Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-06-19
he had closed it noiselessly.

The three others stood perfectly
still until he had satisfied himself
that the door was secure. Then all
four silently descended the steps and
opened the gate.
Jack gasped. Where could they be
going at that time of night1 1t was
past eleven.
by Jovel The man and boy are
carrying something that looks like
baseball-bats tied up in cloth. No
they're not thick enough. Yet, ye
godsl Can they be jimmies7 Would
they carry burglars tools as openly
as thati"
Then he laughed silently at his
own foolishness.
"I'm blessed if I amt as bad as
mother for getting queer ideas about
folksl l feel as if ought to apollo
gize to them. / will if l ever get 20
know them"
The family from No. % was walk.
ing past. Jack clung closer to the
wall SO that they should not see him
Harkl One of them was speak.
ing. 1t was the stocky man. His
words reached Jack in low, cauti.
Gus rumble:
1--WE ought to get back before two
o'clock"
EYES," came from the boy. 'Ii
we have luck"
They glided on, their FOOTBALLS
making no sounds on the flagstones.
Jack Ladd chung to the railing,
draping himself over it like a wet
towel He felt weak.
"H they have luckl" he breathed.
II heard him say it. What can that
meanf I've a good mind to follow
them. No, can't do that. But I'll
keep awake till they come back if
have to sit up all night"
Jack Ladd's resolve was not re-
markable when it is considered that
his father had spent an hour or more
in No. %, and had been out of the
house only short time.
eff these people really are crooks
I'm quite sure dad doesn't know 1t,
and I'll have to tell him what l
heard them say. At all events, I'll
see what time they come home and
whether they bring any booty with
them. If they have luckl By
Heavens! This is simply awful"
He went up to his bedchamber, a
front room on the third floor. He
would have a clear view of the street
from the window.
II would rather have sat in the
Morris chair in the parlor," he
thought. But know mother would
come shopping down to see why. !
hadn't gone to bed. She never can
settle down for the night till she
knows we are all under cover. That's
the way mothers are
Jack seated himself in rocker at
the window. 1t would not do for
anybody outside to see light in his
room. 1t would surely make them
suspicious. So he did not light the
gas.
TOO bad, too. could have read
while was waiting. AS it is, can't
do anything but just wait"
There was no use grumbling. He
had entered upon task that he felt
must be done. 1t must be regarded
in the way a soldier accepts sentry
duty-as most important, even though
monotonous. Jack felt little like
a hero. 1t was rather comfortable
feeling, too.
1t was midnight when he began his
vigil. How slowly the time passed!
How hard it was to keep awake!
Why did a fellows eyes close of
themselves unless one kept his
thoughts strictly upon them! Jack
asked himself this question SO per-
sistently that he almost fell asleep
while trying to find satisfactory
answer.
Pulling himself together resolutely.
he stared at the stars. A happy idea
came to him. He would try to pick
out the various consultations; he
had learned many OF them at school.
Let's see," he murmured as he
leaned back in the rocker to gaze
at the armament more conveniently.
"Those three stars il. row are the
belt of Orion. Orion? Who was he!
is it leash of hounds he IS sup
posed to be holding? Or goats? l
don't see anything that looks like it..
"There's Ursa Major. know him.
all right. Wait minute! I'm all
mixed up with him and Charles's
VAIN and the Giprer!
"Oh, the deucel I've forgotten.
And that bunch of little stars over
there; is it six or seven? They think
SO | can't count 'em, and"
He stopped talking to himself
about the stars in order to yawn.
When ne had finished yawning his
eyes were closed. How comfortable
this rocker was! A fellow could
put his head back, and-and-and--
Boom!
The deep-toned bell of church.
clock woke him up with start.
"tlcllo One o'clock! They SAID