Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-22

would not be home unt1I the next evening, and the next morning Peter and Liz were to marry. Feeling that he had lost, Danny went to bed.
 The next morning he went over to Peters to pay him friendly visit, for { he realized thatin order to be revenged on Peter he must keep on good terms with him. Peter was in great spirits, and with many winks and mods he let Danny know that an important event in his life was just going to take place.
 "Jest you hold your hosses," Peter said, with a chuckle, sand the first thing you knew I'll give you grand surprise"
 "You ain't goin' to give me a dollar for throwin' me in the pond that time, are you?" Danny asked, innocently.
 ''No. You don't want no dollar for that, because you know you said it was fun for you"
 "Oh, it was. If your watermelons wasn't all gone you'd give me one, wouldn't you?''
 Well, might. But they're all gone, you know, long ago"
 ''Yes; but say. You got lots of ap- y
 "Why, yes; few" .
 s'I like apples.''
 ''Do you? If had some up here, I'd give you one"
 "Ill go down an git 'em''
 Now Peter had some things in his cellar that he did not want even as close friend as Danny to see. So when he was pressed by the boy to the last point, he said:
 You just wait here and I'll go down and fetch you up some apples
 Accordingly, he raised the trap door in the floor and went down a flight of steps into the cellar. Danny stood by looking on, waiting for the apples
 Suddenly, like breath of inspira- tion, an idea flashed into the boys mind, and it was only by strong effort that he refrained from giving yell of triumph.
 Seizing the cellar door he slammed it down, then shot the bolt in place to hold it securely. Then he. went out into the yard and danced hoe-down. His hour of revenge had come, and come unexpectedly, and it had filled his cup of happiness to overflowing His enemy was prisoner in his own cellar. and on his wedding day at that. Such revenge, such triump, was worth dozen duclSings.,
 If can just keep him there till Sam Hicks comes back, he said to himself, I'm all right. An l guess I can, for he can't git out without help, an no- body but me evercomes on the place.
 That night when Sam Hicks reached home Danny was sitting on the front fence waiting for him. In breathless haste the boy told him about the con versation he had overheard, and the events that had followed.
 Now he concluded, ''I reckon you want to marry the gal, so the best thing you can do is to go right after her. 'cause old Peters liable to git out any time if somebody was to come along and find him."
 But old man Hart won't give me Liz" Sam objected.
 What if he won't. Amt you big enough to steal her?"
 Sam's face cleared, and, skipping the boy on the shoulder, he cried:
 'sYou bet I am, Danny, and I'll do it. too. I'm going right now And, Danny. when it's all over, and I've got her all < right, you can count on something nice from me.
 ''Shucks!' Danny exclaimed. "I ain't done nothin' for you. I jest been trydn' to git hunk with old Peter.''
 The next day the neighborhood was rife with the news of an elopement in which the principles were Sam and Lizzie.
 Then close upon this came another sensation in the way of an announce ment that Peter Parsons had been found imprisoned in his own cellar.
 Everybody was talking excitedly about these things is, everybody but Danny. That worthy youngster was maintaining discreetsilence. He was also remaining closely at home, and when he went out at all he was very careful not to visit his erst~ while friend, MT. Peter Parsons.