The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1911-12-23
UNCLE JIM'S BURGLAR
Continued from Page ~

him.
Halo, cousins' ne said, his eyes
running in anna .ement round the disor-
dered room. What shines are you up
to, and why didn't you let me in? Folks
about here don't wait for formal intro
duction in a snow storm. Where's ia
ther?
1--WE were both speechless.
You don't seem much overjoyed to
see me- he went on. Didn't father tell
you that your parents have sent word
fer US to come to them and bring you
along with us? Grandmothers worse
Your father! gasped Jim.
Yes, my father. Didn't he come in !?
Then perhaps he's at the front door,
and the young man hastily started to go
through the house.
Stop implored jim Your fathers
here
Here? Where? and Richard eyed him
as If he thought he was crazy.
1n-in the cellar, and the words
seemed to stick fast in Jim's throat.
The cellar! What's he doing there?'
demanded Cousin Richard
Jim spoke up like man then: 4
thought he was burglar when he
came, and | pushed him down.
"'You young rascal said Richard,
and without stopping for further words,
he began to throw the furniture off the
cellar door with as much haste as Jim
had put it on.
In two minutes we were all down in
the cellar. bending over Uncle Harvey,
who lay with his legs in the pickle tub
and his head an the cabbages and pota-
toes
g Are you hurt, father? asked Richard
in a choked voice.
Uncle Harvey groaned fearfully in
answer, but on being raised carefully to
an upright position, he discovered that,
owing to his heavy wrappings, he had
sustained no injury by the fall except a
few bruises and a slight cut on his
nose.
Richards wrathful expression, as he
emerged from the cellar supporting his
father, filled me with dismay.
Run, JIM ] whispered but he stood
his ground
Now, what's the meaning of this?
asked Richard, while his father sat down
in mothers armchair and pressed a hand
l found burglars marks o-day,' said
Jim, and / thought that some one was
going to attack US
Burglars groaned Richard. 'Hea-
vens and earth! What put that into your
head? There hasn't been such a thing
heard of in these parts since | was
born. What do you mean by their
marks?
Signs and writings that they leave
for each other said Jim.
" Bah! Stuff and nonsense! You've
been reading dime novels. If that mite
of girl isn't handling a revolver
1T was true. In my distress and be-
wilderment had picked up Jim's treas
ure, and was lingering it affectionately
You little WITCH, said Cousin Rich
ard, and he burst into a laugh. Hero,
give that thing to me. To think of such
an infant carrying firearms!' and sitting
down in chair he began to laugh.
But he didn't sit laughing very long.
He and Uncle Harvey made US bundle up
and get into the sleigh. We found grand
mother, instead of being worse, actually
getting better, and in the rejoicing over
that Jim escaped punishment"
But the marks on the hen house
door, ! asked.
Mothers records about the number
of eggs the hens laid" said sudden |
familiar voice.
Uncle JIM" we shrieked turning to |
meet him.
He had crept quietly up the veranda |
steps, valise in hand Merry Christ |
mas! Merry Christmas he cried, drop |
ping his valise and embracing us all to- |
gether.
Marshall Saunders, in Youths Com |
panion.