Newspaper Page Text
leaped around. "I know wbat I did with it I do now lu v "Did with what, Caleb?" asked As wellas our own, for they are identical.and that is just why we recently purchased the hisr line of clothing of WHITTEN, BURDETT & GO.t one of the largest Bostdn Clothing Houses that was obliged to close its doors. We got this stock at a bargain. We are going to sell it at a bigger bargain, and so make for our-, selves a host of new friends. If you want SUITS, OVERCOATS, ULSTERS or GENTS' FURNISHINGS You can't find better goods at so small figures as we are making by this big purchase of ours. The garments are of the best make, stylish cut, 'and their wearing qualities we vouch for. Let us clothe you just once, if we don't already, for we want you to see how satisfactorialJy we can do it, both as to the clothing you get and the prices you pay We want to quote you a few prices: Foster. THE NEWTOWN BEE. NEWTOWN, FBIDAYt JAN. 1. CIRCULATION: JAIOA 1, 18SS. LAST WIXS. U0 8100 The Home Circle. The Courting Stick. FROM THE CONGREGATION A LIST. "Kalub, Kalub Short, do stop shellin' corn, Jtut for a little, and let me talk with you." The falling of kernals of corn Into a large basket ceased, and Caleb Short looked towards his wife, who was sit ting by a stand on which was a candle, at one side of the fireplace. "Well, what now, AsanattiT" Caleb sat with a half shelled ear of corn In one hand and a ob In the other caieo was a rarunr. uis larm lay near the Oxbow In the Intervales of Hadley It was on the Bay Path, the historic road that ran fiorn the wide, green meadows that make the principal street if old Hadley, to Boston town. 'Kalub," said Mrs Short, lowering her bead, and turning It aside, ''I've been your yokefellow now go in' on thirty year, and I have got all my faculties left yet. Now I want to tell you what I think Is goln' to happen. I can see it by my spiritual eyes." "Well, what is that Is goln' to happen, Asenath?" "Myron Smith Is goln' to cast sheep's eyes ob our Amady 1 Tbere t" Caleb dropped the ear of corn and the cob. "Show, now. Well, I always hoped that that would co ue to pass, seein the Smith farm lines onr'n " "Kalub, now look here; we've got near . upon everything so far at this world's goods go splnnln' wheels and hatchels, and looms and a mahogany table, and even a board to be used to lay us out on when the final time shall come. The last thing that you bought was a dinner born, and then I put away the conch shell from the Indies along with the cradle and the baby chair, 'But, Kalub, there's one thing more that we twill have ito have. The families down at Longmeadow have all got them ; they save fire and fuel, and they enable the young folks and their elders all to talk together at the same time, respectfully In the same room, and when the young folks have a word to say to each other in private It enoourages them. Now I'm kind o sociable like myself, and I like to encourage young people; that's why I wanted you to buy a Bolnet for Mandy. . I don't like to see young folks go apart, by themselves, especially In winter ; there Is no need of extra lights or fires, if one only has one of them things." "One et them 'things? Massy cakes Jive, what Is it, Asinathr" "Why, havn't you never seen one, Kalub? It la a courtln' stick. ? They didn't used to have such things when we were young. A courtln' .stick Is like Aaron's rod that budded." "A courtln' .jstick ! Conquiddlest Do 1 - mv ears? There dont need to- be any machinery tot oourtin' la this world so mors than t tbere does to make the srssa bloom, or the oorn cookies to come O ta tt corn. What Is i oourtin' . Acasvthf 7r;V EJh courtlo stick Is a -, : Zm wooiw ufce, wid a fan. c ei J - fannel ta cevtr the ;ricee tiat r?t":s, ai one V u iciri cu V.: V. :3ns. f. V ? j il i r '"J ! young people can talk in the same room, and not disturb the old people or set the work folks aDd the boys to titter! q as they used to do when we were young. It was discovered here in the Con necticut Valley, which has always been a place of providences. Just as I said, It is a savin' of fire and lights In the winter time, and it suggests the right re lations among famlKes of property, It is a sort of guidepost to life. The elder" she added, "approves of courtln' sticks, when the family oflhr them to their acceptable visitors, and I do." Mrs Short straightened up at the pro noun "I," giving a bob to her high cap border. She folded her hands on her lap and looked directly at Caleb. The later picked up an ear of corn and drummed on one side of the basket. "Well, Asenath, may be you do, but I do not know whether I do or not." "Kalub, don't you want that I should show you one?" "Where did you get It, Asenath?" "Asahel m-tda It for me. I told him how to mike it, but when I came to ex plain to him what it was for his face fell, and he turned red and he said, 'hyppogriffj.' I wonder where he g--t that word 'hyppogrjff,!' It bis a pagan sound; Asahel, he mistrusted." "Mistrusted what, Atena'h?" "Well, I haven't told you quite all, When the head of a f tmily knows that a certain young man Is comin' to visit him at a certain time and hangs up a courtln' stick over the mantel-tree shalf, or the dresser, it is a sign to the visitor he is welcome." "But there is no need of a sign like that, Asenath." Asenath rose, went Into the spare bed room, a place of the mahogany bureau, the mourning piece, valences and e-cou ces, and brought out a remarkable look Ing tube, which seemed to have leather ears at each end, and which was some dozen feet long. "Moses!" said Caleb, "and all the patriarchs!" he added. "Let's you and me try It. There, you put it up to your ear and let me speak. Is the result satisfy in'?" Asenath assured him that the experi ment was quite satisfactory. "Well, well," said Caleb. "Now I will go on sbellin' corn and think mat ters over ; It may be all right if the elder says it Is." For a few minutes there was a rain of corn into the basket, when Caleb started up and said, "Cracky !" He put bis hand ,into one pocket after another, then went up to the peg board and took down his fur overcoat and felt of the pockets in it. He came back to the place of the corn shelling doubtfully, and be gan to trot, as it were, around the bas ket, still putting his band into one pocket after another. "Lost anything,' Kalub?" asked Asenath. ' "Yes, the stage driver gave me a pareel directed to Asahel, in the care of Amanda, and I don't know what I did with It. I meant to have told yeu about it, but you set n all Into confusion over that there oourtin' stick." : We know not how many old New Eng land homesteads may have a courting stick among their heirlooms, but imag ine that they are few. Such a stick used to be shown to the curious in the Longmeadow neighborhood of Spring field, Mass., and we think It may be seen there still. It was especially associated with the manners and customs of the Connecticut .Valley towns, and it left behind It some pleasing legends in such pastorl villages as Northampton, Hadley and Hatfield. It was a promis ing object lesson In the domestic life of the worldly wise, and oould have been hardly unwelcome to marmlet maidens and rustic beaux. Caleb Short continued his shelling corn for a time, but be worked slowly. Ee at last turned around and looked at hi wife, who was sewing rags for a to be-bralded mat. "Well, what is It now, Kalub?" asked the latter. "Asahel." "Yes I know I've been t&lnkia ci:i : zt I ..ti cl late. Cs cars ta as WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT as a bound boy after his folks were dead, and we've done well by him, now haven't we, Kalub? I've set store by bim, but I might as well speak it out, he's too sociable with our Mandy now that th3y have grown up. It stands to reason that he can never marry Mandy." "Why not, Asenath?" "Why not? How would you like to have people say that our Amanda had married her father's hired man? How would It look on our family tree?" Asenath glanced up to a fruitful picture on the wall. "Aaahel is a true-hearted boy," said Celeb. "Since our own son has taken to evil ways, who will we have to de pend upon in our old age but Asahel, unless Mandy should marry ?" "O Kalub, think what a wife I've been to you and listen to me. Mandy is going o marry. I am going to , invite Myron Smith here on Thanksgiving, and to hang np the courtin' stick over the dresser, so that he will see it plain. That stick is goin' to jine the two farms. It is a yard s tick there, now, there ! I always was great on calculation; Abraham wa, and so was Jacob; Scriptural. 