The daily Alaskan., 1906-11-06
The Man In the Cellar

lage of SCuttSyillc. aud he and my Aunt Martha were without children.
 One day iu September l was sent up to Uncle JOe'S ou an errand and told that might stay all night. 1 was then close to fourteen years old. l helped my aunt attend 10 the live stock. As we were milking the last COW in the haruyard after Suudowu we saw strange man pass along the highway 10 the house. but gave him no particular attention.
 IL turned colder and began to rain soon after dark. and our supper was also an hour late. It was between \ and 9 o'clock. aud l had helped Aunt Martha tO wash up the dishes. when she Seut me down cellar 10 bring up piece of meat wanted for breakfast. l took a candle 10 light my way. and | had to cross the cellar to where four barrels stood in d HOW. She had said the second barrel from tue right. As passed the first barrel l heard a move Irput inside .l | wonder why did not turn and tee. a> the sounds brought 
 luv heart into my mouth. but l passed rh. barrel got thr meat and even man agyd To whistle ou uy way upstairs. When l had shut the door, however. tue s,ght or my white face made the wo- man rNrlaUu.
 For the laud's sake but the boy has seen SboSt.'
 No. ] haven't" l answered. but l cau.tru You that there Is a man in one or the barrels down there.'
 What uonsru>r, You heard rats.
 relocated uy-asSertiou and remind ed her ut the strange man We had seen when milking Sue unused minute and then said.
 ..Yuu ulay be right | am going down to see If there js a man down there I'll discover him. but be shan't suspect have"
 She took the candle from my hand and went down. hummiug the air Ot song to herself. and as she came back upstairs she was talking about the meat aud saying that Uncle Joe must get a rat trap When the door had been closed she sal down to the table and sad.
 Jimmy. you were right about the man. He is hidden in that first barrel Now. then. We want To think what We shall do.
 Ir was raining cats aud dogs and a dark night. IL wa~ half mile 10 the nearest neighbours. and We felt that the man must bt something worse than a tramp ,o have hidden himself away. There were three cellar windows, but over them had been tackled strong wire netting. The man must have entered the house aud =oue down cellar
 "Tu tell yuu what the miserable skunk f~ ar-er" said my aunt after awhile "Turle Joe will bring home Slyu when hn comes. and this fellow iS after s- Uru Keep in hiding until vour uurle comes and gets to bed aud as,eyp and then bell rob the house tbat 5s. he thinks he will. but I'll show him what's what in the next fifteen minutes.
 But what rau We do:' l asked aS my knees knocked together
 Well your Uncle Joe would have 10 shut up like d jurkkuite to crowd him, self into pork barrel His legs would be all doubled mp. and he wouIdn have much u~c "f his arms.
 ..Tbe~e'S cover for that barrel right behind the stairs a~ We % down. If it was rlapped on 10 the barrel. don.t you think We could hold ir there in spite or all the man could do:
 But he may jump out of the barrel hafprp vy,, can put the cover ou.
 "pou't be a coward Jimmy. You are coming right downstairs with me. We'll talk about ruts as We move around. YouW carry the candle. and I'll get tue cover and clap it on. 1T Ill not strong enough 10 keep 1t there you must help ne.
 "I-I-I"- I began. but she caughe me by tue hair and sJeruly said.
 Jimmy. if you don't help me Il give YOU the uwfuIeSt licking boy ever gut and then tell everybody that vou haven't got as much Spunk as spring chicken.
 I was mi@utly afraid or tue man ID the cellar. but was more afraid oI ny amt Had ,le tried argument Or coax ing l should have fuuked. She put the candle into ny hand aud opened the stair door aud began 10 talk about rats and what damage they could do about a housa believe rhr mau had got out of the barrel To stretch himself, put hearing Us coming. had sought his re- treat again. Without letting up on Der talk at all Aunt Mary picked up the cover and saw her face grow whiIe as We started for the barrel when nearing tt she made d sudden Jump and clapped on the cover and seated herself upon it. There was a SerleS Q. mufled yells from the man inside ana for the rirst ten minutes he made Sucl A struggle that l had to help agalnSl him. Then he grew quiet, and we had Ao more trouble with him.
 For two long hours We Kept guard over him. and it was fortunate for tue follow that Uncle Joe was no later When uncle arrived and We called hlm from the foot of the cellar stairs anc
 -,.. J,,,-n and upset the barre