Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-03-08
.,n ,ppLEBY was IS, tall, strong

,oolebys and the "iitons occupied ad,
aPr cottages at Lake Beach, and
rlD-I Tred and Tom always set off their
w s.,b of July frecrackers together.
%n. Ou' farmer seemed to know how to
~ .,most everything, from construct
% ', big kite to sailing a boat; so,
" the Wiltons decided to take a
nights trip to the White noun
''l =. and were compelled to shut up
'iI ~. bonse meantime, as the servants
l'r l'sr,rectedly left in a body, it was
'D.. s.a natural that Tom should ask
S..I I 10 keep1n eye on it.
you remember how angry that Eng
q, ooachman was when father dis
y. '..ged him last week?" he hurriedly
Sisired. lust before the train left.
I G,I he might hear in some way
sont our all going off, and, although
son't suppose he'd risk breaking in
,~.er he may send friend of his
lawn from the city, you know. So
hsp-"
a and Tom had to run for them.
Fred. however, fully comprehended
.t,t was required of him, and re-
"ITed to prove himself worthy of the
rust.
Mis- mother being a widow, he had
M the past two years been man of
4. house" at home, and, indeed, his
,5gbt and weight combined were cal
mated to keep small boys very re-
rscttul in his presence.
1, soon as he had seen Tom safely
nj, the rear platform Of the last car,
Trd walked back to the cottages,
vhch stood apart from the other
,ouses in the village, the Wilton's be-
tr bounded on one side by wood.
There was neither fence nor hedge
10 separate the grounds from the APP
sebys' and after making sure that
,,ery shutter had been closed, Fred
trode back across the lawn to his own
piazza
They might almost as well be open,
though" he reflected, "as all one has
10 DO is to slip his fingers through the
5sts and lift the latch. They ought to
have nailed them up as they do in the
winter; but stop! l don't believe a
nan could get his hand in. So l won't
worry about that point of approach"
Three times every day Fred walked
around the cottage, which always
stared back at him with the same
closed inhospitable air, and at the
end Of a week he concluded that the
wathful coachman must have forgot
len all about the WiltoDs and Lake
Beach However, he still kept up his
careful daily inspection of the prem
i,es, thereby winning from his mother
and sister the title of "the young
rardsman."
One day, just before lunch, he caught
Up the baseball bat he always carried
90 these occasions, and started on his
IlN1 patrol. As he crossed the divid-
IL line between the grounds, he dis
ti,tly heard a shutter slam in the di-
action Of the Wiltons' dining-room,
rd quickening his steps, he rounded
he corner Of the wing in time to see
n, body and legs of man dangling
tom window on the ground floor, his
had and arms being already inside.
Caught in the act!" exclaimed Fred,
lider his breath, as he dashed forward
and iear!essly grasped the burglars
Goat with one hand, dropped the sash
With the ether, and then held his man
Gown under it with both.
The robber screamed and kicked Wig
cousy, but Fred paid no attention
% the formel and skillfully managed
oayoid the latter; however, now that
l' bad captured his man, like a good
1aHy other people similarly situated,
Add not know what to do with him.
He could not stand there holding his
i'isoner under the window for an in
..aaite period, and yet he did not like
ofeease him, for fear he should prove
robe stronger than himself; as it was,
y had the rascal at a decided disad-
nl'age, and Fred finally decided TO
itF him there while he shouted for
lap
But on whom should he call? There
Vas no man about the place, eXcep,
|'o" and then an old Irishman, who al
ficed TO the garden, and in an emer'
!'lcy like The present he was scarcely
be depended on; nevertheless, he
VS. better than nobody, so the young
llaFdsmau began to shout: mike
AAe. with all his lungs, at the SAINT
me pressing down the sash a little
-snier on the thief, who, as FREQ
'0Old now make out, was a youth not
lach older than himself, and very
slim.
That Euglishman hasn't forgotten
'''f ALL mused Fred, between his
,'ss Tor the gardner; land mas beer
-'tp enough to send some one will
mailer hands than his own, too. Blu
Sly ne should have chosen broad day
sl Tor his attempt passes me, al
tOugh' 70 be sure, he may have
,'usht, and with some show of sense
l'' nooody'd be on the lookout ior
Ig.arS then. wonder if | couldn'
=. s..ase This young fellow by myself
~ no. must have somebody here t.
r lug rope, help me bind him, ant
sIa M guard while I see il there's sucl
.a,ng as a constable over in the vii