BRAVE WORK.
When Fred Sheldon turned on his heel and saw the outlines of the tramp
in the room behind him he gave a start and exclamation of fear, as the
bravest man might have done under the circumstances.
The intruder chuckled and said in his rasping, creaking voice:
"Don't be skeert, young man; if you keep quiet you won't get hurt, but
if you go to yelping or making any sort of noise I'll wring your head
as if you was a chicken I wanted for dinner."
Fred made no answer to this, when the tramp added, in the same husky
undertone, as he stepped forward in a threatening way:
"Do you hear what I said?"
"Yes, sir; I hear you."
"Well, just step back through that door in t'other room and watch me
while I look through this chest for a gold ring I lost last week."
Poor Fred was in a terrible state of mind, and, passing softly through
the door opening into his bed-room, he paused by the chair where he
had sat so long, and then faced toward the tramp, who said, by way of
amendment:
"I forgot to say that if you try to climb out of the winder onto the
porto rico or to sneak out any way I'll give you a touch of that."
As he spoke he suddenly held up a bull's-eye lantern, which poured a
strong stream of light toward the boy. It looked as if he must have
lighted it inside the house, and had come into the room with it under
his coat.
While he carried this lantern in one hand he held a pistol, shining
with polished silver, in the other, and behind the two objects the
bearded face loomed up like that of some ogre of darkness.
The scamp did not seem to think this remark required anything in the
way of response, and, kneeling before the huge oaken chest, he began
his evil work.
For a few moments Fred was so interested that he ceased to reproach
himself for having failed to do his duty.
The tramp set the lantern on the floor beside him, so that it threw its
beams directly into the room where the boy stood.
The marauder, it must be said, did not act like a professional. One
of the burglars who infest society to-day would have made short work
with the lock, though it was of the massive and powerful kind, in use
many years ago; but this person fumbled and worked a good while without
getting it open.
He muttered impatiently to himself several times, and then caught up
the bull's-eye, and, bending his head over, carefully examined it, to
learn why it resisted his vigorous efforts.
The action of the man seemed to rouse Fred, who, without a moment's
thought, stepped backward toward the open window at the rear, the one
which had been raised all the time to afford ventilation.
He thought if the dreadful man should object, he could make excuse on
account of the warmth of the night.
But the lad moved so softly, or the wicked fellow was so interested
in his own work that he did not notice him, for he said nothing, and
though Fred could see him no longer he could hear him toiling, with
occasional mutterings of anger at his failure to open the chest, which
was believed to contain so much valuable silverware and money.
The diverging rays from the dark-lantern still shot through the open
door into the bed-room. They made a well-defined path along the floor,
quite narrow and not very high, and which, striking the white wall at
the opposite side, terminated in one splash of yellow, in which the
specks of the whitewash could be plainly seen.
It was as if a great wedge of golden light lay on the floor, with the
head against the wall and the tapering point passing through the door
and ending at the chest in the other room.
While Fred Sheldon was looking at the curious sight he noticed
something in the illuminated path. It would be thought that, in the
natural fear of a boy in his situation, he would have felt no interest
in it, but, led on by a curiosity which none but a lad feels, he
stepped softly forward on tip-toe.
Before he stooped over to pick it up he saw that it was a handsome
pocket-knife.
"He has dropped it," was the thought of Fred, who wondered how he came
to do it; "anyway I'll hold on to it for awhile."
He quietly shoved it down into his pocket, where his old Barlow knife,
his jewsharp, eleven marbles, two slate pencils, a couple of large
coppers, some cake crumbs and other trifles nestled, and then, having
succeeded so well, he again went softly to the open window at the rear.
Just as he reached it he heard an unusual noise in the smaller
apartment where the man was at work, and he was sure the burglar had
discovered what he was doing, and was about to punish him.
But the sound was not repeated, and the boy believed the tramp had got
the chest open. If such were the fact, he was not likely to think of
the youngster in the next room for several minutes more.
Fred was plucky, and the thought instantly came to him that he had a
chance to leave the room and give an alarm; but to go to the front and
climb out on the roof of the porch would bring him so close to the
tramp that discovery would be certain.
At the rear there was nothing by which he could descend to the ground.