'nu would have never pro posed to me if I hadn't encouraged you, and only think what a wife I've been to you! Juat like two wives." "But Aabel Bow is a thi ifty boy. He is sensible and savin', and he is feelin'." "Kalub, Kalub Short, now that will di. Who was hi father? Who but old Stth Bow? Everybody knows what he was, and blood will tell. Just think of what that man did !" "What, Asenath?" "Why, you know that he undertook to preach, and he thought that if he opened his mouth the Lord would fill it And he opened his mouth, and stood with It open for nearly ten minutes, and h couldn't speak a word. He was a laughing stock, and he never went to meetin' much after that, only to evemn' meetln's in the schoolbouse candle light meetln's." "Yes, Asenath, that Is all true. But Seth Bow was an honest man. Just hear how he used to talk to me. He used to say to me I often think of it he used to say : 'Caleb Short, I've lost my standln' among the people, but I haven't lost my faith in God, and there is a law that makes up for things, I couldn't preach, but Asahel is goln' to preach. He's inherited the germ of intention from me, and one day that will be something to be thankful for come Thanksgiving Days. I will preach through Asahel yet. I telj you, Caleb, there is a law that makes up for things. No good Intention was ever lost. One must do right, and then believe that all that happens to him Is for his good. That is the way the book of Job reads, and I have faith, faith faith 1 You may all laugh at me, but Atahel will one day be glad that hi old father want3d to preach, and tried, even if be did fail. The right intentions of the father is ful filled in the son, and I tell yon there's a law that makes np for things, and so I can sing Taanksgiving Psalms with the rest of um, if I don't dare to open my mouth in doia' it.? Asenath, I look upon Asahel as a boy that is blessed, In the in tention of bis father. ' The right inten tions of a boy live in the man, and the srov'nin' purpose of the man lives In his boys or those whom he influences, and I tell you, Asenath, there's nothing better to be considered on Thanksgiving Days than the good intentions of the folks of the past that live in u. There are no harvests In the world ekul to those You wait and see." : The weather door slowly opened, and the tall form of a young man appeared. "Asahel," said Asenath, "we were jut speakln' of you and your folk", and now I wtnts to talk with you. Take off your frock, and. don't be standing there like a swamp crane, but sit down on the unipod here close by me, as you used to do when you was a cmull boy. I set store by you, and you just think what a mother I've been to you since your own mother was laid away in the juniper lot I But I am a proper plain speatn' woman, as your own motier ri,'8 t"t a- FOE fj'S'GC'QSSs! Men's All Wool Brown Suits at $5.50 worth $10. Men's All Wool Blue Suits, $5 50 worth $10. Men's Overcoats, $5 worth $7 50. Men's All Wool Overcoats, $8.50 worth $12. Men's All wool Overcoats, $10 worth $15. Boys' Reefers from 3 years up, $2, $2.50. $3.50 and $4. Boys' Suits, $1 98, $2.50, $3, $3 50, $4.50 and $5. Boys' All Wool Sweaters, all colors, 98c. Boys' All Wool Turtle Neck Sweaters 148. Men's Sweaters 98c, $150, $2, $2 50 and $3.50. Men's Knit Jackets 98c, $1.50, $2, $2.50 and $3. Closed job of White Shirts,Colored Bosoms at 48c worth 75c. White Shirts 48c, 75c and 98c. Oil Tan Enit top Gloves at 25c and 48c. Nice dress Dog Skin Gloves 48c to $1 25. Best makes Collars 2 for 25c. Cuffs 13c pair, 2 for 25c. Great value in Quilted Burlap Stable Blankets at 75c. Street Blankets $1 25, $2, $2 50, $3 50, $3.98 and $4 98. 317 MAIN ST., BRIDGEPORT, OPERATORS OF- 27 STORES. swered the minister back in meetin' time when the good old elder said that your father was a hypocrit." Asahel sat down on the unipod, which sometimes did service as a milking stool. The weather door opened again, and a handsom3 girl appeared, all smiles and roses. "Mandy," said Asenath, "you've got back early. Well, you put off your calash and things and come here and sit down on the tripod beside Asahel. I want to talk to you both for your good. I have been hesitatin' about the matter for a long time, but the time has come for me to do my duty and when I have a duty to do I do it. And Caleb, you shell corn; think what a good wife I've been to you as good as three common women." Amanda sat down on the tripod, which was not a souvenir of any classic art, but another milking stool that the handy Asahel had made, and that be kept in the kitchen on the woodbox to