Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1913-06-06
Billy Mudges
Surprise
By OSCAR cox

Billy Nudge WIS u strApping Iarm'
ers boy. ambitious Of something more
profitable than blowing. sitting all day
on u reaper or tossing hay ny Into the
second story Of burn with pitch.
fork. Billy was trudging along through
q wood one day when he came to
clearing. There was u small house On |
It, but no one appeared to be ut home.
Billy noticed the place before leaving
the edge Of the wood. aid .sddenly he
saw something else t1s; inside him stop
short. On the opposite side Of the clear
ing man emerged from the road and.
taking position behind q tree standing
alone, surveyed the house intenty.
Then he moved toward It stealthily.
keeping his eye fixed ON It and on
reaching II began t. examine It for
some place OF entrance.
From dream Billy had suddenly en-
tered upon q reality. How much there
might be in II for him he didn't con.
slider. Apparently It was nothing moro
than I'm opportunity to prevent thief
from committing a depreciation. Billy
was unarmed and felt II necessary to
proceed cautiously. The man be watch
ed. utter trying windows and doors. at
last found an opening to the cellar.
through which he disappeared
Billy looked about him for a weapon
and found stout cudgel on the ground.
which he picked up and clutched with
4 arm grasp. He had time to think
while the man was In the house ana
realized that the robber doubtless had
either 4 revolver or knife. perhaps
both. and to attack him would be to
get worsted. He therefore decided not
to enter the house. but wait till the
fellow came out. follow him. steal up
behind him and fell him with . blow
from his club.
In few minutes the front door was
thrown open. and the thief emerged,
carrying q long yarn stocking. full 40
after q visit from Santa Claus on
Christmas eve. Billy knew the way
that some country persons kept their
money and recognized the stocking a.
the depository Of the occupant OF the
house. He stopped and moved for.
ward. expecting the robber to 60 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 a sound Of
breaking underbrush and thud OF
horses boots on turf. and girl on
horseback emerged from the wood into
the clearing
Billy paused and awaited develop
ments.
The man dropped the stocking. and
the girl. pulling in her horse. rested
the rein on his neck. covered her face
with both hands and was shaking with
convulsive sobbing The robber. who
had been caught in the act. hung his
head. 1t was evidently not merely a
case of a common thief being detected
BY a stranger. but 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 were out OF
sight when a 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 hiding. went to the
house and picked up the stocking lying
on the ground He felt OF It and con
cluded that it was full Of bills and
coins. Untying a string that held In
the contents he thrust in his hand and
drew out handful Of loose pieces Of
paper and some small stones.
"Well. I'll be goldarned" he ex
claimed.
Billy looked ut the stocking. then a
the house. then turned the stocking
upside down and shook out the con
tents-bits Of newspaper and stones
scratched his head and repeated:
"I'I be goldarned!''
Going to the door. he tried to open II
but It had evidently been fastened. nj
or the robber had gone out. by sprin
lock. Billy tried to get into the hous
by the cellar door through which tn
rObber had effected nm entrance. TIL
door. too. was locked. or. rather. boil
ed inside. for through crack he coul
see the bolt shot.
Turning. he stood looking up at th
house with his hands in his pocket!
still wondering.
II wish.' he said. I'D knowed tina
stockin' didn't have no money In !
cause I could "a told the Teller tina
after all. he hadn't committed no bu
glary. and the gal wouldn't a TUX Q
So But what he was so keerful n
about lockin' up after he'd TUX
thought he'd TUX all the funds IN tn
house Id like to know"
Hearing litter. he looked to b
right. There stood man beside sou
sort Of machine A litter at his le
drew his attention. and he saw the 70