It was a straight wall, invisible in the darkness and too high for any
one to leap. He might hang down from the sill by his hands and then let
go, but he was too unfamiliar with the surroundings to make such an
attempt.
"Maybe there's a tub of water down there," he said to himself, trying
to peer into the gloom; "and I might turn over and strike on my head
into it, or it might be the swill barrel, and I wouldn't want to get my
head and shoulders wedged into that----"
At that instant something as soft as a feather touched his cheek. The
gentle night wind had moved the rustling limbs, so that one of them in
swaying only a few inches had reached out, as it were, and kissed the
chubby face of the brave little boy.
"Why didn't I think of that?" he asked himself, as he caught hold of
the friendly limb. "I can hold on and swing to the ground."
It looked, indeed, as if such a movement was easy. By reaching his
hand forward he could follow the limb until it was fully an inch in
diameter. That was plenty strong enough to hold his weight.
Glancing around, he saw the same wedge of golden light streaming into
the room, and the sounds were such that he was sure the burglar had
opened the chest and was helping himself to the riches within.
The next minute Fred bent forward, and, griping the limb with both
hands, swung out of the window. All was darkness, and he shut his eyes
and held his breath with that peculiar dizzy feeling which comes over
one when he cowers before an expected blow on the head.
The sensation was that of rushing into the leaves and undergrowth, and
then, feeling himself stopping rather suddenly, he let go.
He alighted upon his feet, the distance being so short that he was
scarcely jarred, and he drew a sigh of relief when he realized that his
venture had ended so well.
"There," he said to himself, as he adjusted his clothing, "I ain't
afraid of him now, I can outrun him if I only have a fair chance, and
there's plenty of places where a fellow can hide."
Looking up to the house it was all dark; not a ray from the lantern
could be seen, and the sisters were no doubt sleeping as sweetly as
they had slept nearly every night for the past three-score years and
more.
But Fred understood the value of time too well to stay in the vicinity
while the tramp was engaged with his nefarious work above. If the
law-breaker was to be caught, it must be done speedily.
But there were no houses near at hand, and it would take fully an hour
to bring Archie Jackson, the constable, to the spot.
"The nearest house is Mike Heyland's, the hired man, and I'll go for
him."
Filled with this thought, Fred moved softly around to the front, passed
through the gate, entered the short lane, and began walking between the
rows of trees in the direction of the highway.
An active boy of his age finds his most natural gait to be a trot, and
Fred took up that pace.
"It's so dark here under these trees that if there's anything in the
road I'll tumble over it, for I never miss----"
"Halloo there, you boy!"
As these startling words fell upon young Sheldon's ear, the figure of
a man suddenly stepped out from the denser shadows and halted in front
of the affrighted boy, who stopped short, wondering what it meant.
There was nothing in the voice and manner of the stranger, however,
which gave confidence to Fred, who quickly rallied, and stepping
closer, caught his hand with the confiding faith of childhood.
"O, I'm so glad to see you! I was afraid I'd have to run clear to
Tottenville to find somebody."
"What's the matter, my little man?"
"Why, there's a robber in the house back there; he's stealing all the
silver and money that belongs to the Misses Perkinpine, and they're
sound asleep--just think of it--and he's got a lantern up there and
is at work at the chest now, and said he would shoot me if I made any
noise or tried to get away, but I catched hold of a limb and swung out
the window, and here I am!" exclaimed Fred, stopping short and panting.
"Well now, that's lucky, for I happen to have a good, loaded pistol
with me. I'm visiting Mr. Spriggins in Tottenville, and went out
fishing this afternoon, but stayed longer than I intended, and was
going home across lots when I struck the lane here without knowing
exactly where I was; but I'm glad I met you."
"So'm I," exclaimed the gratified Fred; "will you help me catch that
tramp?"
"Indeed I will; come on, my little man."
The stranger stepped off briskly, Fred close behind him, and passed
through the gate at the front of the old brick house, which looked as
dark and still as though no living person had been in it for years.
"Don't make any noise," whispered the elder, turning part way round and
raising his finger.
"You needn't be afraid of my doing so," replied the boy, who was sure
the caution was unnecessary.
