Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-06-19

the kitchen door. Got that, dadP
Every bit of it, Jack" replied
Mr.. Ladd promptly.
He dived into the open doorway
of No. %, missing the girl who was
holding the door, but plumbing into
the stocky man standing behind her.
He was only just out of sight. The
girl had only just closed the door
when Mrs. Ladd appeared on the
scene on her own side of the railing.
She had managed at last to get the
spring-lock out of its snarl Then.
Ainging open the door, she had
charged out to the porch like war
horse snuffing the battle-not afar
off, but close by.
"Wherc is he, Jack?' she demand
ed. "Where is your father9 Why
doesn't he come imp
What do you mean, mother!"
There's nobody here except myself"
Don't talk rubbish, John Ladd. /
saw a man dart across the porch
next door just as | got that drafted
door open. At the same time !
heard your father cough"
II didn't hear it," protested Jack.
"Well, did"
Jack thought quickly. He must
cover his fathers retreat somehow.
A happy suggestion came to him. 1t
was perfectly true that he had not
noticed the wheezy cough of his
fugitive parent.
II know how it was, mother" he
said. II must have coughed. That's
what you heard"
"Don't be idioticw she replied.
ut was your father. Do you think
I've been married to him nearly
twenty-four years without knowing
his cough when i hear it? I thought
it was out here. But it may have
been at the back
"Oh, mol" interposed Jack in a
hurry. ut wasn't at the back; I'm
sure of that"
"How do you know? Pm going to
see."
mo. Let me go, mother. There
might be burglars out there, you
know. Suppose they were to attack
you! ] should never forgive my
self"
Although Jack said this With lue
gravity, and as if he believed thor
oughly in the possibility, he could
not shake her resolution.
II can't help it, John" she said.
I'm sure heard your father cough
somewhere. If he isn't at the front,
he must be at the back. Pm going
to satisfy myself, anyhow"
Worked up as the cstimable lady
was over the mysterious family in
No. 23--who might be burglars, and
probably were-her eagerness to
have an understanding with her
husband over his staying out SO late
rehcarsing at the Classic Club over
powered every other consideration.
"You may go TO the back yard
with me il you like, John" she said
with shake OF the head which
would have sent terror to her hus-
bands soul if he had seen it. "Bu,
you needn't fear for me. have my
bread-knife. Lead on!"
Very WELL"
He took his mothers left hand.
The corrugated-edged bread-knife
was in the other. They went through
the hall and kitchen to the back
door. Jack stopped and held up one
hand irnpressively as he whispered:
"Hush!"
What is it?"
II think / hear somebody"
H\Ahn-your fothar2D
mot likely. But it may be If
you're sure you heard him cough"
'tWell, | did hear him.
Mrs. Ladd had nailed her colors
10, the mast
With elaborate, caution Jack OPEN
ed, the kitchen door and peered into
the yard. 1t was absolutely black
with the silence as positive as the
darkness.
II don't think there is anybody
here" he said after a moment of
lopking and listening.
"'rhere must be, insisted Mrs.
Ladd. The cough l heard came
from your father He wasn't at the
front of the house Therefore, nc
must DC al me PACK. d. walk INTO
the yard and strike one of these wax
matches. They'll burn in the open
air well enough. There's no wind
But ii took her longer than she
had anticipated to make match
blaxc up in the yard True, there wa,
no wind to speak Of But there was
Just enough of ,ircsome Inn.
breeze to cause the flame to flicker,
even when she followed her han.
about it.
Jack watched her intently 10,
about five seconds. Then he caushl
sight Of u large, red, flnstered face
under back-tilted derby hat as tn.
owner tipioed toward the ti'chr1
door. 'fS HF n ~ s'''-
rHurry dadl Get TO Your 'aon