The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1908-08-26
HOODOO WASACTIVE
HAD NOT FOR A MOMENT LOST
SIGHT OF SMITH.
Consequently Young GentIeman's
Hopes of a Quiet Day in the House
of His Aunt Were by No
Means Realized.

Something untoward always hap
his presence. On the occasion of his
last visit he recalled that the cook had
appeared in the middle of the evening
incontinently drunk and he had risen
from the foot of the porch fight down
which they had together fondly rolled,
ruffled and dazed Then there was
the trouble with the water tank when
it had burst during dinner and sent a
miniature Niagara roaring down the
attic stairs. And Smith was by way
of being nervous man and such
things got on his nerves.
So that when he opened the usual
curt invitation, really royal COM
mand to spend the nigh weekend in
the country with his rich aunt, he
made a wry face and began to worry.
But he knew that he must go-there
was no way, out of 1.-THE aunt was
rich, and he was the heir apparent.
Sunday was a quiet day with some
of the neighbors in to dinner. And
even this usually funereal occasion
was lightened by the presence of a
chap who had just returned from trip
to Korea and was willing to talk
about it.
1t was about two o'clock the next
morning. Smith was dreaming Of
perfect drive off the sixth tee when
there came knocking at his door. His
aunt was without and would hold con-
verse with him.
He had congratulated himself when
he went to bed that on this visit moth
ing unhappy was to happen. But as
he stumbled into his perverse blanket
and decided that the cook had returned
to the bottle.
So that he was not prepared for the
seriousness of the problem. ITS burg
lars" said his aunt, with conviction
Don't you hear them?"
He listened and was bound to admit
that there was a noise below stairs
that sounded amazingly as if some
one was walking stealthily about In
the dining room. They could even hear
something like the discreet click of
silver. muffled, as if from the depths of
a concealing bag.
Against his desire not to become
was actually men in the house. What
to do?
Knowing we'll that she had no fire
arms, he asked, bravely: Have you
got a gun, Aunt Lavina?" (Yes, that
was her name) Mercy on us, no."
said she. But I've got burglar alarm.
It's one of these protective things that
when you ring it a man comes"
From which we deduce that Aunt
Lavinia was a bit incoherent from
fright.
ITS on the wall there along the
hall. You pull down the little crank
and let 60"
Smith crept along the hall, stalking
the burglar alarm. He found it and
pulled down the crank and "let CO.
not once, but many times. Then, with
the consciousness of having risen to
the occasion and done the right thing
at the right moment, he chatted with
his aunt in whispers. With an idea of
delivering her mind from those per-
sistent noises below he launched into
an account teeming with detail of a
yachting party of which he was once
q member.
Then suddenly the doorbell rang.
The suspense was over now, and he
had been brave. Surely there would
be an extra $4,000 in the will for
that. He could go blithely to the door,
sure that the burglars would not harm
him now that they realized help was
coming from outside.
With a sweep he threw the door
open. expecting to see squad of
burly men standing on the step. He
looked into black darkness.
But from the level of his knees he
heard a voice say: Say, mister, did
youse ring for messenger? "-Phila-
delphia Public Ledger.