Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23

almost legendary figure"
when I'm locked out Of our house" said
Mr. Dumbunnie, ST simply take on = porch
screen and"
THE general consensus of opinion was that
our homes were mere sleeves; all that kept
them from falling apart was luck and library
paste. 81 ten yOu," said Mr.. Feenstrah, 'it's q
wonder we aren't all murdered IN our beds.
We ought to get together and form sort Of
home guard TO protect life and property In thu
neighborhood."
Dr.. Pennifeather and the rest Of us agreed.
Thus the vigfantes sprang into being. Mr.
Feenstrah added Q military touch to our prep
aratfons By securing several brass bugies FROM
the local Boy Scouts These he distributed
among ~.
Keep q buxie at your bedside" he instructed
and ut the hrst hint Of trouble, leap to the
window and blow three short blasts. A soon
al the ether Vigilantes I'm the neighb0rhood
hear the signal they win rush out, surround the
house, and trap the criminal
This plan was approved and adopted. M
meant that We wouldn't be murdered IN cur
beds" ut least; We would die with our boots-
or cur bed room slppers-On. The first night
that the bugie system was IN eject lay awake
for several hours listening for toots Of alarm,
had heard Of the reception which had hesn
prepared for them. and were lying Low.
But the following night was awakened from
. sound sleep by what burglar STORY tellers al
ways describe As" Feeling that some one was
in the roonn." This feeling was not simply
intuition, for the somebody was sitting On my
stomach. switched on the light ct the head
OF the bed. It was Mr.. Milfret. HIS clothes
were disheaveled; he was covered with coal
dust and he held battered bslgle In his hand.
franwm fvx RNS.amm -
nounced breathlessIy. II came home hate 10
night and just as was starting TO untreM I
heard somebody moving around III the next
room. SO tip-toed down the back stairs and
ran over here, Your doors were locked, but
managed 10 get into the cellar through the
coal chute"
But Why didn't you blow your buglee" 7 De-
mAnded.
THE blame thing won't work" he explained
tive almost blown my head on. but can't get
q peep out Of IT," Mr.. Mifret handed it to me
and tried. No sound was Forthcoming. Then
tried my own. 1t emitted one small squeak,
and the rest was silence
They really ought to provide Boy Scout
with each bugle," he complained. TT looks
as If well have TO do Paul Revere to get the
Vigilantes together. Come on!'
Wrapping q yellow macintosh about my
pajamas and seizing q dagger paperknife, the
only weapon available at the time, followed
Mr.. Miifret down the stairs and race bare-
footed across the lawn to DIR. Pennifeathers
house
DR.. Pennifeather did not respond to our
knocking on his door. but just as we were about
to give up and go on to Mr.. Feenstrah's we
heard an upstairs window open cautiously and
three rather tremulous bugle blasts sounded ON
the still night air 1t took US several minutes
TO convince Dr. Pennifeather that we were not
burglars ourselves and BY the time he came
out OF the house Mr. Feenstrah and Mr.. Dunn
bunnie had joined US IN response to the bugle
call. The VigiIantes were assembled and ready
for combat
When we reached the field Of action Mr.
Milfret's house was rs dark rs the surrounding
night There was no sound within. We stood
On the porch steps for several minutes and
conferred IN hushed tones. MIR Feenstrah sue-
gested that we spread out and surround the
house But no one seemed eager TO spread, SO
Ne decided 70 keep together and enter the 'front.'
door en- niasse. This would give the burglar
ehancasto leave ~ may % TIE back door II he
DID not care % meet u. ssass
Mr. Milfret - host Led the Wy, bat he had
-. he pashcd and there were frequent pauses
during WiziekE Ne Al Stood m0ti0nless listening
htently. We re still CROPPING III the DARKNESS
Mf In IDMFE hill smiaenA put NJ foot down IN
sameAhtne se0lda and SOFT and sqaidgye It mmae
&aa Tsa3g AEess1& E1saz ne zisF#s sssAs 1aA