
ton agent over the wire. Send men,
| quick. No time to lose. Hurry"
"All right" came back the reply.
| The village was about half a mile
away from the Mason farm. Billy cal
culated that it would take at least Is
minutes 10 get men together and get
them there. by that time the burglar
might be gone. But they would be so
close on his track that they might be
able to run him down.
He listened again.
by and by the man moved away from
the corner where the bureau stood and
went out of the room. Billy judged by
the faint light that fingered in it that
the unweicome visitor had gone into
the pantry, just across the kitchen
from the sitting-room door,
He was soon convinced that he was
right in this surmise, for he heard the
sound of crockery coming in contact
with other crockery.
Hes hunting about for something
to eat" thought Billy. land dom know
just where to look for it, so he has TO
keep looking till he finds it. / hope he'll
come across the doughnuts and mince
pie mother left for me. and will like
them so we'll he'll keep at them until
some one gets here"
Billy crept over to the front window,
raised the sash softly and listened.
I'm sure hear some one down the
road,' he said. He listened again.
BY this time Billy could distinguish
the forms of several men at the gate.
He threw up the sash and leaned out
of the window.
$50 round to the Kitchen door, he
cried. There's where he must have
got in. He's in the pantry now
The man in the pantry heard him, as
We'll as the men at the gate. and Billy
heard him scurrying across the kitchen
floor and out at the kitchen door,
But he was not too late to make his
escape. The men from the village
came around the house just as he
made bolt for the garden fence
and two or three shots We're fired at
him. One Of them took effect, and with
Il groan and some terrible oa1hs, he
fell among Mrs. Ma sons petunias and
holly hocls.
Five minutes later they had the
thief securely bound, hand and foot
by Mrs. Mason's clothcsllne. The
quite disabled him, but the part
from the village had no intention o1
letting him get away and being UNI
used to dealing with burglars anG
that class of not to- bed depended or
persons. and feeling rather insecure
as long as he had the use of hands
and feet. they determined to be OF
the safe side
III! bet he don't get them knot.
loose very easy declared the ma,
who did the tying. Il guess here
hain't much danger O. his gittin
away
The tin box in which Mr.. Masor
: kept his valuables was found in the
lower-hed, where the man hac
dropped it when the pistol ball hat
struck him. Some articles of old
Fashioned jewelry and trinkets of some
little value We're found in his peck, IS
and turned over to Billy. Then they
took him to the Village with them
, and he was lodged in Jail for safe
| keeping.
WI may DS 'iQllI ssut t lIIti vi ii III
Mrs. Mason was greatly excited whel
they found out what had happened
why. | had over $500 in that box.
, | cried Mr.. Mason. i've been saving i
! up to make payment on the wooc;
lot with. next week. | cont know
! what I'd Lave done if the man had go
of, with it,
"Now. what do YOU think of IN,
, 'foolishness?? cried Billy. "If i
hadn't been for our telegraph you,
have lost your money, as sure as 20,
| live
Il wouldnt wonder if you're RICH
!, about that" answered Mr. Mason.
s. Billy's father Went to town the mex
! week. and when he came back he ha,
something for Billy.
. It's brand new" he said. as Bill,
unwrapped the box. eager to see tn
, contents of it, Nothing second-han
about that, my SON"
'Oh. m. graciors,' cried Billy. hi
: eyes almost as big as dollars with sur
+ prise and delight, as the last Pc
, fell off. disclosing telegraph