Fred did not notice the fact at the time that the man who had come
along so opportunely seemed to be quite familiar with the place, but he
walked straight to a rear window, which, despite the care with which it
had been fastened down, was found to be raised.
"There's where he went in," whispered Fred's friend, "and there's where
we're going after him."
"All right," said Fred, who did not hesitate, although he could not see
much prospect of his doing anything. "I'll follow."
The man reached up and catching hold of the sash placed his feet on the
sill and stepped softly into the room. Then turning so his figure could
be seen plainly in the moonlight, he said in the same guarded voice:
"He may hear me coming, do you, therefore, go round to the front and if
he tries to climb down by way of the porch, run round here and let me
know. We'll make it hot for him."
This seemed a prudent arrangement, for it may be said, it guarded all
points. The man who had just entered would, prevent the thieving tramp
from retreating by the path he used in entering, while the sharp eyes
of the boy would be quick to discover him the moment he sought to use
the front window.
"I guess we've got him," thought Fred, as he took his station by the
front porch and looked steadily upward, like one who is studying the
appearance of a new comet or some constellation in the heavens; "that
man going after him ain't afraid of anything, and he looks strong
and big enough to take him by the collar and shake him, just as Mr.
McCurtis shakes us boys when he wants to exercise himself."
For several minutes the vigilant Fred was in a flutter of excitement,
expecting to hear the report of firearms and the sound of struggling on
the floor above.
"I wonder if Miss Annie and Lizzie will wake up when the shooting
begins," thought Fred; "I don't suppose they will, for they are so used
to sleeping all night that nothing less than a big thunder-storm will
start them--but it seems to me it's time that something took place."
Young Sheldon had the natural impatience of youth, and when ten minutes
passed without stirring up matters, he thought his friend was too slow
in his movements.
Besides, his neck began to ache from looking so steadily upward, so
he walked back in the yard some distance, and leaning against a tree,
shoved his hands down in his pockets and continued the scrutiny.
This made it more pleasant for a short time only, when he finally
struck the happy expedient of lying down on his side and then placing
his head upon his hand in such an easy position that the ache vanished
at once.
Fifteen more minutes went by, and Fred began to wonder what it all
meant. It seemed to him that fully an hour had gone since stationing
himself as a watcher, and not the slightest sound had come back to tell
him that any living person was in the house.
"There's something wrong about this," he finally exclaimed, springing
to his feet; "maybe the tramp got away before I came back; but then, if
that's so, why didn't the other fellow find it out long ago?"
Loth to leave his post, Fred moved cautiously among the trees a while
longer, and still failing to detect anything that would throw light on
the mystery, he suddenly formed a determination, which was a rare one,
indeed, for a lad of his years.
"I'll go in and find out for myself!"
Boy-like, having made the resolve, he acted upon it without stopping
to think what the cost might be. He was in his bare feet, and it was
an easy matter for a little fellow like him to climb through an open
window on the first floor without making a noise.
When he got into the room, however, where it was as dark as the darkest
midnight he ever saw, things began to appear different, that is so far
as anything can be said to appear where it is invisible.
He could see nothing at all, and reaching out his hands, he began
shuffling along in that doubting manner which we all use under such
circumstances.
He knew that he was in the dining-room, from which it was necessary to
pass through a door into the broad hall, and up the stairs to the spare
room, where it was expected he would sleep whenever he favored the twin
maiden sisters with a visit.
He could find his way there in the dark, but he was afraid of the
obstructions in his path.
"I 'spose all the chairs have been set out of the way, 'cause Miss
Annie and Lizzie are very particular, and they wouldn't----"
Just then Fred's knee came against a chair, and before he could stop
himself, he fell over it with a racket which he was sure would awaken
the ladies themselves.
"That must have jarred every window in the house," he gasped, rubbing
his knees.
He listened for a minute or two before starting on again, but the same
profound stillness reigned. It followed, as a matter of course, that
the men up-stairs had heard the tumult, but Fred consoled himself with
the belief that it was such a tremendous noise that they would mistake
its meaning altogether.
"Any way, I don't mean to fall over any more chairs," muttered the lad,
shuffling along with more care, and holding his hands down, so as to
detect such an obstruction.