have ready for ue on winter mornings Asenath rose up from her arm chair, let fall the rags that she had been sewing and seized the courting stick. Caleb looked around with open mouth. He saw that a storm was coming without any rainbow, and In any struggle in life his heart always turned toward the weak er opponent. He thought of what a wife she bad been to him. "As good as four," he said to himself, multiplying. He turned the side of his face guarded ly towards the queer group Amanda on the trlpop and Asahel en the unipod, and his resolitte wife, who stood liRe a kind of prophetess holding over them the court ing stick. "My bowels yearn with compassion for ye all, ye poor critters," said he, with an avast sort of motion of his rugged hand. He moved bis corn basket into the shadows of the room, turned his back on the scene, and began to shell corn again with an electrical resolution, try ing to review "what a good wife Asenath had been to him as good as five or more " "Now listen, both of ye," said Asenath, "for I am talking to ye for your good. I haven't got anything against you, Asahel. Think what a mother I've been to you, and what a wife I have been to Kalub there shellia' corn. But you are our hired man just that 'and nothln' more. What more be ye, now? You are almost old enough to put on a pea jacket and to go courtln'; and Amanda,: come next Monday week, which is Thanksgivin' week, will be old enough to receive calls from some of the young property people. Now no one In one's senses would ever think of our Amanda's receiving any par ticular attention from our hired man. Asahel, that is plain- talk, hut don't you see it so? "You two have been cowslippln' to gether, and sassaf rasln' together, and a huntin' turkeys' "nests and wild honey, and pickin' Indian pipe and all. Now that was all : right when you were children. But, Asahel, you and Amanda have come to the pastur' bars of life, and you must part, and you, Asahel, milst be contented to becom just one of our hired men and sit at the table with the other hired men, on Tha'nksgivin' days the same as on all other days, and not stand in the way of any one. And, Atnandy Short, do you see that?" x Asenath held up the courting stick. "Do you know what that Is?" "If Is Just a hollow stick. I've seen sticks before. What does all th Is mean 7" "You've seen sticks before, bays you, Amanda? And you have experienced 'em, too, for'I have been a faithful moth, er to you as good as two. -But this Is the stick that must unite some farm to ours, and I am goin' to hang it np over the dresser, and when the .right young man comes, Amanda, I want you to take It down and put it up to your ear, so, and it may be that you will bear some thin' nteful, something UT your advan tage and ourn. I hope that I made my self clearly understood." She did. The two young people had not been left in any darkness at all In re gard to her solution cf " 1 i - Vm. AsaSal eieri' 1 ' 1 1 i : ! the kitchen floor. His face was as fixed as an image, and the veins were mapped on his forehead. He bent his eyes on Asenath for a mo ment and then his soul flowed out to the tone of the accompaniment of honor. - "Mrs Short, you were good to me as a boy and I will never do a thing against your will m your family affairs. My father prayed that I might have the ability to fulfill what he was unable to do in life. To inherite such a purpose from such a father is something to be greatful for, ana now that I am disap pointed in my expectation of Amanda I shall devote a.l that I am to my father's purpose in me. I am going to be a minister." "ou be, hey? But where is the money comin' from?" "Mrs Short, it is to come out of these two fl-)t8." "Well, Asahel, I do like your grit. The good intentions of the father are strengthened in their children some times. Maybe it will be so with you.' "Mrs Short . we have Thanksgivings for the harvest of the year, but the bar vest seeds of right endeavors in those who have gone before us are more than any harvests that the band of man ever sowed, and wherever my place at the Tnanksgiving table may be, I shall never be wanting for something to be grateful for." Poor tender-hearted Caleb, he shelled corn as never before during this painful scene. Suddenly he looked up and about fer relief. His eyes fell upon the courting stick. "Here," said he to Amanda, who was crying, "just let us try this new