Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-08-09
time!-Hc held up his hand. The man

0me!-Hc held up nl0 mana. Inc WSU
stopped counting.
$50 you've come to your senses?" he
muttered, with savage triumph. Bring
on the thousand, thenw
"Yes-" hesitated Fred, as slowly
as he dared. "Yes-I'll get 1t for YOU
Tiff you'll promise me my share"
"You precious young rascal! The
robber started forward. There was
fash, a report, 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
the robber? Beyond the spread smoke
puff the boy saw a form lying notion
less at his feet, while nearby, Tom, the
big grocery cat, sat with his back up
splitting at thin stream of blood that
crept over the floor.
Next moment the locked door was
violently shaken. Erred" shouted his
fathers voice. "Open the door, Fred!
What's the matter!"
Fred ran to open the door. Mr.. Har-
kin's anxious face cleared. for he had
heard the shot, and feared some acct
dent. Then he bent over the still un-
conscious form on the floor.
whats the matter?" he repeated.
"a burglar" stammered Fred, ex-
citedly, pointing to the open safe. Hes
got all the money!"
"Glve me that rope" said his father.
"He's more stunned than hurt, guess.
Lay the revolver on the counter. Now
tell me just what has happened"
While the robber was being securely
bound, Fred described what had taken
place up to the point when the pistol
went off.
But how came he to shoot him.
self?" asked Mr.. Harkins. Did he
stumble, or what?"
Fred's puzzled look changed to sud-
den comprehension. He burst out
laughing. "Why, that's just itv' lie ex-
claimed. at must have been Tom"
"Tom? l don't see how a cat could
fire a pistol" said his father, laughing.
"Well, he could make somebody else
fire 1t, IL twas already cooked" per-
sisted Fred. II know the first thing
saw afterwards was Tom splitting, with
his tail as big as two. | guess he was
asleep upon the shelf and when the
man went for me 1t walked him up, and
he jumped down right In his face, ard
then he Jumped, too. and hit himself
f,,c to - Erod 1a1rrta1 an Vtitl n pOnl.
less confusion of pronouns. Anyhow.
there was big noise Just before the
pistol went Off" he added.
Him." said his father. who mean
while had been emptying the robbers
pockets. "Here, Fred, lock this money
up In the safe. and then run over for
Mr.. Greene. This fellow Is going to
wake up before long"
Fred soon came back with their
neighbor Greene and Charlie into the
bargain. Charlie seemed to regard the
whole affair as a tirst-clnss entertain
Meut.
Caught a burglar" he repeated, in
delight. "That's a jolly sight better'n
my woodchuck!"
AS Mr.. Harkins thought, the desper-
ado was more stunned than hurt, the
wound proving very slight. When he
came to himself they put him. tied
hand and foot, into the team and took
him over to the county town to be
safely locked up. They learned after
wards that he was notorious crilni-
nal, whose appearance had assisted him
in all sorts Of villalny. In fact. he
was eyading arrest In II distant State,
when he was suddenly brought to pun
lshment by Tomas Fred believes.
Mrs. Harkins believes so, too. She
Is convinced that the cat and nothing
else saved her boys life that night.
SO nothing Is too good for Tom, and he
Is always sure of kind word and
dainty morsel whenever she goes into
the grocery.
AS for Fred himself. he makes
great pet of his companion In that stir
ring adventure. Charley Greene and
he have rugged up red leather collar
with brass bells and have renamed
him "Thousand-Odd," In memory of
the scene in which he was the hero.
This has been shortened for convent
ence. and he Is known simply as
odd" Only when Fred begins to talk
big" his father just says Thousand
Odd" and Fred subsidies at once!-In-
diana Farmer.