Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-09-08

YOUNG FOLKS COLUMN.



handed. Reuben was allowed to come
along and be the crew. for be couId cook
me dinner after fashion. and could
tend the jib sheet and the mizzen down
maui handsomely, besides taking the
wheel III an easy breeze
The afternoon was almost gone when
stir and noise down the wharf ana
people cfowding down took Reuben off
ms perch. The crowd. parting a little
let an officer through leading u man by
the collar. Wharf rat, River thieft''
people. were saying. What did he take
this timef"
Two Old sailors talking together be-
SIDE Reuben told him all about it, Ii
appeared~ that many small taerts had
been committed of la1e Somebody was
always getting away with a. coil of rope
or oars. or amy portable ship stuff they
could steal By day or drop into boats mt
night. just then the ship chandler
came out with bunch of keys for Rec
bon and message for him from his fa-
thcr To 90 on board, as he would be kept
uptown on business till dark.
The wharf was deserted a. he stepped
aboard and the night was closing H.
Lights shone out in cabin windows and
ere the West India brig aStcrn looked
dlmly far off. Into the great heart Of
the little mate came big fear. There
might be Il wharf rat somewhere
around, perhaps waiting among the piles
to climb up on the vessels sides at night
or lurking among the wharf stuff IL
come aboard more easily
Reuben decided not to light the swing
ing lamp in the cabin, and to do without
supper He would just creep into his
bunk with all his clothes on and lie
awake till his father came. He Law nel'v-
ously listening in the silence. No wind
was stirring and the tide was rising
without ripple III the dock lifting the
little schooner without even creak in
her lines. Suddenly a mouse galloped
over shelf of tins, and the scared lit
tie mate had bright idea Why not lay
"A trap for the thieves. a sort of tin-pan
trap, so that if he did fall asleep he
should hear one if he came Creepine
out into the dark galley. he bravely gath
cred mp all the tin pans he could carry
ana took them to the companionway. He
unlocked the deck door. but left il closed.
than carefully, laid pan in the middle
of each step all the way down. The I'M
suspecting thief stealing in would slip up
or the first tin and so start all the 9TH
ers. and land in the pile at the bottom,
WhereupOn Reuben would bind him hand
and foot and rush out for help.
Reuben lay listening long time, and
Keeping awake, on meaning to. Certainly
he could not have been asleep very long
when the worst and the best of his hopes
We're realized. Something heavy came
humping down the companion way in n
din of falling tinware. Reuben lcaped
on deck by the galley door. locked every
thing after him and sat with his back
against the biggest door till his father
came whistling down the street.
I've got him, father" he shouted
I've got the wharf rat.
Just then Il lantern came zig-Zaging
down the rope ladder of the West India
brig on it's way to the Hornet. Other
lanterns appeared, and Il voice from
somewhere called out checrily, Hello.
there. Any damage done? Little boy all
right
The little boy was swelling with pride
just then.
Meanwhile the wharf rat began to he
NOISY and to beat on the door.
Let me out! Let me QUIT said this
curious person. I'm broke to pieces,
brat that boy. Let me out. Hello. cap
tain. Where are YEP"
Capt. Larkin looked hard at Reuben.
and saw by his crestfallen look that there.
was a mistake somewhere practical
Joke intended. He unlocked the door and
said:
"Ah How do you do. Mr.. Jones?
re little early tonight. | said $40.
and it's not yet s."
II thought ne was Il river thief
suffered the poor mate. That man on
the wharf today-he was a
Bless your life said the captain of
the brig: we don't have no wharf rats
here. We got a gate to our wharf Mr.
JoneS-here- wharfnger. he's the only
man can get in and out sides us!'
That man began Reuben.
On. HIM! laughed the captain. He
warn't no thief. He was a stowawiss -
Louise Lyndon IN Pittsburg Dispatch.