The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-01-07
TOMMY1S BURGLAR.
By Kate Louise Brown.

| Va IL - DoAS +3Si AAAs
By Kate louise Brown.
There was 4 great roaring fire on
! the hearth that autumn night. On
/ one side sat Tommy Joy. on the Othcr
/ Billy Bliss. They We're two little
! cousins who had met for the first
| time
Tommy Joy was as round as al
! apple, with red checks and q Girnpi
ii his chin
! brown almost as an Indian boy, and
with very black eyes ana hair.
Tommy lived il New York City.
| Billy's home was Gil large farm IN
! the Northwest. They had come TO
Grandma Clark s in Maine for the
golden wedding.
At first the two had very little to
say They stared at one another
! across the fire. then looked away,
| only to turn and stare again.
| Il have q watch said Tommy at
last, but it's only play watch
/ When I'm bigger shall have real
one that tells lime"
y have jack-knife," said Billy.
'Jts real and cnts. I've cut all my
| fingers SO far
! Let ne see it, ! Ike to cut!"
cliei Tommy hopping ur from his
| chair.
Mother made me leave ii at
home replied Billy sadly. I'd
| like to see your watch
There was silence for a moment,
| the fire alone having some thing to
say.
! There's an engine house around
| the corner of our street." burst out
Tommy.
There's q windmill back of our
| house on q little hill" said Billy.
1T pumps water into the house and
all the barns, too
Well. I've seen a big machine
that cuts down wheat and then ties it
In bundles" cried Billy, not to be
otl:done.
But you never saw a burglar"
My grandpa Bliss saw a bear
! once"
But burglars are worse than
bears A bear makes a noise. You
can hear him an1l run and get a
, gun. A burglar is very SILL, but 1t
is not safe to meet hin
How do You know Did you
ever see one, Tommy"
There was one IN the next house
last winter He may come to US this
| winter shall not be afraid
What will you do?" cried Billy
hopping out Of his chair.
IN run at him ana tip him down
stairs cried Tommy, and over went
the candle stand with its dish of ap-
pies.
Dear me- Dear NE, What's
this" cried Gran n:a Clark, jump
ing up from her Knitting.
1t tipped itself, ! never meant
to touch it," said Tommy. very
much scared. Il vas showing Billy
how | would tip a burglar down
stairs. viii that dish cost great
deal, grandma? Must l pay for 1t
out Of my i've cents a week."
On, the u1sn Ism DroAen, saId
dear grandma. Just help me pick
up the apples and III set the stand
In the corner. There isn't room for
boys and canGle-stands, too
The cousins were TO sleep in the
same room at the end of the house.
When Tommy sank down in the
feather bed, he cried out, Where an
| going?' Billy was too sleepy to sig
gle He thought Tommy Joy fun
ny fellow.
The candle was taken away and
both boys closed their eyes. In an
other moment they would have been
sound asleep
Tommy started UP in bed. What's
tl3at?' he cried. From the attic
above cane the sound Of heavy foot
Steps Just over their heads.
It's a burglar.'he cried, diving
under the clothes.
You - said i burglar s-ditln t
make any-noise," said Billy, in g
very shaky whisper.
Tommy didn't reply, for the foot
steps sounded again louder, heavier
Lets go Up and see" said Billy,
with sudden courage.
''I--I--oan't, gasped Tommy.
"EelI-he'lI-ki us"
Let's go downstairs and tell
grandma"
| I'm 'frail,'' replied Tommy in
| very small voice.
/ 80 an I" replied Billy, his cour-
! age dying away.
At last Tommy began to Cry.
| Grandma came to see what the mat
| ire was.
Its burglar up in the attic"
moaned Tommy. Yes" chimed in
| Billy. Hear his feet."
Grsa lima laughed SO she had to sit
| down. iii go and get the burglar,
boys" she said
Don't 90. Hell XII rol." wall
ed the boys.
Don't yen be scare11, grandma's
little man. said the dear o; lady.
That burglar and are the best Of
| friends. He won't hurt me-.
Little by little they pulled doy,n
the sheet until grandma could see
two head tops, tvo nose tips, and two
pairs of eyes. Grandma held in her