It is hardly necessary to tell what followed. Let any one undertake to
make his way across a dark room, without crossing his hands in front
and the edge of a door is sure to get between them.
Fred Sheldon received a bump which made him see stars, but after
rubbing his forehead for a moment he moved out into the broad hall,
where there was no more danger of anything of the kind.
The heavy oaken stairs were of such solid structure that when he placed
his foot on the steps they gave back no sound, and he stepped quite
briskly to the top without making any noise that could betray his
approach.
"I wonder what they thought when I tumbled over the chair," pondered
Fred, who began to feel more certain than before that something was
amiss.
Reaching out his hands in the dark he found that the door of his own
room was wide open, and he walked in without trouble.
As he did so a faint light which entered by the rear window gave him a
clear idea of the interior.
With his heart beating very fast Fred tip-toed toward the front until
he could look through the open door into the small room where the large
oaken chest stood.
By this time the moon was so high that he could see the interior with
more distinctness than before.
All was still and deserted; both the men were gone.
"That's queer," muttered the puzzled lad; "if the tramp slipped away,
the other man that I met on the road ought to have found it out; but
what's become of him?"
Running his hand deep down among the treasures in his trousers pocket,
Fred fished out a lucifer match, which he drew on the wall, and, as the
tiny twist of flame expanded, he touched it to the wick of the candle
that he held above his head.
The sight which met his gaze was a curious one indeed, and held him
almost breathless for the time.
The lid of the huge chest was thrown back against the wall, and all
that was within it were rumpled sheets of old brown paper, which had no
doubt been used as wrappings for the pieces of the silver tea-service.
On the floor beside the chest was a large pocket-book, wrong side out.
This, doubtless, had once held the money belonging to the old ladies,
but it held it no longer.
Money and silverware were gone!
"The tramp got away while we were down the lane," said Fred, as he
stood looking at the signs of ruin about him; "but why didn't my friend
let me know about it, and where is he?"
Fred Sheldon stopped in dismay, for just then the whole truth came upon
him like a flash.
These two men were partners, and the man in the lane was on the watch
to see that no strangers approached without the alarm being given to
the one inside the house.
"Why didn't I think of that?" mentally exclaimed the boy, so overcome
that he dropped into a chair, helpless and weak, holding the candle in
hand.
It is easy to see how natural it was for a lad of his age to be
deceived as was Fred Sheldon, who never in all his life had been placed
in such a trying position.
He sat for several minutes looking at the open chest, which seemed
to speak so eloquently of the wrong it had suffered, and then he
reproached himself for having failed so completely in doing his duty.
"I can't see anything I've done," he thought, "which could have been of
any good, while there was plenty of chances to make some use of myself
if I had any sense about me."
Indeed there did appear to be some justice in the self-reproach of the
lad, who added in the same vein:
"I knew, the minute he stopped to ask questions at our front gate, that
he meant to come here and rob the house, and I ought to have started
right off for Constable Jackson, without running to tell the folks.
Then they laughed at me and I thought I was mistaken, even after I had
seen him peeping through the window. When he was eating his supper I
was sure of it, and then I should have slipped away and got somebody
else here to help watch, but we didn't have anything to shoot with,
and when I tried to keep guard I fell asleep, and when I woke up I was
simple enough to think there was only one way of his coming into the
house, and, while I had my eye on that, he walked right in behind me."
Then, as Fred recalled his meeting with the second party in the lane,
he heaved a great sigh.
"Well, I'm the biggest blockhead in the country--that's all--and I hope
I won't have to tell anybody the whole story. Halloo!"
Just then he happened to think of the pocket-knife he had picked
up on the floor, and he drew it out of his pocket. Boy-like, his
eyes sparkled with pleasure when they rested on the implement so
indispensable to every youngster, and which was much the finest one he
had ever had in his hand.
The handle was pearl and the two blades were of the finest steel and
almost as keen as a razor.
Fred set the candle on a chair, and leaning over, carefully examined
the knife, which seemed to grow in beauty the more he handled it.
"The man that dropped that is the one who stole all the silverware and
money, and there's the letters of his name," added the boy.
True enough. On the little piece of brass on the side of the handle
were roughly cut the letters, "N. H. H."