Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-02-05

O(alCs A@RtAlC1 MISS OOU6C WIN
hysterical laugh. Il should say l have
a passel of brave nephews. l should
say-I-had. To leave me unprotected
to meet a burglar. might have been
murdered In my bed for all you cared,
I'll change my will tomorrow
Where is the burglar?" demanded
Henry Fields skeptically.
in the ~cellar-locked in the cellar
with my two hands," replied Miss Lou
lisa Indignantly. Il was asleep in my
bed when | heard a sound around the
side of the house. | peeked out of the
window and there was a man lodging
around the corner of the house. |
watched and saw him lift the slant
door of the cellar hatchway and pop
inside. Then he dropped the door over
his head.
~ remembered then that | had for
gotten to lock the cellar door from the
outside. So | went downstairs, and at
the risk of my life. TO say nothing of
rheumatic. l fetched the big key and
crept out the side door and locked the
cellar door fast and tight. .
1.-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?H 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 house
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 bed" accused Aunt
Louisa drearily. Then she added. with
a 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 he. said
he'd keep an eye on the place. amt
seen him. Where is Constable Tad
Smith?' she asked bitterly.
"Herei'' shouted a mufied 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?r they called in
chorus.
"Yes, it is. And I'll arrest the hull
lot of We for a~ssaulting an officer Of
the lawF' yelled the exasperated MIR.
Smith.
In silence Aunt Louisa tossed down
the key that unlocked the paddock of
the cellar door. In silence the door
was opened. and in silent rage Consta-
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 at the night
capped head in the window.
"Ma'am. you asked me to watch your
house tonight. l 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 hatchway for a moment.
Before l could come out and investi-
gate you locked me in. III have the
law on ye. ma'am!" And Constable
Tad Smith stalked away in the dark
ness.
When the front gate clicked as it
marked his departure, Adam Rev
spoke.
II wonder who it was that Tad
heard coming in the front way"
Hiram Penny cleared his throat
n%ervously.
Il reckon it was me-" he admitted.
Il 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.R
There was long silence. heavy with
bitterness.
Then Henry Fields snickered.
Aunt Louisa's window came down
with a bang and her light popped out
at the same instant.
The four amateur watchmen tiptoed
douyn fho nath m tho front Oata Int