Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-08-22
A THOUSAND ODD.

60M07VLD On. T rtU. Got some
in thing to tell your
Fred Harkins turned, and
seeing his special chum Charley Green
sprinting toward him, stopped and
waited for him to come up.
why weren't you at school this
forenoon, Fred?" asked Charley,
breathlessly.
TOO busy" answered Fred. with an
important air. "Jerry's sick to-day and
fathers away, so I'm boss at the store.
But what have you got to tell me.
Charley?"
why, l caught that big woodchucki
He's smasher. Fred, Come and look
at him, just a minuteT
"Oh, 1 can't shirk business that
way" replied Fred, as glancing 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 winking 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-odd's too much to
fool with
That's sor said Charley. catching
up the joke. well. come over after
you close up. then
'.All rightr' 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, and feeling every inch
q man as he waited on his customers.
Finally closing time came The
youthful proprietor. having put every
thing TO rights was just preparing to
leave when the door opened and a man
stepped inside.
Give me change for a five" he said,
abruptly.
AT glance Fred recognized the well.
dressed stranger on the hotel piazza.
But something, perhaps the shadows
from the fiaring lamp now gave his
face n hard and even desperate look.
u
Everything put away" he objected
Its too late for business"
Not for my kind of business, | reck-
on" answered the man with a harsh
laugh. Gone. oJt with itr' There
was the click Of key in the lock, a
sudden CLEAN of steel, and Fred found
himself facing revolver not three
o.
Fortunately be was brave and quick
witted. out with what" he repeated,
trying 10 gain time To think. What do
you want! Change for five dollars!'
Il want the thousands odd in tie
safe" was the impatient answer. And
be quick about it,''
In an instant Fred realized what his
silly boasting had done The we'll
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.
''the money ISN'T really there. That
was just joke of mine
"Oh, yes" mocked 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 be 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 aim. the man stuffed
the bills into his pocket with his left
hand. That's the odd" he said. Now
where's the thousand?'
But there isn't any thousand"
"Look here, kid" interrupted the
robber. IF you don't hand over that
money before count fifty, I'll let day
hight through your
Felt felt that the desperate was in
earnest cold sweat broke out over /
him. His heart beat like a drum in |
his ears. Yet still his wits kept at work |
~ he mechanically followed the fatal |
numbers.
Thirty!-How many more seconds |
BOW ?-Thirty -five-A faint sound sud-
denly reached his ear Had his father
returned7 Now if he could only gain
nmetHe held up his hand. The man
stopped counting.
80 you've come to your SenSes!' he
nuttered, with savage triumph. Bring
IN the thousand, them
Yes" hesitated Fred, as slowly
As he dared. "Yes-IIl get 1t for you
Tiff you'll promise me my share"
You precious young rascal?' The
eobber started forward. There was a
lash. a report a confusion of sounds
and the room seemed to whirl round
with Fred
When his wits came back again, he
found himself standing just where he
had stood few seconds before. He
was certainly alive and unhurt But
he rObber? Beyond the spread smoke
ouff the boy saw a form lying motion
'ess at his feet, while nearby, Too, the
Dig grocery cat. sat with his back up,
splitting at a thin stream of blood that
,rept over the floor.
Next moment the locked door was
shaken. "Fredr' shouted his
.ather's voice. open the door, Fred!
What's the natter
Fred ran to open the door. Mr.. Har-
Iin's anxious face cleared, for he had
leard the shot, and feared some acci- I
lent. Then he bent over the still IN =
Isplcious form on the floor.