The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-08-13

Sd I-uuOs 10 IedNe me lllli'TOtecGeu
TO meet % burglar. | might have been
murdered in my led for I'LL you cared.
III change my will tomorrow
Where is the burglir." demanded
Henry Fields skepticaily
In the eellar--loeked in the cellar
with my two hands. replied Miss Lou
lisa Indignantly Il was asleep in M,
bed when heard Il sound around the
side of the house / peeked out of the,
window and there was ii mtn dodging
watched and saw him lift the slant
door of the cellar hatchway and POI.
inside. Then he dropped the door over
his head
II remembered then that had for
gotten to lock the cellar door from the
outside So ! went downstairs. and as
the risk of my life. to say nothing OF
rheumatic. l fetched the big key aud
crept out the side door and locked the
cellar door fast and tight
THE burglar is fast and tight under
that there hatchway"
There was a guilty silence among
the four nephews
"Well. where We're you four depend
able watchmen?" asked Louisa sar-
castically.
Adam explained, feeling rather fool
ish as he related how they had each
chosen the orchard as a point of van
tage from which to watch the ho,,se
and how in the darkness they had mis-
taken one another for midnight marau-
ders and had battled
Playing puss in the corner in the
orchard. eh. while | might have been
murdered in my bedr' accused Aunt
Louisa drearily. Then she added. with
Il hint OF venom in her voice. Seems
like | couldn't get any protection even
from them who are paid to protect the
public Last thing before | went to
bed | telephoned Constable Tad Smith
and told him my fears. and be said
he'd keep an eye ON the place. | amt
seen him. Where is Constable Tad
Smith," she asked bitterly
Here. shouted mufiied voice from
the ground.
The four men on the path jumped
aside. and then with one accord they
ran to the cellar door.
''That YOU. Tad:" they called in
chorus
Yes, it is. And I'll arrest the hull
lot of We for assaulting an officer of
the iawr yelled the exasperated Mr..
Smith
In silence Aunt Louisa tossed down
the key that unlocked the paddock OF
the cellar door In silence tile door
was opened, and in silent rage Gonsta-
Bile Tad Smith emerged, trembling
with outraged dignity
He brought out the night stick that
was never absent from his coattail
Pocket and shook it up Mt the night
capped head in the window.
"Ma'am. you asked me to watch your
house tonight. did so was creeping
around the house when | heard foot.
steps coming in the front gate and
around this side path. SO lodged into
the cellar hatchwly for Il moment
Before | could come out and investi
gate you locked nle in. I'll have the
law on ye, ma'am." And Constable
Tad Smith stalked away in the dark.
ness.
When the front gate clicked as il
marked his departure. Adam Rev
spoke.
II wonder who it was that Tad
heard coming in the front way:'
Hiram Penny cleared his throat
nervously.
Il reckon it was me-" he admitted.
II came in the front gate and started
to come around this way; then |
changed my mind and went t'other
way around to the orchard y
There was long silence. heavy with
bitterness,
Then Henry Fields snickered.
Aunt Louisa's window came down
with Il bang and her light popped out
ut the same instant
The fonr amateur watchmen tiptoed
down the path to the front gate. let