The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-09-21

was not very late yet. The clock hac
just struck ten. It was possible that
Stewart was still at the station, at work
on his report for the month. If he
could only call him up!
'I'll try it." decided Billy.
He took quilt from the bed aDe
dropped it lightly over theregister.
'.Thatll keep the sound of the instru-
ment from getting down to the man."
he thought.
Then he got out of bed noiselessly and
tip-toed 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 ne that
Stewart would have left the office. He
sent the "call" and waited almost
breathlessly for reply.
Presently click, click, click. went the
machine. and Stewart answered him.
a burglar here" he said TO the sta
tion 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 cal
culated that il would take at least Is
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 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 unwelcome 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, "and don't know
just where to look for it, so he ha. to
keep looking till he finds If. Ihope he'll
come across the doughnuts and mince
pie mother left for me, and win like
them so well he'll keep at them until
some one gets here"
Billy crept over to the front window,
raised the sash softly and listened.
Pm sure 1 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.
go round to the kitchen deer" he
cried. There's where he must have
got in. He's in the pantry now"
The man in the pantry heard him. as
well 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 hi.
escape. The nen from the village
came around the house just as he
made bolt for the garden fence,
and two or three shots were fired at
him. One of them took effect, and with
a groan and some terrible oath., he
fell among Mrs. Mason's petunias and
hollyhocks.
Five minutes later they had the
thief securely bound, hand and foot,
by Mrs Mason's clotheslIne. The
shot had struck him in the leg, and
quite disabled him, but the party
from the village had no intention of
letting him get away, and, being I'M
used to dealing with burglars and
that class of not-to-be-depended-on
persons, and feeling rather insecure
as long as he had the use Of hands
and feet, they determined to be on
the safe side
III bet he don't get them knots
loose very easy" declared the man
who did the tying. II guess there
hain't much danger o. his gittin'
away"
The tin box in which Mr.. Mason
kept his valuables was found in the
fower-bed, where the man had
dropped it when the pistol ball had
struck him. Some articles of old
fashioned jewelry and trinkets Of some
little value were found in his pockets,
and turned over to Billy. Then they
took him to the village with them,
and he was lodged in Jail for safe
keeping.
You may be quite sure that Mr. and
Mrs. Mason was greatly excited when
they found out what had happened
why, had over $500 in that box,-
cried Mr.. Mason. I've been saving it
up TO make a payment on the wood
lot with, next week I cont know
what I'd Lave done if the man had got
of with it."
Now, what do you think of my
'foolishness?' q" cried Billy. IF it
hadn't been for our telegraph you'd
have lost yoUr money, as sure as you
live"
Il wouldn't wonder if you're right
about that" answered Mr.. Mason.
BilIy's father went to town the next
week and when he came hack he had