THE BURGLAR'S DEFEAT
GERALD did not pause to notice that the intruder was a man much larger
than himself. He had plenty of courage, and lost sight of prudence. He
sprang forward and seized the burglar.
The latter, turning at this unexpected attack, threw him off. He was
alarmed at first, but when he saw that his assailant was only a boy he
laughed harshly.
"Why, you little bantam!" he exclaimed, "how dare you interfere with
me?"
"You had better leave the room at once," said Gerald, undaunted. "If you
don't——"
"Well, if I don't!" repeated the intruder, mockingly. "You'll make me,
perhaps? Clear out of my way! Have you got a watch or money about your
clothes?"
This last was addressed to Abel.
"Don't kill me, Mr. Burglar!" wailed Abel, ready to cry. "I'll give you
all I have."
"Then be quick about it! Where are your clothes?"
"In the closet."
"Then get them, and don't waste any time about it."
"Don't do anything of the sort, Abel!" said Gerald. "This man shall not
rob you!"
"Why, you impudent young rascal!" exclaimed the intruder, fiercely. "I
have a great mind to wring your neck!"
"I tell you once more to leave the house!"
This was too much for the irascible burglar. He seized Gerald, and,
throwing him down, pressed his knee on his breast. Gerald struggled as
well as he could, but he was only a boy, and his assailant was a strong
man. What harm would have been done to him cannot be known. Abel, so far
from helping him, stood by, trembling. Finally, in a paroxysm of fear,
he ran from the room and locked himself in the small room which had been
occupied by Gerald.
"Now what shall I do to you?" demanded the burglar between his closed
teeth, glaring at his prostrate victim.
Gerald was not called upon to reply, for there was help at hand.
A tall, muscular figure, arrayed in night-costume, suddenly dashed into
the room, seized the triumphant burglar, and, pulling him back with
irresistible strength, threw him upon the floor with such force that he
thought his back was broken.
"What——!" ejaculated the ruffian, in mingled surprise and dismay.
Looking up he saw the blacksmith bending over him.
"What are you doing, you scoundrel?" he cried, apparently preparing for
a second attack.
"Who are you?" growled the intruder.
"I'm not a boy, and I'm more than a match for you!"
"Let me go!" said the other, beginning to find a retreat advisable.
"Not till I see who you are. Gerald, light the lamp; I want to take a
look at this man's face."
The burglar struggled to rise, but he was as helpless in the grasp of
the stalwart blacksmith as Gerald had been in his.
Gerald lighted the lamp and held it near the ill-favored countenance of
the visitor.
"Aha, I know you!" said Alonzo Crane. "You are the man who broke into a
store in Hillsdale last week. You got away from us then, but now I mean
to have a settlement with you."
"Let me go this time and I won't take anything."
"I don't think you will. As long as I am round you'd find it a hard job
to rob this house. You thought you had only boys to deal with, but I'm
too large a boy for you to handle."
"If you don't let me go I'll fix you some day."
"That'll be day after to-morrow, I reckon. Gerald, do you know where
there is a clothes-line?"
"Yes, Mr. Crane."
"Then get it, and I'll bind this man so that he can't do any more harm."
Gerald took the lamp, went down-stairs, and soon returned with the
clothes-line.
"Now, if you'll help me, I'll tie this fellow so he can't do any
mischief."
Despite his desperate struggles the intruder was bound hand and foot. He
almost foamed at the mouth in his ungovernable anger, but it did no
good.
"Now," said the blacksmith, "I am going to put him in the closet and
lock the door. If you don't mind, Gerald, I'll exchange rooms with you.
I will sleep here, and you can go up to my room in the attic. I think,
my friend, you'll be safe till morning."
"This is Abel's room, Mr. Crane."
"And where is Abel?"
"I don't know. I think he went into the next room."
"Let him stay there! He is about as brave as a mouse. And hark you,
Gerald, bring down my clothes. I have a revolver in my pocket that I may
have occasion to use."
The ruffian was thoroughly cowed, and made no outcry when he was thrust
into the closet.
It was remarkable that Mrs. Lane should have slept through all this
disturbance without awaking, but she was a sound sleeper. In the morning
Gerald went out to summon assistance, and the burglar was conveyed to
the lock-up, from which he was in the afternoon transferred to the
county jail.
It appears that he had gained admittance to the house by climbing the
lightning-rod to a balcony just outside the window of the large room
occupied by Abel. The latter was so thoroughly frightened by the events
of the night that he voluntarily proposed to return to the small
bedroom, and Gerald was able again to occupy his own room. Mrs. Lane
protested against the change, but Abel declared with emphasis that he
would not again sleep in the large room.
"I wouldn't do it for a dollar a night!" he declared.
Gerald acquiesced in the new arrangement, and felt grateful to the
burglar for having been the means of restoring to him his own room.
A little later than he anticipated Mr. Crane left Portville.
"Good-by, Melindy," he said. "I've enjoyed my visit, and the burglar
made it more lively than I anticipated. When are you coming to Hillsdale
to see us?"
"It is hard for me to get away, Alonzo. I have two boys to look after
and I cannot well be spared."
"Come whenever it is convenient, then. I can't promise to make your
visit as lively as mine has been, unless my friend the burglar manages
to escape from jail."
"I will go with you to the cars, Mr. Crane," said Gerald.
"I wish you would," said the blacksmith, warmly. "If you ever find it in
your way to come to Hillsdale, I will give you the best room in the
house."
"Shall I bring Abel with me?" asked Gerald, smiling.
"I'm not at all particular about seein' him. You seem a good deal nearer
to me than he does, even if he is a blood relation. When do you go to
work?"
"On Monday."
"You won't stay in the grocery long—I'll predict that. If you ever have
a notion of becomin' a blacksmith, I'll take you into my employ, and be
glad to do it."
"I'll bear it in mind, Mr. Crane."
When the train had started and his new friend was fairly on his way
home, Gerald could not help thinking soberly of his own unpromising
future. If Mrs. Lane had been more like her brother, rough and
uneducated as he was, he felt that he could like her better. He at least
had a good heart.
On his way home he met Mr. Nugent.
"Good morning, Gerald," said the old gentleman, in a friendly tone.
"Have you had any more exciting experiences?"
"Yes, sir. Last night our house was entered by a burglar."
"Indeed! That is something new for Portville. Did he take anything?"
"No; he was taken himself."
"Surely you were not a match for him?"
"No, sir; but Mr. Crane captured him, and he is now in the lock-up."
"Ah, yes; our good friend the blacksmith. He is a muscular man."
"He is going home happy with the check that you gave him."
"I was glad to be of service to him, as he in all probability saved my
life. But I have not done anything for you. You must apply to me
whenever you need assistance. Do you go into Mr. Tubbs's store on
Monday?"
"Yes, sir."
"Come round next Saturday evening and tell me how you like it. I was
your father's friend; I shall be glad if you will consider me yours."
"I shall be very glad to do so, Mr. Nugent," said Gerald, earnestly.
"Who was that you were talking with?" asked Abel, whom he met a minute
later.
"Mr. Nugent."
"The rich man? Why didn't you introduce me?"
"I will some time if I have the opportunity."
"You are going to work Monday, ma tells me."
"Yes."
"She says a grocery store will be a good place for you."
"Would you like it?"
"No. I'm going to be a lawyer or a civil engineer—I haven't decided
which."
Gerald smiled. He had very little faith in Abel's ever being either.
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