comical m achine, and see bow it works. Mandy let's you ana 1 have a little talk to getber. I'll put the thing up to my month so, and you just listen at the other end of it. There I'm going to say something. Ready now, Mandy Did you bear that?" "Yes, father, I heard it just as plain as though you spoke it into my ear." "You didn't hear anything in par ticulor, did you, Asenath?" "No, only a sound far away and mysterious like." "Curls, ain't It, how that thing will convey sound in thai way? I should think that some invention might come out of It some day. Now, Amanda, you just put your ear up to the funnel and listen again. Mandy," he continued through the tube, "If your .heart is set on Asahel,' do you stand by him, and wait; time makes changes pleasantly." He put aside the tube. "There now, do you hear?" "You didn't hear, soother, did you?" said Caleb to Asenatb, glancing aside. ; "No, Kalub." "This is a great Invention. ' It works well. Now let me just have a word with Asahel." - Amanda conveyed one end of the tube to Asahel's ear. ' "Asahel." He took his mouth from the tube. "Did you hear?" "You didn't hear anything, did you !" he said looking towards Asenatb. "No, Kalub." "Now, Asahel, you listen again," said Caleb, putting bis mouth to the tube. "If your heart is. sot on Mandy, you just hang on, and wait. . Time will be friend to you, and I will. . There ' now, did you hear, Asahel?" "You didn't bear anything, did your' asked Caleb of Asenath again with a shake. "I don't know," said '. Asenath, "It seems to me as though the hands are the bands of Esan, but that the voice Is the voice of Jacob." "Show! Well now, Amanda, you and Asabel talk now with each other. Here's the tube." - "Asabel Bow," said Amanda, through the tube. "I believe in you through and through." "Amen I" said Asabel, speaking outside of the tube, "Amen whenever y- r mother shall say Amen and never fcfiwl tien. Tbere , is no need of any our.:- j f -sr me." -' S t ; - Ll tl tzrzZj tlztorj Caleb Asenath... .-".."..'- "That letter for Asabel it is right under my bandanna in my hat !" Caleb went to bis bat and handed the lost letter to Asabel. The latter looked at It and said, "Eng land." He read it with staring eyes and whitening face, and handed it to M:s Short, who elevated her spectacles again. ''That old case in chancery is decid ed," said he, "and I am to get my fath er's share of the confiscated property. I may have yet to wait for it though. My great-grandfather was Bow of Bow. He was accused of resisting the Act of Uni formity, and bis property was with held.";.' Asenath lifted.her brows. "Bow of Bow, she repeated. "He was a brave man, I suppose. Resisted the Act of Uniformity. How much did he leave?" "An estate estimated at 20 000." "Heavens be praised," said the tud denly surprised Asenatb. She added : "J always knew that you had good blood in you and was an honest man, Asahel, just like your father ; nobody could ever turn him from the right, no more than you could the side of a house ; no Act of Uniformity could ever shape the course of old Seen Bow. And you are a capa ble man, Asabel ; your poor father bad limitations and circumstances to contend with, but you are capable -of doing all that he meant to do. I always did think a deal of your father and I think consid erable of your grandfather now. I al ways was just like a mother to you, now wasn't I, Asahel, good as two or more ordinary step-mothers and the like?" " 'Bow of Bow,' 'Bow of Bow' " con tinued Asenath. "Well, I have prayed that Amanda might marry well, and your part of 20,000 would be just about 20 times the value of the Smith farm, as I see it. That farm isn't anything but a bush pastur' anyhow." "'Bow of Bow,' and what sort of a grand sound that has. 