The suburban citizen., 1900-10-27

Evidently the man felt perfectly sate
in taking his time for It. for he showed
no disposition to hurry.
Billy crept over to the front window,
raised the sash softly, and listened
I'm sure hear some one down the
road" he said. He listened again. IL
do hears them" he chuckled. They're
almost here. All, hal Mr. Burglar, l
wonder what you'll think when they
burst in on you? rather guess yOu'n
wish you'd gone about your business
little sooner"
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 door," 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 too late TO make his es-
cape. The men from the village came
around the house just as he made a,
bolt for the garden fence, and two or
three shots were fired Mt him. One
of them took effect, and with a groan
and some terrible oaths 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 dis
abled him, but the party from the viii
lage had no intention of letting him
get away. and, being unused to deal
ing 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.
I'm 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
flower bed, where the man had
dropped it, when the pistol ball struck
him. Some article Of old-fashioued
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 We're greatly excited
when they found out what had hap
pened
"Why, / had over two hundred dol
lars in that boxw cried Mr.. Mason.
1--WE been saving it up to make a
payment on the wood lot with. next
week. l don't know what I'd have
done if the man had got off with it,"
Now, what do you think of my
'fooIishnessF" cried Billy. IF it
hadn't been for our telegraph you'd
have lost your money as sure as you
live"
81 wouldn't wonder If you are right
about that" answered Mr.. Mason.
Bllly's father went to town the next
week, and when he came back he had
something for Billy.
ITS brand new" he said, as Billy
unwrapped the box eager to see the
contents Of it. Nothing secondhand
about that, my SON"
"Oh, my graciousw cried Billy, his
eyes almost as big as dollars with sur
prise and delight, as the last paper
fell off, disclosing Il telegraph outfit,
bright with enamel and gilt ornamen-
tation. Isn't it a daisy? say,
father, you couldn't have brought me
anything I'd rather have had than this.
It's a good deal nicer than the one the
operator has down at the station"
Glad you like it," said his father.
you've earned it, / hope all your
foolishness will turn out as this one
has"