The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-03-22


stay right here'
The little oncs screamed again, and
Fairy said: "Don't be silly, Prue. IL
you go I'm going with you, of course.
Wen leave the kid,lies here and they
can lock the door. They'll be perfectly
safe in here"
But the children loudly objected TO
this. II Prue and Fairy went, they
would GO! SO down the stairs they
trooped. a timorous trembling crowd.
Prudence went at once to the tele-
phone, and called mp the residence Of
the Allans, their neighbors across the
street. After n seemingly never-ending
wait, the kind-hearted neighbor left
his bed to answer the insistent tele-
phone. Falteringly Prudence explained
their predicament. and asked him to
come and search the house. He prom
ised TO be there In five minutes, with
his son to help.
snow" said Prudence more cheer
fully. swell just so out to the kitchen
and wait. It's quiet there, and away
from the rest OF the house. and Wen
be perfectly safe" To the kitchen,
then. they hurried. and found real
comfort In its smallness and secure
ness. Prudence raked up the dying
embers of the fire, and Fairy drew the
blinds to their lowest limits. The
twins and Connie trailcd them fear
fully at every step.
Every breath of wind against the
windows drew startled cries from the
younger girls, and both Fairy and Pru
dence were white with anxiety when
they heard the loud voices of the AL
lans outside the kitchen door. Pru
dence began crying nervously the mO
ment the two angels Of mercy ap
peared before her, and Fairy told theil
tale of woe.
"Well, there now," Mr.. Allan sait
with rough sympathy, "you just go
scared, that's all. Everythings sus
plcious when folks get scared. tolo
my wife the other day l bet you girl
would get good fright sometime, lef
here alone. Come on, Jim. and wei
| go over the house in a jiffy."
He was standing near the dining
room door. He lifted his head sud
denly, and seemed to sniff a little
There was undoubtedly faint odo
| of tobacco in the house.
Been any men in here tonightf" h
asked. "Or this afternoon? Think
now!"
mo one" answered Prudence.
was alone all afternoon, and there ha
been no one In this evening""
He passed slowly through the din
ing room into the hall, closely follows
by his son and the five girls, alread
much reassured. AS he passed tn
dungeon door he paused for a moment
listening intently. his head bent.
"Oh, Mr.. Allan" cried Prudence
"let's look in the dungeon first. l wan
to see II the money Is safe" Her han
was already on the lock, but he shove
her away quickly.
'Ts there any way out of that close
besides this door?" he asked.
"NO. We call 1t the dungeon,
laughed Prudence, her self-possessio
quite recovered. ut Is right unde
the stairs, and not even mouse coul
gnaw its way out, with this door shut.
"Who shut the door?" he inquired
still holding Prudence's hand from tn
lock. Then, without waiting for n
answer, he went on, Lets go back
the other room minute. Come on, a
of you.". In the living room he hu
ried to the telephone, and spoke to I'll
operator in u low voice. Call the p,
lice headquarters, and have them sen
two or three men to the Methodist pa
sonage, right away. We've got bu
glar locked In closet, and they'll hay
to get him out. Please hurry"
At this. the girls crowded aroun
him again In renewed fear.
"Don't be scared" he said calml
"we're all right. He's in there sal
enough and can't get out for a Will
Now, tell me about 1t. How did yo