'Bow of Bow.' t once bad an uncle that was stevedorr, an English stevedore, or a caveleer, or something of the kind, but he didn't leave any estate like Bow of Bow, I think he uniformed in the time of the Unifor mity." "Asahel, you just put that tbere court in' stick up to your ear once more, and let me say a word now that I have new light and understand things better." Asahel ' obeyed. There came a re sponse tbat could be heaid outside of the hollow tube: "Amen." A murmurous sound followed which was understood only by Asahel. "You will overlook my imperfection, now, won't you, Asahel? Pride Is a deceit ful thing, and it got the better of me. I only meant well for Amandy, same as you do. I'm sorry what I said, Asabel. Marry Mandy, and I'll be a mother to you as I always have been. As good as two common motheis, or more, same as I've always been to Kalub." - Thanksgiving, the Bay Path, Hadley Meadows. Th old folks sit by the west window now, in which the sun goes down. Tbere is a coach in the Path, and on it Rev Dr Bow of provincial fme and his family, who are coming home. The ingleside, the oak table. "Dr Bow Asahel 1 shall always call you that will you say grace?" said Caleb, bent and old. Asenatb need not bow. She is bowed with the weight of years. "O thou whose love brought the breath in the springtime, and to ihe autumn the crowns acd harvest, we thank thee for this reunion and for all. We thank tbee that tbere is no event in life that we may not glorify, that thy law compensates for all uk qualities. We thank tbee as a nation for wbat our fathers were; that the good purposes of the fathers are fulfiiW in the sons, and that no right effort is ever lost." "I will say amen, Asahel," said Ase nath. And Asenath said "Amen." Cheery Jack's Lucky Hit. BIS CHRISTMAS EVE ADVENTURE WHEN BE CAUGHT THE ROBBERS ELLA S PARTRIDGE IN THE SPRINGFIELD RE PUBLICAN. Jack wondered if God knew. He was such a little bit of a boy and so shabby that perhaps God did not , care; "Mebbe he does, though, only its Christmas time and he's so busy with other folks tbat he's clean forgotten mother and me 'this trip." Jack bugged his bundle of papers clos er under bis threadbare jacket and turn ed away from the beautiful things In the store window, which bad roused iq hit mind the question of God's knowledge of them, he and his mother, or of their poverty. His shrill, boyish voice wat almost lost in the din of the busy thorouhbfare, but be piped bravely and cheerily in spite of the biting wind and bitter cold: v V ' "Here's your morning paper. Full ac count of the big. bank robbery.", -Many a hurried business man stopped to speak a kindly word to the bright faced boy as he dropped the pennies into the cold, grimy band. Now, Jack' bands were, well, . not exactly dirty, but you know how it is in winter when a fellow hasn't any gloves and his bands get aU chapped, then the dirt seems to stick in the wrinkles at the knuckles and somehow they always ' look smudgy. Every fellow bates to bold out a dirt hand to a lady when she buys a paper, but then, most women know bow it U with boys.,: Some of them don't, though, aud it makes you mad when they won't quite touch your fingers when you hand back change. And if tbey just wouldn't look down at your feet and make you hurry to shuffle them behind you in or der to hide their patches, for the shoes have been cobbled so often by old Baker tbat he says he don't know as there is anything left of the original pair. ' But in spite of bis . poverty Jack was a neat looking boy with an attractive, rosy face, and bis hair was always nice ly brushed, notwithstanding its' provok ing curliness. His bright laugh and obliging ways won for bim the sobriquet of "Cheery Jack" among bis friends, the newsboys, who in spite of their peculiar code of etiquet never "rushed" nor "un derstood" him. However, on this particular morning, the one following Christmas Jack did not feel quite as cheerful as usual. Their joint earnings, his and his mother's, had to be put away toward paying the rent of trcSr L" borne, conseqwmtly Cera All Things Come to him who waits, they been waiting for sharp fore buying that overcoat it's here now at ess than you expected to pay. A lucky purchase the other day brought us lots of splendid overcoats. We can sell them for less than they were made to sell at the maker pockets can pocket the saving. High class garments, these, but low down prices. Listen. A kersey overcoat at $7.50. A Beaver, Frieze or Chinchilla for $10. A Royal Kersey for $15. Most all sizes. More bargains. Odd sizes in our lines make odd prices. The $18 Overcoats are $15, as are- a few $20 coats, A few blue and black Kerseys that were $25 and $28 are $20. If you're extra small or extra large, you have the best of it here. Before New Years buyers keep coming -women pers buying gifts for men at a man's store, sible, isn't it? Open every evening until '97 extra clerks. i We Sell Lined dotes, Wool Gloves, X Full Dress Gloves, Driving Gloves, Street Gloves, Denf s or