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

But. Aunt Louisa. Henry Fields
had protested. there isn't one chance
in a hundred that those crooks will
come back again. They've been scared
away by the constable and
"Pshaw," interrupted Aunt Louisa
sharply. I'D like to see the burglar
that would be afraid of Tud smith,
But they were afraid of him and
ran off" argued Henry.
Jest because they didn't know who
it was" triumphed Aunt Louisa as she
rang of. Like enough If they'd known
it was only Tad Smith they would
have kept right ON burglingrr
Don't, for heavens sake. let any one
else know you're going to stand guard
there tonight" cautioned Mrs. Adam
Rev as her husband prepared to leave
the house at dusk.
81 won't" promised Adam as he slip
ped away from the house by the back
door, made a detour through the or
chard and emerged into a lane that
finally debouched upon the Back road.
The lane was not untenanted that
evening.
No sooner had Adam Rev covered a
hundred yards of its black tunnel than
he was conscious of cautious footsteps
following in his wake.
So Adam, knowing the little lane as
a sailor reads a familiar chart, stepped
off the path. pushed his way through a
thicket of cat brier and found another
little path parallel with the lane. This
he followed until he came to the dark.
~unlighted way known as the Back
road.
1t was after 8 o'clock when he finally
ensconced himself beneath the low
hanging branches of an ancient harvest
apple tree in Aunt Louisa's orchard.
Adam Rev shivered with the chill of
the evening dew, although he felt with
in his heart a hot fame of anger
against his respected relative. 1t was
like Aunt Louisa TO set bin to watch
ing her house against the coming of
an entirely imaginary midnight intrud-
er, while she slept soundly, the sleep
of the we'll protected.
. OF course Aunt Louisa had limited at
making her will in his favor. but she
had dropped similar hints before this.
and he had innocently supposed that
the much talked about testament had
been drawn. signed and called long
ago. Adam nodded drowsily.
Was that the wind rushing through
the branches? He had thought it was
a still night. Adam looked about him
and saw nothing.
"Cricketsr' muttered Adam, wide
awake now There was no wind. The
sound he had heard was the dragging
of cautious. feet through the long orch
ard grass.
Adam picked up his shotgun and
slipped behind the trunk of the tree.
his knee braced in a low crotch.
The rushing sound suddenly ceased,
and then there was slowly lifted from
the ground a tall. dark form, silhouet-
ted against the distant sky. 1t came
forward cautiously, and with a quick,
darting movement it rounded the apple
tree and grabbed Adam Rew's gun
from his grasp. at the same time pin
ming that stout gentleman's arms to
his sides.
Caught you that time. you sneaking
mud eel!' was the complimentary
greeting of the newcomer.
Hen Fields.p' gasped Adam family.
The firm hold relaxed. Great cats.
Adam. Is that you. What are you
doing around here?" demanded Henry
Fields of his cousin.
Adam explained and received Hen
rvs explanation in return.
I'VE might as well stand watch to-
gether and get equal credit for catch
ing the Teller" said Henry disgusted-
ly. And Adam confessed that a COM
panion would be entirely agreeable to
him on this dark nights vigil.
All at once there came a quick rush
from behind the tree. and two dark
forms leaped at them.
In another instant Louisa's nephews
were rolling on the ground in deadly
combat with two desperate men.
Presently Adam Rev and Henry
Fields lag painting on the grass. while
their antagonists sat upon their pros
trate forms and gloated over the dou-
BILE capture.
Suddenly Henry Fields spoke. in loud
surprise:
"Great cats. Is that you. Eli Penny"
Eyes. Who is it? Say, Billy. this is
Henry. and. by gosh. the other ones
Adam Rev. What in the name of
time air you two fellers doing here in
Aunt Louisy's orchard at midnight?"
he demanded suspiciously.
AUNT Louisa set US to watch a bur
glar. She had a notion that the house
was going to be robbed tonight" x
planned Adam Rev as he struggled to
his feet.
In the light of a young moon Miss
Louisa's four nephews regarded each
other with dark. questioning glances.
Were they not the victim Of a woman's
duplicity? Had not Aunt Louisa made
. -