Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-05

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sprang up, whirled round, and seeing
the boy, rushed at him.
Roy lodged and ran, with the burglar
pursuing. In front of the oven door the
boy lodged again, catching hold Of a
barrel to make a sharp turn. With a
quick thought. he gave a jerk to the
barrel and sent it spinning on edge be-
hind him.
The burglar stumbled over it in the
darkness and fell heavily. Roy turned
in time TO see the man shoot over the
rolling barrel and half through the
doorway. A shadowy pair of legs were
still waving wildly in air. With a forci-
BILE kick on the barrel, he sent the burg
lar forward into the even and down on
the swinging shelf.
Immediately the wheel turned under
its burden. In another instant it be-
came still, and Roy knew that his man
was safely immured at the bottom of
the vault.
After moment he put his head into
the oven and called down:
You're not hurt, are your"
The curses which issued from the
depths treasured him. The burglars
silence since his rapid descent had evil
IDENTIFY been due to amazement and fear.
Roy could hear him prowling cautious
y about inside, feeling the brick wall,
and at last rafting the iron basement
door. 1t was fast, and then the man
began to plead for mercy.
Let me out. young feller!" he begged.
Say, I've got a whole lot of money I'll
give you if you'll only let me out; hon
est, | will"
mo" Roy answered. Il guess you |
can lie over with the crackers"
The burglars voice became plaintive.
"Ah, go on, let me out You don't |
want to ruin man for life. Say, honest. |
it's the first time | ever done such a
thing. was drove to it by my wife
and babies starvin'."
you said you had lot Of money you
would give me, Roy reminded him.
Then the man broke out cursing again,
and Roy slammed the door. The cursing
subsidized, and before long Roy heard a
faint and frightened voice petitioning:
Let me speak to you, young Teller!
Open the door!"
The boy Obliged his prisoner to this
extent, and then the burglar said;
you amt cruel enough TO keep a man
down here, III be baked alive"
There's no fire under the oven" Roy
told him, and III see they don't light up
till after the police get you. Don't be
uneasy. Now I've got TO close the door,
or the crackers will get spoiled"
For the remainder OF the night he was
leaf to the entreaties that from time to
time walled up from the interior OF the
vault
At last, in the early morning light, the
foreman and the other packers came;
Ind Roy announced his capture.
He must have slipped in at the side
loor and got up the stairs when the bak-
IT'S weren't looking, the boy said. And |
suppose he didn't hear me because 1
lad on overshoes, and the Office door
vas pretty nearly shut He didn't get
nto the safe
The foreman looked at Roy with ad
Roy" he said, you've done
good nights work And you got here
t half past three. Ell? Well, IT certainly
S the early bird that catches the burg
ar"
One Of the other boys was for lighting
small fire under the oven, just 10 SINCE (
i'm" but the foreman said no, and tele-
honed to police headquarters.
Five minutes later the chief and one
4 his men arrived; and when the oven
DOR was opened, and the prisoner
rawled sulhly forth TO have the brace
sts" snapped on his wrists, the officers
ave a cry OF delight.
Slim Jim McLean!" exclaimed the
hief
You'd never have got met" said Slim
i'm, viciously. Then he took a malevo-
snt look at the four boys. q don't know
hitch one of you young fellers it was,
ut when get out I'll make one of you
ay for this!"
The chief laughed. q guess you're
afe for about 20 years, Roy" he said,
and by that time you'll be able to
aise chin whiskers and disguise your
elf. youths Companion.