The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-07-14

.-'fiaow don't think o. jumping daown
here" expostulated the voice. Don't
dew 1t; beg o. We, don't I'm here with
a three-tined pitchfork, an Silas is along.
tew. You're here. Amt you. Sile?"
"Yep. I'm here, sure. drawled another
voice from out the darkness.
Eye see we're pooty well surrounded"
went on the first voice. Better lay down
yer shootin' iron<and go erlong with the
p'leeceman peaceable.
i The burglar drew quickly away from
the window, and with a hunted look now
upon his face glanced hurriedly about
the room.
There was but one window in the
room. Behind two doors lurked enemies.
There was but one other door, and this.
investigation showed, opened into q
clothespress.
Meanwhile Phineas was apparently
sleeping the sleep Of the just. However
greatly surprised he may have been at
the sound Of saving voices outside his
doors and window, he gave no sign. Amy
movement on his part would precipitate
matters, and while the burglar would
naturally be overpowered in the end,
anyone can see that 1t was wise for
Phineas to take no chances involving
his own skin.
AS the burglars eye fell upon Phineas
an idea seemed to occur to him; it was
his only chance-it was worth trying.
He tiptoed softly to the bed and gently
shook the sleeping owner Of the prem
ises. 1t required repeated shakings to
arouse the sleeping man, who finally
rubbed his eyes and stared yacantly
about him, as one who finds 1t difficult
to break away from dreamland.
SIS! sh!" whispered the burglar,
warningly. Don't make sound" He
turned his head to listen, and Mr.. Barney
O'Brien's impatient growl broke in upon
the stiffness.
Hurry up now, an be afther decidin'
phwat ye're goin' to do. Oil not be
waitin' much longer fer We, at all, at ALL"
"T'm burglar" whispered that in
dividual to Phineas, "and came after
your valuables. I'll have to admit 1t.
But the jig Is up. There's q policeman
at each door, and regiment Of farm
ers out under the window. Now don't
say word, but listen 20 me. haven't
touched q thing of yours. 1t won't
do you any good to have me punched.
tn do me lot of harm. I've got a
gold watch of my own here, and four
hundred and odd dollars-for I al
ways carry a wad of the stuff around
with me. It's often handy. Help me
out of this room, without falling into
these fellows hands, and the watch
and money are yours"
Phineas rubbed his chin thought
fully. The burglars face wore dis
tinctly anxious look. His fate was in
the balance.
'Put your watch and money on the
bureau beside my watch" said
Phineas, in whisper, at length. He
watched the burglar put down the gold
timepiece, and then lay bill after bill
beside it. BY rapid mental calcula-
ton, Phineas saw that the sum was
$428.
There's a door in the back of the
clothespress, behind the clothing" he
whispered. "Pick up your dark Ian
tern and pass through. I'll follow and
show you way down the back stair
way to the side door"
The burglar joyfully picked up the
lantern, and together the two passed
softly through the clothespress into
an unfinished chamber. Phineas
steered his unwelcome visitor
through several blind Railways and
down narrow stairway. There was
an outside doorway at the bottom of
this, and the key was in the lock.
Motioning the burglar to turn this,
Phineas whispered: open it crack
and see If the coast is clear" His
companion needed no instruction on
this point. He opened the door softly
and listened All was quiet outside.
He opened the door a little wider and
again listened. No sound broke the
stiffness. The burglar slipped quickly
out and started on q run down the 81
lent street Then as Phineas fingered
In the doorway there broke forth q
perfect chorus of shouts, apparently
of Celtic, Yankee and other origin.
"Head of tn spalpeen;" "Shoot him!
Shoot him!" KNOCK i'm dewn. some
body!" "Burglars!" police. policep.
Down the street. sprinting for his
life, went the burglar, seemingly pur-
sued by half the population of the
place, while Phineas, chuckling softly
to himself, turned and went back up
the stairway. At the bureau in his
room he stopped to examine hunting
cased. solid gold watch which lay there
beside his own. and again he counted
the roll Of money.
mot a bad nights work, by any
MEANS" he said. Then folding his
blanket wrap about his long. lank
legs again, the yentriloquist got back
into bed and went peacefully to sleep
Country Gentleman.
form last Decoration day. saws the New