St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-06-29
CATCHING A BURGLAR
nY cLIFFoRp TREMBLY.

I'm yeryy sorry to leave you, boys,
but since Aunt Sarah needs me 50 bad
ly, T think It is my duty to go, said
my mother, as father was preparing to
help her in the carriage.
Oh, We won't mind tin the least!y'
replied T.
The carriage was soon lost from
view around the curve Iii the road,
and We were masters Of The place.
We lived IN a country village Of
New England, ii q large, old-fash-
ioneds rambling house. Mother had
received word that her sister was very
sick, and as it was only few miles,
father was going to drive over with
her, and then come back The next
day We were all to take our meals
at ataneighbors place, and, altogether,
we expected to have q fine time by
ourselves.
By WeY I mean Fred, my brother,
and myself, unless you counted the
dog, Fritz. In that case there were
three OF us
We busted ourselves at first one
thing and then another, until it be-
gar 10 grow dark. After supper we
tee To read, but somehow we could
not get interested II any book or pa
per that we could find.
What ifSa burglar should come
around here tonight what would
You do9 inquired Fred.
'EDo2 replied I, in seornful tones,
for rather prided myself on my
courage Why, of course we would
do the best we could # be was
stronger than both Of US, I suppose
that we should have to give in; but
ii lie IL not, then he had better keep
away from heFep'
But there might be two Of them. 3
Well, lets talk about something
else. II Ii not probable that anything
Of the kind viii hap kpen, Z said ], quite
willing to let the srbiees drop, since
Fred was bound I'd have more than
one ot them.
Will Andrews" " continued Fred,
atold me to-day about a cousin Of his
that had his house entered by four
men, and they bound and gagged him,
and then made him give up every thing
that they wanted"
Oh, that's nothing' I replied,
and proceeded to give an account Of
another one more dreadful than that.
We told Of first one terrible thing
and then another until it grew late.
Well, lets 81 to bed, and taking
the lamp, I started TO lead the way.
I'D just as soon you would go first,
Fred because I am afraid" /
hastily added, for fear he would think
that I was coward, sbut because
because
Didn't you hear something then?a
asked Fred, as BE drew closer to me.
That's nothing but the wind rat
Ting the vines on the stoop," an
swered I
We finally got 70 bed, though not |
without d good many looks about the
room, as the stories that We had been
telling each other had the effect Of |
making us rather vel, a little care
full.
Father was the possessor Of large.
old -fashcned revolver, and, armed
with this, We felt reasonably secure
against any attack that might be made
upon us.
Arc YOU sure that yon locked the
dooT" gueried Fred, after We had
got into BED.
Of coarse / have, replied, with
sone sharpness, for I always wanted /
At G G1SElAGI1 ~ uaQeFsl00u LAae ZIG Iaelt
make such foolish mistakes.
Think Il was just about a O'Clock
when Fred pulled me BIZ the arm and
woke me up.
hats the natterf" I asked.
s @lisEsn Somebody Us ID the hall Z
The room was perfectly dark; but
we could hear somebody going up
to the faFthest end of the room, which
was vsEy large, and than We heard the
closet door creaking on Its hinges
Fred trenbled, and 50 did /. wholly
forgetting the revolver which was
resting peacefully under my pillow
4 He gonein the closet, ssid Fred, /
between his clutches at me.