Tannert's. CAAaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA had been no Christmas presents for either of them. His mother had laughed brightly when be had spoken of it, say they had seen many jolly Christmas days, and she gussed it was time somebody else bad them now. Then came the question why they bad to be so poor when other people bad so much money and so many lovely things. "Because," his mother answered, "God is teaching us to go without. Don't be unhappy to-day of all days, my son, for I have you, and you have me, and there are many folks who haven't us, you know. Perhaps we may be remembered next year. maybe sooner." Jack sold bis papers very quickly, both morning and evening editions, for there was great excitement over a large rob bery that bad been committed Christmas night at the Western national bank, and the thieves had very cleverly escaped. It had begun to rain about 9 o'clock, when tired and hungry, with bis pockets full of pennies and nickels, Jack hurried through a narrow back street which formed a short cut to his home. A large drop of rain splashed heavily on bis face causing him to look up involuntarily to see if more were coming, and it was then chat his quick eyes saw a sight which as tonished bim. Jost in front of bim stood a large old house, in the last stages of dilapidation. It was unoccupied, having been condemned by the authorities, and like all abandoned houses It bad the rep utation of being haunted. Jack bad listened breathlessly to the stories told by his associates of strarge lights, sights and sounds in the empty house and every new tale added greater my stery and interest to it. What be saw now made him stop open-mouthed and tare with eyes as big as saucers, though it was only a faint light glimmering in a window way up under the mansard roof. The light moved about in a very peculiar way, and Jack wished at least one of the many boys who bad boasted of their fear lessness of ghosts would happen along this very minute. He watched the win dow very eagerly and saw the light grow fainter, but it did not entirely disappear. Not daring to venture into the house alone, he finally, but very reluctantly and with many backward glances, walk ed away, leaving the light to burn unmo lested. He had not gone far when be beard rapid steps behind bim, and turning around with bis heart almost In his throat, it was a great relief to see, as the figure became visible under the gas lamp, that it was one of the young men from the Telegram office whom be bad often met on hi way home. Jack wondered if Mr Burns would laugh at bis ghost story, but thought be would venture to tell bim, as be bad not been grown up so many years, and prob ably believed in such things once. So be told bis friend ot the strange light in the ld, haunted bouse, and to his delight,Mr Burns insisted upon being taken back to the ivery spot. They quickly retraced 'heir steps, and sure enough, the weird Ight was still burning. "Whew," whistled Mr Burns softly. Then catching Jack suddenly by the arm, he pulled him into the shadow of the house.' V "What is it?" whispered Jack, begin ning to be a tiny bit afraid. "I saw a face, a man's face, looking out of tbat window in the corner. He is no ghost at any rate. I can remember vears ago wben this place was used by a gang of thieves, but now it is so unsafe that a man's life is in danger even to en ter It." - "Oh," whispered Jack excitedly, "do you suppose those bank robbers are hid ing there?" ; ; - V "Ah," f ejaculated Mr Burn, "I never should have thought of that." Pale with excitement, Jack said, "Shall I run around and ask Sergeant Drum wbat to dof' ;:- V !::."; "NoI will go, and you curl up on that porch over there, and watch. They would not be apt to be suspicious of such a little boy , if tbey should see you." Jaok never moved his eyes from that fascinating window in which the light faintly glimmered, until after a very few minutes, which seemed an eternity to him, he heard the rapid, regular steps of a rquad ot policemen, echoing down the street. ' - Tbey quiekly surrounded the bouse and then for the first time, Jack realised that he had been instrumental la bring- ! kindness, be sail tnter f i-jy "Hod Ipj; about aa adventure v.lc!i wodd farjer, IfuewCjil-labc it" -rt" i 'a til vtti1 say. You're weather be oss, you shop-Sen- flfetqssCos i BRIDGEPORT. CONN. beard. Four of his men entered