The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-21
&
MICHAEL P'S CHRISTMAS EVE
BY J. W. SCOTT &
BY J. W. SCOTT

Os<R HlS
attic room in the Billingses Emery turned
over once, twice, thrice on his couch, and
very heartily cursed the dog. In the
Johnsons' kitchen Michael P. sulked and
stewed, while Katrina alternately looked
solemn under his glance and grimmaced
when his attention was diverted.
The burglar transacted his business
very swiftly and blew the safe open in
a workmanlike manner That was
thing that largely accounted for his sue
cess.
His method was simple. With the thick,
small wedge and the thick, small, heavy
hammer he quickly cut the combination
knob off the safe door, Then into the
hole thus made he thrust soap, swiftly
molding it into cup-shaped receptacle.
Pours in the Explosion.
After that he poured nitro glycerine
into the cup, put the capped end of a
fuse into the explosive and covered both
over with soap, neatly nodded to exclude
the air. Then he sealed the cracks at
the top, bottom and sides of the door
with soap, and the mine was laid.
The loose end of the fuse was quickly
lighted with match, spluttered few
seconds, and then presently there was
a dull 'boom," and the door flew open.
On the darkened grounds back of the
Johnsons, in whose kitchen Katrina and
Michael P. were still counting, the little
dogs bark split the keen air of Christ
mas eve with the regularity of clock
work, and Emery who had turned over
numberless times and reiterated the few
curses at his command till they had be-
come stale, crawled out of bed and de-
Tod %1,o hnol ,,,;+
determination of interrupting the bark
"Drat that 1org. Drat lis lhinfernal
'ide," Emery said between his teeth with
exceeding viciousness.
Emery was placid man, but the man
whose nerves are proof against the cease
less "yap, zap" of file-voiced dog, when
he-the man, not the dog-desires to
sleep, has an extraordinarily tranquil
nature.
Gathers Many Stones.
Emery went down to the graveled gar
den walk that ran around the house, and
gathered to himself several stones like
unto henseggs Cor bulk. Then he went
out behind the Billingses to fall upon the
dog and stay his voice.
Christmas eve was to the chalk faced
man whose eyes looked down his nose as
opportune for the contamination of a
burglary as any night between the
Fourth of July and st. Patrick's day, and
Ferguson's valuables went into small
sack with dispatch. Then the man slid
out the window again with such facility
as only those gain who have had much
experience. He regained the alley and
began to slide along it between the Bill
ingses and the Johnsons. on very light
feet, keeping in the lee of the outbuild-
ings where he could.
mis- occurred at that particular and
signal moment when Emery had found
the range of the dog who was disturbing
the peace. A stone the size of a hens
egg. thrown with the full strength of a
robust man, whose anger is mighty with
in him, becomes a missile that hurtles
through the air with marked force.
Emery marked the exact spot in the
darkness whence the shrill, small, rasp-
ing voice of the dog rose, and then said
"Blang YET" and hurled the stone thther-
ward with all his might.
Drops Like a Shot.
just then the man with the crossed eyes
passed like a shadow threading a darker
shade between Emery and the dog, and
the stone smote him above the temple and
he fell like pot-shotted bird.
The dog, undisturbed by the casualty
and the noise prevented Emery from
hearing the fall.
Emery was surprised at the lack of re-
suits, and again his anger swelled up in
him. Whereupon he repeated, Blink
blink, is hinfernal 'ide," and threw once
more.
This time the results were more in
stant and We're astounding as we'll. The
stone whistled by the dog, leaving him
unscathed, triumphant, unmoved; shot
across the space behind the Johnsons and
crashed through the kitchen window with
shattering noise that frightened
Katrina speeches.. and made Michael P.
jump off his stool with a fierce growl of
surprise and resentment.
The man with the crossed eyes lay still
as death in the alley, and Michael P.
hurried out to discover the stone thrower.
T e dog had changed his key and moved
down the grounds bit. At the sounu of
the policeman's footsteps and the slam
ming of the door behind him, alarmed
at the arrival Of the law, he now fled.
Emery heard the glass crash and NUT
tering "Blarst that hinfernal dorg. Blarst
is 'ide," had fled up stairs to his apart
ment.
Arrested on the Spot.
So there was nobody to receive Michael
P. excepting the gentleman stretched out
in the alley. Him Michael P. stumbled
! over and arrested him on the spot for
obstructing the streets and alleys. When
Michael P. had discovered what was in
the mans bag and had looked studiously
at the mans face his heart gave a jump
in his breast.
The broken window dwindled into in
significance, and he hardly took time to
whiSnpr few words TO Katrina that
made her look abnormally serious, and
then bid her good night, ere he dashed
up the alley TO turn in a call for the pa
troll wagon.
The wagon took Michael and his cap
ture % the station, one jubilant and the
other dead to the world. It took long
time to revive the man with the queer
eyes; but that was done, and that was
a wonderful Christmas fa1: Micha 81