News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-04-05

pulled it at first gently and again will
more violence. Ills object was not to
disturb the burglars ut their work, fol
should they take the alarm and go
away the people Of the house would
not believe his tale.
Probably they would take him for a
thief and give him in charge of the pc
lice After the second ring the door
was opened cautiously.
"Whos thatY" cried a mans voice.
"a friend who wants to speak to
you on most important business" an
sWered Jack.
ITO me? Do you know who l amp
said the man.
mo: it is enough for me that you
are an inmate of this house."
TIN Mr. Blocks, the butler, and was
just turning into my bed. Am / the
person.?
Yes, yes; you'll do as well as any
body else. For goodness sake, don't
waste any more time. Open the door,"
cried Jack. "Do you want to lose your
plate and perhaps be murdered in the
bargain"
'.Oh, Lord, he says he'll murder me!
Where's my blunderbuss?" cried the
butler.
you've nothing to fear from me-"
rejoined Jack in despair at his thick
headedness. 1--WE come to put you on
your guard"
Oh you're not after the plate?"
"No Is it likely l should come here
and talk to you if 1 had any such in
tention? Open the door, I am only
boy, and surely a man like you isn't
afraid of a lad"
only boy? Why didn't you say
so before? Only boy? l amt afraid
of no boys" replied Mr.. Blocks.
"What's all the row about?'
The butler flung open the door as he
spoke and stood revealed, a little,
stumpy, fat man, with white cotton
pightCap on, shivering in his shirt
sleeves and trousers and holding in his
hand a candle which fickered and
sputtered in the wind and rain. Jack
stepped quickly inside and closed the
door, rather to the alarm of the butler
who retreated toward the domestic Of
fees, which We're reached by a passage
to the rear leading from the hall.
II will tell you all in a few words"
said Jack. I'm, or rather was, at
school near here"
"Crawcour's? said the butler.
Eyes. This evening l ran away and
walked till l came here. Feeling tired,
I crept into your shed at the back.
While on some straw in the shed two
men came in, who, l am convinced
from their conversation, were burglars.
Their object was to break into your
pantry and steal all they could lay
their hands on"
''Bless us and save usw cried the but
ler raising his hands.
There are two of them. How can
we catch them? Are you the only man
in the house,"
'There's the coachman and some
grooms over the stable, and the gar
dener. He's got a gun. VIII you stop
here? l feel l can trust you, young
gentleman. I'll go and rouse them
Stand close by the door, and when you
hear three taps with the knuckles open
softly"
'All right" said Jack.
Mr.. Blocks, owing to the imminence
of the danger, had awakened to
sense of activity, which, as general
rule, was quite foreign to his character.
Putting on a coat which was hanging
up in the hall, he sailed forth into the
wind and rain, and Jack was left alone. |
More than once during his brief vigil |
he fancied he heard the center bit at |
work filing away the iron bars, which |
had to be removed ere the burglars |
could effect an entry into the house. |
His heart throbbed proudly, for he felt |
he would receive the thanks of those |
whom he was protecting.
One two, three. Mr.. Blocks was tap |
ping at the door. Gladly Jack opened |
it, and two men entered.
''This is the coachman," explained |
Mr.. Blocks, the gardener and two |
men have gone round to the back. We |
mean to have the rascals."
II think they have already got in.
The grinding noise l heard has stop
ped" said Jack.
All lll6 DGJleE, IGIudEhGu the COdCu-
man, who was armed with an iron bar.
In a side room was Il blunderbuss,
which belonged to the butler. He took
it up, looked to the lock, and the men,
followed by Jack, stole on tiptOe along
the passage. The candle was left in
the hall. A lantern was carried by the
coachman and it's light concealed by
a fold of his coat, which was thrown
over it. When the pantry was reached
a light was seen under the door. The
thieves We're at work Quickly turn
ing the key, Blocks threw the door
open.
Jem made his lantern dark immedi-
ately, but the coachman turned his
light on. The plate chest was broken
open, and the costly articles it con-
tained were thrown about on the floor
ready to be packed up for removal.
Tony made rush for the window and
fell into the arms of the gardener, who
struck him a blow which rendered him
and he was made a prisoner,
being strongly bound with ropes pro-
vided by the groom. Jem drew re-
volver, which he presented at the but
Ter, who, however, was too quick for