the house, each with his revolver in band, and slowly and softly mounted the lorg. rickety flight of stairs leading to the up per story, where many strange scenes had been enacted, but perhaps this last was the strangest ot all. Jack curiously looked in after the men, but he was pushed bsck out of danger, and seating hiin-elf on the porch again, where trembling in every limb with ex citement and cold, he watched the light in the window. Suddenly it flared up, and as suddenly disappeared, leaving everything in Egyptian darkness. No sooner was the light extinguished than several pistol shots rang out sharp ly In the still night air, and the men on guard drew closer to the house. Almost immediately a shrill whistle sounded from the upper room, and one of the men hurriedly left his post and ran to the nearest call-box to send a message to headquarters. After a few minutes si lence, the light suddenly reappeared and was followed by another report ot a pis tol. Then, dashing along the quiet tercet, witu ita ueu uiaHgiug, caujc a pa trol wagon in which were half a drzen more policemen. Driving up in front of the bouse, the men leaped to the ground aDd entered the house, disappearing up the f-tairs. The pistol shots bad attracted a crt wd that vainly questioned the policemtu, standing in front of the house, with every muscle tense, and every faculty alert. As soon as they commenced to pu-h back the inquisitive people. Jack press ed closer to the edge ot the wagon and was in time to see the officers come down the steps carrying one of their number, whom they gently placed on the bottom of the cart. After them came three men tightly handcuffed, and guarded by their captors with pistols cocked, ready for any attempt to escape. These men were also placed in the patrol wagon, which with its burdens drove slowly away, guarded by the men who walked along each side. - When the ex itement had finally sub sided, tbere was nothing left for Jack to do but to trudge home and tell his anx ious mother his wonderful adventure. The next morning at the Telegram of fice, when the line of newsboys began to file into the delivery-room, to receive their papers, Mr Burns called to Jack to go upstairs, as the city editor wanted to see bim. Jack timidly entered the dingy little rooms filled with piles of papers and books, from behind a heap ot wbiA came a pleasant-looking man who shook hands with bim and said very kindly : "I am glad to see you, Jack Do yes know you have done an invaluable ser vice to the Telegram by helping it to get hold of an important piece of news be fore the other papers ? Tbere is an ac count of the way you spied the light In tbat high window in the paper this morn ing," handing one to Jack, "and we have decided tbat your place bad better be in the office hereafter, where we will have the benefit of your bright eyes ad clever little brain. - We, all of us, began our newspaper work by telling papers, so you see you will be right in the line of promotion." Jack was so bappy be could scarcely read the report of the affair, which he afterward cut out of the paper and gaye to me : "an ixcrms CAPTCRK." THE PERPETRATORS OF THE WESTERN BANK ROBBF.ET CAPTCRED IN THIS CI TT LAST EVENING. The arrest, Hst evening, of the boldest robbers in this section of the country was accomplished through the intelli gence and quickwitledness of one ot the carriers of the Telegram, a small boy known to the community a Cheery Jack. He noticed a strange light n an old, de serted house In Miiton street, the B rgen mansion, and confided bis suspicions to one of the reporters -ot the Telegram, who proceeded to work op the idea. Through bis r (forts a r quad of police men surrounded the p;emies shortly after 0 o'clock, surprised acd captured three men after a lively scrimmage, during which Sergeant McGraw was badly wounded by a pistol shot. A large portion of the money and all of the bonds were recovered, altb ugh the men fought desperately tor their liberty and plunder. The thieves are now reposing secuTlv in the Newton-street jit awaiting their trial. It Is believed the detective are un tbe track of the accomplice. The bank people are Jfoing to do the handsome thing bv tne little newvbov, who la m bright lad and worthy In every war ot the good fortune which Is coming to bios. After Jack went home to his mother full of his good news anl Oe editor da'- t ! V PI the