The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-06-09
Billy Mudge's
Surprise
b oscAR cox


profitable than plowiugs sitting an day
son reaper or tossing hay up into the
second story OF d barn with q pitch
fork Billy was trudging along through
a wood one day when he came 70 Al
clearing There was small house on
it, but no one appeared to be at home.
Billy noticed the place before leaving
the edge Of the wood, and sudde nly he
ssawsom ethfng else that made him stop
short on the opposite side Of the clear
Ing q man emerged from the road and,
taking position behind tree standing
alone. SURVEYED the house fntently.
Then he moved toward 1t stealthily.
keeping his eye fixed on If and on
reaching it began to examine IL for
some place of entrance.
From a dream Billy had suddenly ems
tered upon a reality. How much there
might be in it for him he didn't con-
slider. Apparently it was nothing more
than an opportunity to prevent thief
from committing a depreciation Billy
was unarmee and felt it necessary to
proceed cautiously. The man he watch
ed, after trying windows and doors. at
last found an opening to the cellar,
through which he disappeared.
Billy looked about him for weapon
and found q stout cudgel on the ground,
which he picked up and clutehed with
firm grasp. He had time to think
while the man was In the house ana
realized that the robber doubtless had
either revolver Or a knife, perhaps
both. and TO attack him would be TO
get wofsfed He therefore decided not
to enter the house. but wait TIL the
fellow came out, follow him. steal up
Es.g4s l1YSV
from his club.
In n few minutes the front door was
thrown open. and the thief emerged,
CARRYING a long yarn stocking, full as
after a visit from Santa Claus on
Christmas eve Billy knew the way
that some country persons kept theiE
money and recognized the stocking as
the depository OF the occupant OF the.
house. He stopped and moved for
ward. expecting the robber to go the
way he had come and intending to fol-
low him. But Just as the fellow was
about to step down from the porch
on to the ground there was sound of
breaking tinderbrl1sh and thud OF
horses hoofs on turf, and girl on
horseback emerged from the wood into
the clearing.
ments.
The man dropped the stocking and
the girl. pulling In her horse. rested
the rein on his@necIl, covered her face
with both hands and was shaking with
conclusive sobbfpg. The robber. who
had been caught in the act. hung his
head 1t was evidently not merely a
case of common thief being detected
by a stranger, but a brother or lover
surprised by his sister or his sweet
heart
There were neutrality-suspicious. likely
which Billy could not hear. The girl.
calling on the man to follow her. urged
her horse from the clearing. the man
running on foot. They We're out of
sight when posse of armed men
broke into the clearing and, hearing
the sounds of breaking bushes, ran
after them.
Billy waited further developments:
but. neither hearing nor seeing any
more of the persons concerned. he
emerged from his biding. went to the
house and picked up the stocking lying
on-the ground. He felt of it and con-
Guided that it was full of bills and
coins. Untying n rsering that held in.
the contents. he thrust in his hand and
drew out a handful of loose pieces OF
paper and some small stones.
.'weII. I'll be goldarnedE he ex-
claimed.
Billy looked at the stocking. then at
the house, then turned the stocking
upside down and shook out the con-
stents-bits of newspaper and stones
scratched his head and repeated:
'I'll be goldarned"
Going to the door. he tried to open it,
but it had evidently been fastened. aft
err the robber had gone out. by a spring
lock Billy tried to get into the house
by the cellar door through which the
robber had effected an entrance. This
door. too, was locked, or. rather, bolt
ed inside. for through crack he could
see the bolt shot
Turning, he stood looking up at the
house with his hands in his pockets,
still wondering.
az wish" he said, 'Td knowed that
stocl,in, didn't have no money in 1T,
cause could "a told the teller that.
after all, he hadn't committed no bur-
rlary. and the gal wouldn't "a TUX on
so But what he was so keerful fur
about lockfn' up after he'd TUX or.
thought he'd TUX all the funds In the
house I'd like to know.
Hearing a litter, he looked to his
right. There stood man beside some
sort of machine. A litter at his left
drew his attention, and he saw the rob
Der and the girl laughing at him.
"See here, you people" he exclaimed
what does all this goldarned perform,
ance mean?"
at means" said the man with the
machine, .'taat we've been making a
moving picture play. I've got you In
picking up the stocking and trying to
get into the house, and it's the best
part of the show