The Princeton union., 1908-12-03
the PRINCETON UNION: THURSDAY, DECEMBER g. 1908

piercing voice, and the last wall was
still on the move as the others entered
the house for a closer investigation.
1T do seem as if he had jest melted
away!' whispered Sarah Ann in an
awestruck voice as they peered through
the crack Of the slightly opened door.
''Where could he have got ter?'
They soon discovered his retreat. At
one side of the room trap door led
down through the floor into the cold,
dark cellar below, and Mrs. Johnesy
had forgot to close it after her last de-
scent. Anyway, there hung the gun
above the mantelpiece, and she vigor-
ously thrust her husband into the ROOM
Land alive! Hurry up, pa, and drive
the varmint out Of thet or he'll have
ct up all the winter butter! Oh, he's
gone and done it now!" she shrieked as
loud crash sounded from below. 'I
knew he wouldv'
Jabez strobe bravely forward and
was just reaching down the old fash
ioned muZZle loader when the bear
emerged from the trap and ambled
swiftly LOT Ine open uOOf.
If bruin thought that he was going
to escape so easily, with the weight Of
all his sins upon his head, he was vast
~ mistaken. Sarah Ann leaped out
and slammed the door in his face a
man, bear and a gun shut together in
space eight feet square! 1t looked
very much as if something ought to
happen. Jabez thought so too.
"Holy' pokers. Sarah! Open that door
Quick"' he shouted.
"Shoot him, shoot himv answered
Mrs. Johnesy. Hell git out if I open
the door,"
"Gol darn it, let him git out!' the
farmer shouted back. 'I'm no blamed
bar hunter, and I amt a-goin'-to be
neither" And then, as this seemed
ineffectual, a bright inspiration flashed
through his brain. "Do yer want blood
and bars grease messed all over yer
parlor floor, Sarah, for there will be if
yer don't look real smart?''
The door flew open on the instant,
while Mrs. Johnesy, having removed
herself to one side, piped up in another
tune:
Don't yer hit him-don't yer hit him,
Jabez! Let him git outer the house
first.'
But the bear in the meantime had
changed his mind and instead of git
tin OUT sat in the doorway growing
and making faces at poor old Johnesy,
whose gun was drawing invisible hero
glyphics in the air.
Now, when the bear had made his ap-
pearance from below the valiant Andy
had squeezed in between the hot stove
and the wall and seated himself in a
large earthen dish Of dough which Sa-
rah Ann had put there to 'raise.'' The
good woman suddenly spied a pitch
fork and a perspiring red face above
the water kettle, and she hurled an ap-
peal to the "help:''
my land, Andy, git and drive the
bar out Of there before pa messes his
dirty carcass all over my clean foor!"
But pa had taken his loving wife's
advice and was now in the cellar, with
the trapdoor clapped to behind him.
With some difficulty Mr.. Johnesy was
extricated from his retreat by means Of
a very narrow window that led into
the potato bin, and they all withdrew
themselves to distance to encourage
the departure of the guest.
IF yer had shot thet beast in the
best room in ther house, Jabez Johne-
sy, you and would ha' parted compa-
ny next minut', I can jest tell yerw
said Mrs. Johnesy firmly. 1T amt as
II 1 hadn't nigh broke my back havint