Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1913 — CASE NEXT DOOR [ARTICLE]

CASE NEXT DOOR

Caught in Trap, But She Found Out All About the Mysterious Neighbor. By GRACE KERRIGAN. {Copyright, 1918, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) Next door to the Needham’s was a cottage with an acre of ground around It. The owner had died Just as the cottage was ready for occupancy, and It had stood tenantless for more than a year. There were all sorts of stories as to why, as the agent who had It In charge lived in another" town, but at length there came a young man who announced himself as Mr. Paul Burton, and his errand to take a year's lease. The young man met Mr. and Mrs. Needham, and he might hare met their daughter Grace at the same time bad •he been home that day. Nothing was •aid as to the young man’s occupation or family, and the mystery was soon deeper than ever. No mother, sister or housekeeper come with him. He did not engage board anywhere. He did not engage a woman to come in and do the cooking and other work. He did not seek to make acquaintances. He evidently had no trade or profession. And when the Needham’s and others had sized that all up and wondered and wondered there was something else. At the rear of the deep lot he bnilt a small house. It was hardly larger than an ordinary bedroom. If there had been any children It would have been pronounced a play-house There was no dog, and so It could not be a dog-house. A week after the house had been finished, and while the neighbors were holding their breath, an express wagon ■drove up and delivered a goose In a crate. It was a gander—a pure white gander, and those who got a close look said it was an old patriarch who was living ont the last half of hlB century. “A goose?” queried Mrs. Needham. '"Why, lt’B months and months to Thanksgiving." “He may be a vivlsectlonlst and is going to carve her up alive,’’ remarked Mr. Needham. "He’s got a goose for a companion!” aneered Grace. “That’s what might be looked for in a young man of his " . '' ;~ ' ■■—- The old goose was taken ont to the goose-house and provided with excelsior to lie on. dishes to eat and drink from, and yonng Mr. Burton visited him half a dozen times a day to ask abont his health. It was said that he ■even got np twice a night to go out ’there and speak a word or two of cheer to his pet. “That young man Is off In his topstory!” said some. “The law ought to step in!” Bald othere. “If he isn't making counterfeit money then why all this secrecy?” asked the wise ones with a wink. No letters came for Mr. Burton. He answered no idle questions of the tradesmen. A minister called to invite him to attend church, but his ring was ignored. The mystery had lasted for three months when Miss Grace Needham threw down her book one evening and turned to her father with: “I declare that if I were yon I wouldn’t stand It another day!” “Stand what?’’ “You know what I mean. I wouldn’t stand this case next door. I’d have a talk with Mr. Burton and ask him what he means by such conduct.” “As how?” “As living alone.” “That’s his business. I choose to live as I live and that is my business." “But he has to cook for himself.” “Yes?”

“And make his bed. and sweep and dust.” •Tear "And he has an old gander for company!” “Bot we hare an old cat!" "But—but you won’t do anything About It?" "Not a thing!” “Then I will! He’s Just got to explain himself or 11l know the reason why!" “Spoken like Nick Carter." replied the father with a laugh, and the subject was dropped. The young boys of the Tillage had heard all about the gander, and the time came when they thought It would be a good Joke to climb the alley fence and bear the veteran away One night they tried It, but the gander's protests called Mr. Burton out of bed and to 'the rescue. He could have put a lock on the door next day, but be didn't He bought a steel trap without teeth and set It where a boy might put bis ifoot In It Miss Grace Needham was very much 1n earnest In her Intentions to soire the next door mystery, but how was she to go at It? She had putzled for a week, when one day she saw the young man leave the house with a market basket on his arm. He was .going to buy provisions, and would be gone an hour. Mrs. Needham was pft ’to a neighbor's, so there was no One around to say nay. As a beginning, the goose-house was to be visited There w*s the key. perhaps to the whole mystery. There was only a fence to climb and the girl was there. ' The gander could be seen through the half-open door as be luxuriantly reclined on his divan of excelsior, and eyes and outstretched neck j k.* l ** 1 : 'VST*-.-. -i : V

proved that he was not asleep. Miss Grace mußt step inside, however, to see if that bird had any documents concealed under his wings. She must Overlook nothing that might furnish a clew. She did. Just the same. She overlooked the trap that yawned for her right foot, and with a snip the Jaws came together. There was a wild yell from the captive and a chuckle from the gander. Steel traps are made to take bold and pinch and s bang on and hurt, even when they have no teeth. Could the girl work the springs and loosen her benumbed foot? No sir-ee! She tried It and failed. She must yell and get help or wait the return of y.oung Burton. And if she got help what wonld people say! And if the young man returned and found her there what would he say! There was nothing fuimy ia tbe situation. There was nothing interesting in the old gander. ■ A step approaches! A cough coughs! “Boy, I know you are in there and caught in the trap!” said the voice of Mr. Burton, “and I want to talk to you a minute before I release you. I know I have upset the town by my coming here and living as I have, but it’s about over. I was brought up by a rich aunt. She loved me, but didn’t think I amounted to much, and made a will with the following provisions: “As I had never helped her about the house, even to bringing in a stick of stove-wood, I must keep house alone by myself for a year and see what a mean Job It was. “As she didn’t think I knew enough to select a wife yet I must keep clear of the girls for twelve monthß. “As I was always a great hand to gab and blab, I must tell no one here my business. “As the old gander In there had once flapped bis wings and squawked and scared a robber away, I must take care of him ’till he was claimed by death. . “If I went through all this for a year I was to have the hundred thousand, she left If I failed It was to go to ’the heathen of Africa. I didn’t propose to let the heathen cross one over on me, and so I am here. I went to the postofflce a short time ago and received a letter from the executors to the effect that I had done so well'that the remainder of the year was to be cancelled. I am therefore free to do as I will, even to finding some nice girl and asking her to share my fortune with me. “I* do not think you came here to steal my gander. I think It was boyish curiosity that drew you. You see. I have been a boy myself and know all about it. I am not at all displeased with you, and will set you at liberty at —St <>oll^l"'iin Hill ' ' n im»n..a-b.*.*u.n.uj» Thereupon Mr. Burton entered the goose-house and knelt down, and with strong hands pressed the spring back and lifted out a very shapely foot and Bald: “Now you can run along home, bubby. If I were you I’d tell mother that I fell down stairs. Good-bye. sonny!” The blushes! The tears! The shame of it as Miss Grace limped home! she Just had to tell her mother, and her mother said she deserved to have her ears boxed, old as Bhe was. “Why, what can he think of you!” she wound up with. That questions was answered three months later wlien the father came home one evening from his office to say: “Grace, which shall It be?” “What, papa?” “Young Burton was In to see me this afternoon.” (Blushes.) “Will you marry him or the gander?” “I’ll—HI—" She didn’t take the gander.