Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-24

the temper to be locked into Il hot PAN
try on hot day when you are only
eating jam you We're told you coulG
eat. Johnny had been in the pantry
only half an hour, but he was con-
WINGED that he had been there "for
ages and he had been there long
enough to miss what he called "a very
'portant 'gagement."
He had promised to meet Elmer
Herbert and Willie Grigson in the park
at two o'clock. .Willie's uncle was 60
ing to take them bathing. The time
was long past, and of course they were
gone and Johnny had no idea where
to look for them, even if mamma had
| been willing to let him start off alone
Johnny grimly resolved that he would
pay Ellis back" This was very
wrong in Johnny, of course, but then
you knownaven small, nine-year- old
| boys are human when they have
missed a very 'portant 'gagement. Be-
sides. Johnny had already endured a
good deal ait Ellis's hands
He brooded over his wrongs all day
and wentto bed still full of resentment.
Ellis was not coming in until late. He
had gone over to Westmouth to. attend
a baseball practice with the West
mouth nine.
About eleven o'clock Johnny woke
up with a jump. He heard noise be-
low and knew that Ellis had returned,
The noise was in the pantry. The re-
membrance of his wrongs rushed over
our small boys soul. He crept out to
the landing and peered through the
banisters to the moonlit hall below.
The house was so still that Johnny felt
creepy, and the pantry door was shut,
but he knew Ellis was inside, getting
q snack before coming to bed.
Johnny made up his mind what he
would do. He softly crept down the
stairs. a little Whitehead figure. The
stairs creaked until Johnny thought
every soul in the house would be rush.
ing out to see what the noise was
about. That is a habit stairs have at
night, you know.
But Johnny got down without dis
| tlrbing any one. Noiselessly he crept
along the hall. He had not stalked In
dams with Willie and Elmer times out
of mind for nothing.
Outside the pantry door he halted.
He could hear Ellis moving about in
side and softly rafting the dishes.
Johnny shot the bolt noiselessly into
place and then crept back upstairs
with a chuckle..
"We'll see how Master Ellis likes be-
ing locked in the pantry for hours at a
stretch himself" said Johnny vindic-
lively, as he shut the door tight and
1xy'n hnn hi
Father and mothers room is too far
away and Nora sleeps like the dead.
I've heard her say So"
He shut his eyes tight and resolved
to go right to sleep. Then Johnny's
conscience began to trouble him. He
had never known he had a conscience
before; and he didn't know what it
was. But he felt uncomfortable.
Something worried him. He tried to
think of all the tricks Ellis had played
Oh him, but could only remember all
the nice thing Ellis has done for him.
He thought of the day he had cut his
foot and couldn't go to the picnic and
Ellis had stayed tome, too, and read
to him and made taffy for him.
Johnny rolled over on his pillow and
groaned. If this was revenge he
didn't see anything very sweet about
see if-three-four-five
that would put him to sleep. One-two
Johnny sat up in bed suddenly. He
was going down to let Ellis out
Just then the door opened and Ellis,
lamp in hand, walked unconcernedly
in.
80, so you got out yourself?" said
Johnny.
Hello, youngster, aren't you asleep
YETI" said Ellis patronizingly.
"How did you do it," persisted
Johnny.
do what, kid?"
"Why, get out of the pantry. 1 bolt
ed you inland I was just starting
down to let you out. ] don't know how
YOU ever managed to open it yourself.
I'm sure / bolted it good and tight.
you've been dreaming, Johnny
kid. That's what's the matter. l
wasn't near the pantry tonight. Didn't
need to be. Ted Stavart's mother over
at Westmouth gave us a dandy
lunch
II wasn't dreaming" said Johnny
stubhornly. Il tell you L nearo soihe
one in the pantry and went down ana
locked the door to pay you out Tor lock-
ing it on me. If it wasn't you, who was
it?-
Ellis looked puzzled Johnny certain
| " seemed to lie widc-awake ana In
earnest. But il his story were correct
who or what was in the pantry?
Suddenly Ellis thought of burglary
that had been committed on their very
street two weeks ago. A house had
been entered and a good deal of plate
stolen. The police had been unable to
capture the thief or recover the booty.
Ellis thought of all the silver in the
pantry drawers and of Grandma
Wright's spoons.
You stay here, Johnny" he said
! I'm going to wake father up"
Mr.. Wright listened to Ellis's story in
arnazement Johnny was brought out
into the hall and stoutly maintained his
story under much cross-questioning
Finally Mr. Wright telephoned to the
police station. Two men came dOwr
and they opened the pantry door.
There was a burglar and they cap
tured him and took him off to the polio,
station, having first relieved him Of TIN