Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-08-09
A THOUSAND ODD.
6670 OLD on, Fred! Got some
J0 thing to tell you!"

6677 OLD on, Fred! Got some.
J6 thing to tell you!"
Fred Harkins turned, and
seeing his special chum Charley Green
Sprlnting toward him. stopped and
waited for him to come up.
"Why weren't you ut school this
forenoon, Fred!" asked Charley,
'breathlessly.
'"Too busy" answered Fred, with an
important air. "Jerry's sick today and
fathers away. so I'm boss at the store
But what have you got to tell me,
Charley"
"Why, I caught that big woodchuck!
He's smasher, Fred! Come and look
lat him, just minute?"
"Oh, l can't shirk business that
way" replied Fred. as glanclng around
he saw a well-dressed stranger on the
piazza Of the village hotel near by.
Though bright and sensible. Fred was
over-fond Of showing off," as the
phrase is, and he thought this good
chance. So winkng at Charley he
went on: Besides. there's all the
money fathers going to put in the
bank tomorrow lying there in the
safe. A thousand odds too much to
fool with"
''That's so" said Charley. catching
up the joke. well, come over after
you close up. then"
"All right" and the boys separated,
Charley for afternoon school. and Fred
for his fathers grocery.
Fred had often helped about the
store, but he had never been boss be-
fore. Like the average boy Of IA he
was very proud Of the position. He
hustled round, initiating his father and
Jerry the clerk. aud feeling every inch
a man as he waited OH his customers.
Finally closing time came. The
youthful proprieton having put every
thing to rights was just preparing to
leave when the door opened and man
stepped inside.
"Give me change for Ave." he said,
abruptly.
At a glance Fred recognized the we'll
dressed stranger on the hotel piazza.
But something, perhaps the shadows
from the flaring lamp, now gave his
face hard and even desperate look.
Instantly the boy recoiled.
"Everything put away" he objected.
''Its too late for business"
mot for my kind of business, reck-
on" answered the man with harsh
laugh Coma, olt with it!' There
was the click of key in the lock, a
sudden CLEAN of steel, and Fred found
himself facing revolver not three
feet away and pointed straight at him.
Fortunately he was brave and quick
witted. "Out with what?" he repeated,
trying to gain time to think. "What do
you want! Change for five dollars!"
II want the tlousand-odd in the
SAFE" was the impatient answer "And
be quick about it,"
In an instant Fred realized what his
silly boasting had done. The WELL
dressed man was evidently a criminal
in disguise. What would he do when
he found himself disappointed?
Fred braced himself up to tell the
truth. why he said forcing a laugh,
1.-The money isn't really there. That
was just joke Of NINE"
ooh, yes,' Knocked the stranger
"And this Is a Joke Of mine" pointing
the pistol nearer. but unless have
that money inside Of two minutes twill
be the worst joke you ever knew, my
boy
This completely staggered Fred. How
was he to convince the robber? Per-
haps by showing him how small sum
there really was. Unlocking the safe,
he took out the money. Forty seven
dollars. all told.
There" he said, pushing It forward
That's all there is You can see for
yourself"
Still keeping his alm the man stuffed
the bills into his pocket with his left
hand. THAT'S the odd" he said. 'Now
where's the thousand:"
"Rut there isn't any thousand"
look here. kid" Interrupted the
robber. "If you don't hand over thar
money before count fifty, I'll let day
light through yon"
Felt felt that the desperate was in
earnest. A cold sweat broke out over
him. His heart beat like drum In
his ears. Yet still his wits kept at work
as he mechanically followed the fatal
numbers.
Thirty!-How many more seconds
ow?-Thirty-dve-A faint sound sud.
denly reached his ear. Had his father
seturned1 Now II he could only gain