Year: 1871

ToT ", IHey kept great fearful uOg-
old Scoge, of hateful memory. Wasn't 1
glad when the dog law came and cut him off
in the midst of his iniquities And the old
gentleman head of the family was worse
still.


''Old Jock Lynch" as his neighbors call
ed him, was a bear--a grizzly one. 1t had
been long time, too, since he was a cub;
and he had forgotten all about how he felt
then, | suppose. To this day l haven't
quite got over my amazement that he should
have been the father of Lorette.


He was down on boys and all their 'silly
quirks, and had long standing antipathy
to the May basket business. Rather than
to have fallen into his hands, we would have
taken "Alvarado' Leap, and risked it.


But the sediment which urged US on to
brave these dangers was strong one
strong enough to carry us through them
remember that for whole week before
the May night in question we ha6 been
spending the nights together laying our
plans. But it was a tough problem We
couldn't seem to manage it, till along toward
morning of the night before; Tom walked
up all of a sudden.


Kit, Kit, whispered he, I've got it
now I've just thought how we can do it. -


"How?' exclaimed |, broad awake at the
happy announcement.


You know their old corn crib. back of
the buildings, in the garden? Well, we Il
hang 'em, and cut round through the gar
den, among the lilac bushes, and get into
the corn crib You know the little door in
the end buttons on the outside aud hasps on
the inside, Wen unbutton it, slip in, and
hasp it to; and in the night so,even if they
should come round into the gar1 en-, they
won't mistrust ere in there. y


That's Just the thing, Tom -


Yes, and we Il run in there after every
one-we've got three to hang, you know.
They'll think we've run off down the road
toward home. and chase on after US We
can hear everything they say through those
great wide cracks in the crib 0, won't it
be fun to hear them talk and wonder where
we went?'


Fun alive We didn't sleep another wink
that night, the very thoughts of it were so
exciting.


The next evening was warm but moon
less


Just the right sort, said Tom, as we
were taking a last look at the baskets, to
see that the ''fxin's'' had not lost out. and
that the pins were in right for hanging
them to the door.


We waited till ten O'Clock, however. It
would be better to let the elder Lynch 90 to
bed, if he would, before getting too near
From safe distance We kept watch; and
when at length a light had been seen to
appear and then shortly after disappear
from window thought to belong to his
bed room, We entered the premises and
made our way steadily around the corn crib.
At that season it was nearly emptied of
corn. We unbuttoned the door and crept
in. 1t had rather DtOHsey smell, but, as
Tom had predicted, was just the place to
make our head quarters in.


We listened all Was quiet.


Now for it, said Tom; leaving two of
the baskets there in the crib, we took Cad's
and stole round to the door. Tom was to
pin them on, and was to knock; we had
brought ar old mortar pestle for that pur-
pose.


''All ready" whispered Tom, pressing in
the pin.


Two ponderous knocks from the restle
and in the crack of whip we were round
and safely housed in the old crib We even
thought it took them some time to get out.
But they came out at last-Cad, jess. and
Lorette, with Dan their little brother-and
raced off down the road, while we lay and
snickered.


They were wofully at fault, though, and
by and by came back, wondering and not a
little chagrined


Haven't seen a thing of them,' said
Jess.


Not sound either" said Lorette.


80, they're round somewhere" said Cad
taking down her basket Lets go in and
wait They'll be back"


We let them wait some time, though.


Shy is the word now whispered Tom


Ihey IL ruNn out the moment the peStIe
strikes next time"


But after all had been for long time
still, we ventured round again with the
second basket.


Guess we've outwinded them, said
Tom. They re abed by this time
:; But with the first stroke of the pestle the
door flew open, and out rushed all three of
the girls at pop. Coming cut of bright
light though they were unable to see us
quick enough Dodping noiselessly back,
we scuttled away among the lilacs, and re-
gained the crib once more. Old Scoge
sprang out, barked, and took turn thro'
the garden. sc trcmbled he didn't hap
pen to nose us out, though, but ran after
Dan aud the girls, who were chasing down
the road again.


A pretty snug shave" muttered Tom,
drawing long breath And just then the
grutf paternal voice was heard demanding
from his bed chamber what all that noise
and r"nlpus was about that time of night
Itaws. 1I.zNk.