Jerrys Reward | Page 9

smart trick?" asked Peggy, admiringly.
"The smartest I ever knew," answered Jerry, promptly. "But how was I
to get in?"
"Oh, we were listening," said Peggy. "Don't you fear. We thought you
would try the door and call, when we would know your voice and let
you in."
"Instead of which, you hid, and made us think them burglars had come
back sure enough," said Mrs. Outcast.
"And you screamed and whispered, and made me think them burglars
were hurting Peggy."
And at this all three laughed until the tears rolled down their cheeks.
Peggy was the first to quiet down. "But tell us, love, what Mr. Morton
said?"
And Jerry unfolded all the plan--not without first going out-doors, and
looking carefully all around his little cottage to see if any
eavesdroppers were in hiding. When he concluded by repeating Mr.
Morton's order to go home and stay with his sick wife, both women

exclaimed in a breath:
"What a nice, sensible gentleman Mr. Morton is!"
CHAPTER VIII.
LUCK IN DISGUISE
But it was not Jerry's way to bide at home when such a dangerous
adventure was afoot. The more he thought of it the more he was
convinced he might be needed.
"Suppose there should be three of them burglars instead of two, and
one of our men was to get hurt; it would be a battle with odds and
maybe escape for the rogues. No--I won't get shoved aside; I'll disobey
orders, and play a game of my own."
Then the little man stationed himself behind the window-blind,
although it was a good two hours before the time set by the thieves. It
was well he did so, for at half-past four a man with a bundle rang the
door-bell at the side entrance of the Morton house.
"He's ahead of time," said Jerry. "I wonder if them p'lices are behind
the convent gate?"
The nurse-girl opened the door so quickly that she had evidently been
on the watch. The man slipped in, and Jerry noted that he was big and
brawny.
"It's going to be a mean job to tackle that fellow," he thought. Then he
went to a pile of things in a corner, and selected a stout hickory stick.
He watched awhile longer, but nothing else happened. It grew dark. He
kissed Peggy, who held him tight a moment, looked into his eyes
lovingly, but did not protest or cry, as some wives would have done. He
waved his hand as he left the door, and, keeping close to the convent
wall, crossed the common. Into the Mortons' gate he slipped, and
before anyone could say "Jack Robinson" he had crept under the steps

of the side entrance.
He carried his good stick.
"They'll have pistols sure, and knives maybe, but give me a good
whack with this at close range, and I'll beat 'em, pistols and all."
His position was cramped and uncomfortable, but he did not care. He
crouched into as small a space as possible. The time seemed long, but
he never thought of giving up; he was there to stay.
The convent bell tolled the hours: eight, nine, ten. Then a step, soft and
slow on the pavement, and he saw two feet. Another step as noiseless
as a wild beast's; and he saw two more feet.
Jerry was right. There were three men instead of two--one inside, two
out.
Presently came whispered words too low for him to catch, and he heard
a bolt cautiously slipped.
One pair of feet disappeared; the other pair remained. This fellow on
the outside would prevent the police from surprising the two within.
Should Jerry tackle the watching burglar now or wait?
"I wonder how many more of them there are?" thought Jerry, as he took
firm hold of his club, and eyed the waiting feet, scarcely daring to
breathe.
In the meantime, the police stationed back and front had seen the two
men arrive and one enter; but, not having reached the convent gate
early enough, they did not know that a third man was within. They kept
guard and thought they had a sure thing of nabbing the burglars as they
emerged with their spoils.
Then suddenly the stillness of the hour was broken by the loud report
of a pistol not half a square away. All the policemen rushed in the
direction of the sound, and saw a man fleeing in the distance. Two of

them pursued him, blowing their whistles as they ran. The other two
stopped to argue whether they had better help their comrades or return
to their former hiding-place.
But while they talked an exciting scene had occurred. As soon as the
shot was fired the thief on the outside made a break for the gate. Jerry
started after him,