Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1913-01-23
CASE next JOOR.
Caught in Trap, But She Founa
Out All About the Mysterious
heighbor.
/ ~ GRACE kERRlcAN.

~ GRACE kERRioAN.
Copyright. 1918, by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate.)
Next door to the Needham's was 9
cottage with an acre Of ground around
It. The owner had died just as the
cottage was ready for occupancy, and
It had stood tenantless for more than
a year. There were all sorts Of sto
ries az to why, az the agent who had
it In charge lived In another town
but at length there came young man
who announced himself as Mr.. Paul
Burton. and his errand to take years
lease
The young man met Mr.. and MrS
Needham, and he might have met theil
daughter Grace at the same time had
she been home that day Nothing was
said as to the young mans occupation
or family. and the mystery was soon
deeper than ever.
f No mother, sister or housekeepel
come with him.
He did not engage board anywhere
He did not engage a woman to come
In and do the cooking and other work
He did not seek to make acquaint
ances.
He evidently had no trade or profes
sion.
And when the Needham's and others
had sized that all up and wondered
and wondered there was something
else. At the rear of the deep lot he
built small house It was hardly
larger than an ordinary bedroom Ii
there had been any children it would
have been pronounced a playhouse
There was no dog, and so 1t could moi
be a dog-house.
A week after the house had beer
finished, and while the neighbors were
holding their breath. an express wagon
drove up and delivered goose in q
crate. It was q gander-a pure white
gander, and those who got close look
said 1t was an old patriarch who waa
living out the last half of his century
A goose?" queried Mrs. Needham
why, it's months and months to
Thanksgiving
He may be vivisectionist and II
going to carve her up alive" re
marked Mr.. Needham
He's got goose for a companion!'
sneered Grace. That's what might be
looked for in young man Of his
parts"
The old goose was taken out to the
goose-house and provided with excel
sior to lie on, dishes to eat and drink
from, and young Mr.. Burton visited
him half dozen times day to ash
about his health 1t was said that be
3 even got up twice a night to go out
there and speak a word or two OF
cheer to his pet
THAT young man is of in his top
story" said some.
"The law ought to step I'M" said
others.
If he isn't making counterfeit
money then why all this secrecy
asked the wise ones with a wink.
No letters came for Mr.. Burton. He
answered no idle questions Of the
tradesmen. A minister called to invite
him to attend church. but his ring was
ignored. The mystery had lasted fol
three months when Miss Grace Need
ham threw down her book one even
Ing and turned to her father with:
Il declare that If l were you
wouldn't stand it another day!"
Stand what?"
''You know what mean. wouldn',
stand this case next door. Id have q
talk with Mr.. Burton and ask him
what he means by such conduct"
CAS- how?"
las living alone"
That's his business. choose tc
live as | live and that is my business
But he has to cook for himself"
"Yes?"
And make his bed, and sweep and
dust
"Yes?"
And he has an old gander for com
pany!"
But we have an old cat!'
'But-but you won't do anything
about IT,"
mot thing"
Then will! He's just got to ex
plain himself or I'll know the reason
why!"
Spoken like Nick Carter" replied
the father with laugh. and the sub
ject was dropped.
The young boys of the village had
heard all about the gander, and the
time came when they thought it would
be good joke to climb the alley fence
and bear the veteran away. One night
they tried it, but the gander's protests
called Mr.. Burton out of bed and ia
the rescue. He could have put lock
on the door next day. but he didn't,
He bought a steel trap without teeth
and set it where boy might put his
foot In It.
Miss Grace Needham was very much
In earnest in her intentions to solve
the next door mystery, but how was
Oh a ~. ~, a }f9 Che had ~, ~,l ~ 90 =