The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-11

pered the flsure. "say. ma. it, bur
s,:s; s;,s a.e y. aah; - 'Aa'l t1~.hs c0f''n s''
Eyes. yes. do;" said the alarmed
woman.
Easier said than done. The door OF
the guest chamber was locked on 9ne
inside and they dared not knock
cts the peddler a-burgling," whis-
pered Mrs, Dilts, wringing her hanos.
"Oh, my precious silver! He's founa
1t In the cubberd; oh. dear, on. dear:
go back to bed, ma ordered Cutn-
bert, as silently he stepped to the neao
Of the stairs. In a moment there was
diversion in the dining room. Clear
and shrill came the sickening souno'
| the chirr-r-r- of an angry rattiesnaAe
| before it strikes. A moment OF
| lence and again. "chirr-r-r-r! inere
| was a frightened exclamation, anu
throwing prudence to the wlnds, tue
burglar let fly an article in the oirec-
tion OF the noise.
At the crash, Mrs. Dilts covered ner
head with the bed-clothes. Strangely
enough. grandma and Cousin Adoipn
slept ON unmindful Again and again
sounded the terrible rattle. and the
noise of the hanging lamp as 1t 1eli
to the floor told the anxious boy In tne
hall that the intruder had taken TO the
table top for safety.
..Treed," exclaimed Cuthbert, with
unspeakable satisfaction; "and now &c
keep him there till pap comes home
and the rattler gave out his sp1te1a
!. challenge again.
Slowly, oh, so slowly. the hours crep
on until the noise of wheels In tn
, lane told them that the neighbor wa
. bringing Mr.. Dilts home. Springing u
the window, Mrs. Dilts called to ne
) husband the astounding news. IN
two men dashed to the barn and re
turned, armed for the fray. the
paused at the door at the sound
r Mrs. Dilt's voice:
n "The snake! I forgot the snake!
7 she walled; there's monster rattle
9 in there with the burglar"
GO on, Pap" cut in Cuthbert's clea
tones; ''that snakes a fake!" The
there was a great crashing Of glaf
II as the burglar recklessly threw hin
self at the nearest window. A shor
r sharp struggle and he was the pantir
n captive of the two farmers. TT
" precious silver. done up for reat
~ transportation, was evidence of tt
ID fellows guilt
Tremblingly, Mrs. Dilts dressed al
-, descended to the disordered dini1
>, room.
- "To think that that peddler wou
ell +x,r, INr1p
old. and most prob'ly a-melted it, S
said as she descended the stairs
=, ,e Goodness sakes! it's Cousin Adolph
- Sure enough, for the first time
~ captors noticed that the midnight
truder was none other than the sour
w. sleeping cousin!
JIG Sorry to make it unpleasant for k
"a on I'm sure" said the farmer. grim
"but we're going to give you r
over to the county Jail. just the sal
Cousin Adolph."
To- Cousin Adolph ground his teeth
ley "See here, Cuthbert," said the far
er on his return, was that rattler
o'u by the carriage house yesterday q ia
s. too? For if it was owe you a wal
iaa ing for calling me out of the field
lch fools errand. Let's see your c
or traption."
wv Cuthbert brought it. "You see. Pa
us he explained, "it's kind Of wi
aS' with a wound-up spring and trig
ere You hitch mas smoothing iron wit
string and pull the trigger
anu "Chirr-r-r-r!'
MIR. Dilts jumped. Gracious!
'ei' that s good imitation! What are
lsin going to do with II cn+tvov
ths Guess I'll patent it as a burg
} at catcher" said Cuthhert with = or;
Az American Boy.