Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-04-27
THE boardin' party7 presume

I'm commodore of this fleet" he
said, land. that bein' the case. expect
my crew to obey orders. There's moth
in you can do, and Why. yes, there
IS too. You can take care Of Bos'n.
Georgianna." to the housekeepec.
send Bos'n in here quick"
They there" whispered Georgian
na-"Mr. Atkins and Tad and that
Thomas crittcr and lots more. And
they've come after her. What shall
we do?"
Jump when l speak to you; that's
the first thing. Send Bos'n in here"
Emily came running. Miss Dawes
put an arm about her. Captain Cy
stepped forth.
They were there, as Georgianna had
said Mr. Thomas on the top step. lie
man and Simpson on the next lower,
and behind them Abel Leonard and a
group Of interested volunteers.
"Evenin'. gentlemen" said the cap
tain, opening the door briskly.
"Evenin'." repeated Captain Cy.
Quite Il surprise party you're givin'
me. Come In
Cyrus" began the Honorable At.
kins, I'VE are here to claim
Give me my daughter. you robber,"
demanded Thomas from his new Pc
sition in the rear of the other two.
Mr.. Thomas" said Heman. "pleasc
remember that I am conducting this
affair. | respect the natural indigna
ton Of an outraged father. but-ahem
Cyrus. we are here to claim
Then do your claimin' inside. It's
kind of chilly tonight There's plenty
of empty chairs. and we don't need to
hold an overflow meetin'. Come ahead
in"
The trio looked at each other in
hesitation. Then Mr.. Atkins maies
ticaly entered the dining room
Thomas and Simpson followed him
ABE" observed Captain Cy to Leon.
ard who was advancing toward the
steps, I'm sorry not to be hospitabe,
but there's too many of you to invite
at once and faint polite to show par
TALLY. You and the rest are welcome
TO sit on the terrace or stroll round
the deer park. Good night"
He closed the door in the face of the
disappointed Abel and turned to the
three in the room.
Well" he said. "out with it. You've
come to claim somethin. under
stand"
II como for my rightsw shouted Mr.
Thomas.
Yes? Well, this amt state prison
or I'd give EN- to you with pleasure
Heman. you'd better do the talkin'
Wen probably get ahead faster"
The honorable cleared his throat and
waved his hand.
Cyrus" he began. you are my boy.
hood friend and my fellow townsman
and neighbor. Under such clrcum-
stances 1t gives me pain
Then don't let us discuss painful
subjects. Let's get down to business
You've come to rescue Bos' n-Emily
that is-from the 'robber--Tm 1uotin
Deacon Thomas Merchants got her
SOS to turn her over to her sorrowin'
father Is that it? Yes? Well. YOU
can't have her-not yet"
Cyrus" said Mr.. Atkins, I'm sor.
~ to see that you take it this way.
You haven't the shadow Of n richi
We have the law with us. and your
conduct will lead US to invoke It. The
constable is outside. Shall call him
IMP
Uncle Bedny' was the town con
war. The purely honorary office was
given him each year as a joke Cap
tain Cy grinned broadly, and even
Tad was obliged to smile
Don't be inhuman. Heman," urged
the captain. you wouldn't turn me
over to be manhandled by Uncle Bed
ny, would your"
This is not humorous affair." be-
gan the congressman, with dignity.
But the "bereaved father" had been
prospecting on his own hook, and now
he peeped into the sitting room.
Here she ISL he shouted. Il see
her. Come on, Emmie Your dads
come Tor you. Let go of her, you wo.
man. What do you mean by holdln
on to her?'
The situation, which was mot hui
morous," Immediately became much
less so. The next minute was a live
ly one 1t ended as Mr.. Thomas was
picked up by Tad from the floor, where
he had fallen. having been pushed VIC
lently over chair by Captain CIV.
BoSn, frightened and sobbing. was
cinging wildly to Miss Dawes, who
had chung just as firmly to her The
captains voice rang through the room.
That's enough" he said. THAT'S
enough and some over. Atkins, take
that Teller out this house and off nv
premises. AS for the girl, that's for us
TO fight out in the courts. I'm her
lawfully appointed, and Won
nor nobody else can touch her while
that appointments good. Here II is.
right here. Now look at it and clear
out"
He held for the congressman's in
spection the document which, inclos.
ed in the long envelope, had been re-
ceivcd that morning. His visit to Os-
table, made some weeks before. had
been for the purpose Of applying to the
probate court for the appointment as
Emily's guardian. He had applied be-
fore the news of her fathers coming
to life reached him. The appointment
itself had arrived Just in time.
Mr.. Atkins studied the document.
"Humph." he grunted. "Humph!
see Wnll sir [ have Soma In nnnnnn