Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-01-03

ways slept in his room. down cellar he
went, for in the Bowlder household II
dog had never before been permitted.
SO Hugh, tired out with the exciting
happenings of the day, submitted to
authority, and Duke was sent into the
cellar, while he went to bed in his little
room next the boys, on the third floor.
Ray and Harold woke simultaneous
ly in the middle of the night and sat
up in bed. Did you hear that noise?'
whispered Ray.
did your Harold whispered back
Their door into the hall was open,
and muflled and stealthy sound Of
footsteps could be heard down stairs.
suppose began Harold.
ITS the burglars that have been ter
rorizing the town." declared Ray.
"What shall we do?"
The noise down stairs ceased. and In
a minute white figure came quietly
in at the door
81 say" said Hugh-for it was he
"do - do your people walk in their
sleep? l saw a black figure in the
downstairs hall as | looked over the
banistcrs.'
Ray and Harold whispered that there
had been sneak thieves in the neigh
borhood.
"If Duke were only here" said Hugh
"he'd catch 'cm in a minute. II have
not been asleep at all for thinking of
him SO lonesome there in the damp eel
lar"
Fudge" said Harold. Don't be a
baby. Arc you afraid to sleep alone?"
Hugh's eyes flashed in the dark.
Are we going to rouse the family?"
he asked
"And scare the burglars away" add
ed Ray. 1--WE couldn't wake Uncle
Jack if we blew a horn in his ear. be-
lieve, but
The noise down stairs was heard
again, and the three boys tiptoed to the
banstcrs. There was light in the
dining room and, they thought, a faint
rattle of silver,
Are there any back stairs?" asked
Hugh.
Yes" said Ray.
"Lct us steal down and let Duke out.
He'll catch EN-"
"But-but the stairs go into the kitch-
en-, and that's right next to the dining
ROOM" said Harold. I'VE might've
might scare 'cm!"
Eyes, we might scare 'em away"
added Ray.
Hugh had started for the back stairs
and was part way down.
I'm going alone, then" he answered,
eff you won't come" And alone he
went. down through the kitchen, past
the dining room door, under which he
saw light, and, opening the cellar
door, he called softly to Duke, and
Duke, who had dreamed restlessly of
his young master, heard and put n cold
nose into his hand.
''BurglGrs!' whispered Hugh in his
ear, and the clever dog understood, and
his hair bristled in expectation. Quiet
ly they went to the dining room door.
and Hugh opened it. There at the ia
bic stood rough looking man. piece
of pie in one hand and lot of spoons
in the other. He did not notice the
swing door as it moved and let small
dog in, nor did he notice that the small
dog sat down and watched him intently
while his master stole up to Uncle
Jacks room and with a few well di-
rectcd blows awakened him. Then Tn
Gle Jack and revolver confronted the
man at one door, while Duke and Hugh
guarded the other.
You might as well be quiet about it
and not brighten the ladies'" said Uncle
Jack to the man. Empty your peck
cts. That's right. Now walk into the
kitchen. Hugh, show the way to the
cellar Now yOu go down cellar and
stay there till morning: If you try to
get out, this dog will make short work
with you. Good night And Uncle
Jack locked the cellar door
Twill Duke keep guard?" asked I'm
Gle Jack.
Yes" said Hugh. "And as long as
he's in comfortable place shall feel
better. Duke. guard that door and
don't let him out"
Duke wagged his tail understanding
ly and settled to his task, while Hugh
went back to bed.
"Where's your burglar?" jeered the
boys when he came back.
At breakfast the next morning Har
old and Ray looked sheepish. The man