The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-12-11
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BILLY MASON'S "FOOLISHNESS.'
lnMnM0M0Mo0M00n0M0nn Observation-Disclosures
BY E. E. ReXfOrd.

plan, often-delayed visit. and Billy
was left to look out for himself which
he felt quite able TO do
The night closed in dark and threat
ening storm. The wind blew fiercely
about the house. and made roaring
sound in the chimney of the fireplace.
Billy did not feel ut all frightened at
being alone, but he could not help
feeling lonesome.
He went up TO his room about eight
o'clock and concluded he would 90 TO
bed.
II wonder if Stewart is in the office
stillf' lie thought I'll call him, and
see"
He went to the instrumcnt,and made
his call
Click, click, click, came back the an
swer presently.
Didn't know hut that you'd gone
home telegraphed Billy.
Busy making out my monthly re
port" came back the answer shall
not he able to get away very carly
tonight Goodnight
Goodnight" responded Billy and
then he went to bed
lie dropped off to sleep almost i'm
mediately. But lie awoSe just as the
old clock downstairs was striking ten.
AS the sound of the clock died away,
he became conscious of another sound
"A sound like that of a step I'm the
room belOw-a slow, careful step, as
of some one who did not care to make
noise enough 10 warn others of his
presence.
Il wonder if some one is down stairs,
OF am l imagining itT' thought Billy
He sat up in bed and listened.
II do hear steps" he decided. who's
down stairs I'd like to know? None
of our folks-they wouldn't be tip-toe-
ing round like that 1t must be
burglar or a tramp"
Billy's room was over the sitting
room. There was a register in the
floor Immediately in front of his bed.
When this was open, light would shine
through from the window below. As
he sat there, lie heard a sound like
the careful opening OF loor, and then
he saw q giimmer OF light through the
opening in the register plate. He
leaned out Of bed, and peered down
into the room below. Presently a man
passed under the register He could
see enough OF him 10 tell that IL was
a man, and that was all. He listened.
Pretty soon he heard a sound like that
OF bureau drawers being opened.
1t was burglar" decided Billy
Hell get away with fathers box
that he keeps his money in, Us Surc's
the worldw
Suddenly an idea came TO Billy. IT
was not very late yet The clock had
Just struck ten II was possible that
Stewart was still at the station, at
work OF his report for the month. If
ne could only call him up
"I'l try it," decided Billy.
He took quilt from the bed aud
dropped it lightly over the register.
"Thatll keep the sound Of the in
strument from getting down to the
man." lie thought.
Then he got ont OF bed noisclcssly
and tiptOcd across To the table on
which the instrument stood
Ills hand shook as he touched tnc
key Of the sender. 80 fearful was he
that Stewart would have left the Of
ice. lie sent the call and waited
almost breathlessly for reply.
Presently click click. click. went
the machine and Stewart bad AN
swercd him
"A burglar here" hc said TO the ~ta-
ton agent over the wire Send men.
quick. No time TO lose. Hurry"
"All right" came back the reply
The village was about half mile
away from The Mason farm Billy
calculated that il would take ut least
fifteen minutes to 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 bc able to run him down.
lie listened again
The man was still nt thc bureau. DO
seemed lie was evidently rummugiug
through All the drawers of 30.
Very likely hc knows there is no
one in the house but me-. thought
Billy. and he feels safe ir taking his
time for &c. I suppose he'll take AN
mothers trinkcts as well as fathers
money If there Happens TO Doe amy
in the box.
Byaud-by thc man moved away
from the corner where the bureau
stood and went out of the room Billy
judged hy thc faint light that fingered
in IT, that The uuwelcomc visitor had
gone into the pantry. just across Che
kitchen from thc sitting room door
lie was convinced that lac WAS right
in this surmisc. for ne heard Che sound
Of crockery coming iu contact with
other crockery
"Hc's hunting about for something
to eat" thought Bnly."uud don't know
just where 10 look for 3d. SO he has
to keep looking uu hc finds &c. hope
bell come across the douchnuts aud
miuce pie mother left for me. and
viii like thcm so wcll that he'll keep
at them uuuI some ono Gets hpre