CATCHING A THIEF

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 10

CATCHING A THIEF

(Original, by "Rose Queen," aged IG, of Palmcrston North.) THE night had thrown, her cloak around the dying day. Across the .snow. the..iulV moou.shed..the_heams of her lantern. .. At the foot of Mount Arrat came a rider on horseback. A dog barked as he nulled up at the small fidor of * ■'homes tcrf. ; "Who is it you are wanting?" asked the voice of a "woman, as she «pen-' ed the door. ';','l?m-Leader of the Lions, a troopiof Boy Scouts," said Ted Denby. '•I've just ridden-from; the Haunted Valley. They say, there's a ghost there, and my opinion is'that the ghost is' a wanted thief. My idea is to catefr him.?'- ■;- : ■:/-!..:■■:■ '•-'■ ■•■'■> '.-O: /■■■':-: ' .■ ■;.-■ '■"Mercy me! Come in," esclailnfed tho, woman. "But first of all tak« your horse around" the back." ."-:••■/.- ----.•..-' ■ -'.'I only want shelter ifor the night; but do you mind if I ride away from here at midnight, as the'poliC6 ; 6ay that the ghost is about then." "Oh, dearie moj what;next will you boys be up to?" wailed tho lady. "You-can ride anywhere for- all.that it mattersto me!" '.-.- VU Resting. himself until, about a quarter to twelve, Ted left tho house Slipping the saddl&fandbridlexpn to the horse, he rode •■ through the gata and back to tho valley. At midnight he reached the valley. An eerie cry; sounded ;mst above his head, and he looked up. A pair of green eyes glared at him for a moment, ahen disappeared.- "What was that?" he whispered half" alOild. : ■,■'■•"•■■.: ■'-• ■~ -■ .1 V.-;!v-, "■.':'">!];;. . -..:.-.. .".■'. - ■ : .;_• ■•-• Then Te^Denby.^^airrose'on^ehd. Across the path' glided a shrouded :-«|ure a Covored--fromi-head ; tO;-.-f66t-;iii.: a greyr cloak. The figure then diSftp- ; : Slipping: off his horse/the Scout Loiidor saw a hut iust ahead of Mm &• crept up,: and-heard voioes'. inside. ; . ' iit^.^^ft?-1;??-^ at the top 6 y; and «co ■: ■■ Away, wont, tho.two rogues. Soon they reached the house;. The house■was in darkness, and tho two; tKieves iVei-e forcing tho front door when Ted .■rode tipif i .}-■-}.'■■<■':".'■•:•■ .-'■: ':.._ : ■ .-.." : ■ ■■;-: .Creeping up the path he-hid himself behind a shrub, and, taking off hi§ boot, ne waited; for the.;first man. to return with the stolen goods One appeared carrying^ a ;t>ag,-and," asihe turned to go through the gate Ted brought his-toot flowfl on ,top of.'the man's head and felled him. /: 'There's :«no!-Now for the'next one," whimpered the lad 'to himself. Soon Benson also carrying a bag. Ted brought his boot dowa once more, and the other thief was also knocked out. ' "Now I >n tie them up!" Taking a piece of cord from his pocket, Ted tied the two men together ana shut them up m the wood shed, with tho dog oh guard, until the morning. On the same:morning he took the two thieves and handed them over to the police at, tho local police-station. • v ~..'■■ "There's a reward for thoso ghosts," said tho officor in charge, ''and you get it." • . . ,■ b ' •.-. "No thanks," said,, Ted., "I'm leader of the 'Lions » a Scout Troop b^re, and^'yff.donci my.goqd.turn. I'll ride back to the hut at the Haunted .Yawy,;and collect the stolen .properties, if you'lllend me a man." ■,:: ; Ho was'-soon into the 'saddle afld away on his ride. Fifteen ninutes Jater he ; arrived back at tho station with the stolen goods. . ; ;','Thanks," said the.officer, .Him do you a good turn one of thes« tIIUGS, .-;,_ , ..■■ ; _ .r , * . ■ ' . ■ . ■ - •~ Then Ted went back to.pay tho woraan for his night's lodging. .'V. :%■:::•.''....'.■; :';.C.';i-:'::'- ■■'■"'.■ ■■-' -.v ■'■ V