The San Francisco call., 1906-10-14
By David H. Walker

4 ING against a background OF
- red burlap, the portrait OF funny
Uncle Charlie. who wore last
ing smile in his gilt frame.
locked mere smiling as the hour drew
near midnight than Il ever had before.
The mild eyes. as little gusts Of air
blew into the room. making the gas
-ets shake little, seemed TO wink al
his little nephew, Frank, and his niece.
Mary. Neither OF these two noticed
the wink. Perhaps IL was so sly; al
though I an afraid they were too
scared TO notice anything like a wink.
~ course. the whole thing was ter
"A e The two had been sleeping in
beds drawn close together in a cozy.
room, where they had been tucked IN
under the warm. hne blankets BY their
mother some hours before. How long
they had been IN Sleepville they could
not know OF course.
There IS always a but" II you look
Cor 81. and there was one IN this case.
Through the open window there came
e sound that was surely enough OF
frightel any chtid. III began low and
cruel and grew into 8 set OF shrIeks
that a wild Indian could not beat when
Re is on the wsrpsth up in the noun
rains OF New Mexico Then came
lot OF sharp scratches ano then some
thing jumped and landed heavily in a
flower bed just under the window and
there stood still and listened.
Both children sat bolt upright IN
bed. dim light was burning IN the
room. By that they could see that
e~erythirg was all right close 70 them
snd they began 10 get little courage.
when hush.
around The house downstairs Was it
mammal
'whst is that2" asked the boy. trying
hard not 70 seem afraid. for he wished
20 be thought brave by his little sis
ter.
10000. I don't know" answered q
Ittie curly-head. aged s. who was
hastily crawled under the bedclothes
L. hide her head
Eo" SAID the boy. Frank by name,
y guess It's burglar"
No answer came from under the bed
clothes except a general ousking as IL
e small girl named Mary had heard
and trcnabled with fear ar this state
ment
Cf course Frank was a hero 20 Mary
Great plsy1nates they were. II was
Frank who. with wooden sword, had
dared the tin peddIer last summer TO
touch his little sister when. beside a
country road. and when the two were
alone, the peddler had threatened TO
cut on the little girls ears with a
pair of shiny new scissors. and the
pecdler had not said a word. but got
upon his wagon and drove on, never
looking hack bat once.
When the peddser turned Mary
thought that he was Making with much
laughter. but Frank. who was wiser.
because he was older. said: See him
shake with fear I guess he was
scared enough 70 quit that time"
Nary ever after that had thought
that Frank was a real hero; and here,
now. was Frank saying that a burglar
was in the house Papa was away
and would not be home for q week.
Mamma was downstairs. but what could
she do 70 fight q great, big. cruel
burglar. with & knife between his teeth,
q big pistol in each hand and long
knife stuck IN his leather belt7
or. * was too dreadful for anything,
snd Mary again shook so that Frank
who was as badly scared as a child
could vel be, although he was trying
I'D 70 be brave. crawled IN under the
d-7-hes with Mary and patted her head.
What are you trembling so for,
Maze" he whispered.
II can't help it." came the whis-
persd answer I'm dreadful scared
about burglars. Are you sure this is
ope now. Frankie2"
You heard what I said" was the
answer. Wait and I VIII get my
sword and 20 down and see what I
can de-
~Oh. 10. no. no. don't DO that. A
burglar is different from a peddier.
Tn not afraid OF peoolers. but I don't
like q burglar q bit Besides that, the
burglar might not be afraid OF you,
As the tin pedd1er was last summer.
Suppose he should shoot two bullets
az YOU az once and both hit your Then
who would be left 70 look out for
mamma and nez'
a LOUD ssb On the lower floor was
heard 5nse -<1a- The floor was Jared
TO add - IRE excitement q clock IN a
nearby church tower struck the hour
and some one blew q police whistle.
That IS fne" whispered Frank
'Ecsr the police whistle. The police
man knows that there is burglar IN
the house and he viii get some more
policemen and they VIII get all around
The house and then some one OF the
brave policemen viii creep in through
e window where the burglar is not on
guard with his pistols and his knife
end. when he is IN the house the police
men viii shoot the burglar and kill
him end put handouts on his wrists
and take him 70 fail for life"
o--a-s-s-s-s-s-s-e-s-s-s-s