The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7974, 10 November 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

GADDKR IS THUNUURMLTKD. There was company present, wH.n John Gadder stagger,.! mlo the house, and bis wile's sister and h<r ■Uiliaad were down to stay a few days. John'* fact- was ulistHulely jrey, be was panting as i; he lau fun a mile, bis collar had broken from its moorings, and he had lost bis bat•My gracious, John, whatever :s Vfie matter 1" cried his w-le. "I've been up !" stanimeritl tiadtler. "Send (or the police scuamcd Mrs Uathlcr, who was apparently - tkr-tn-law. "Stock up?" ejaculate! John's .-isfractictl, "Wwtm by"'" saiil her liusli.n:il "Stuck up and rolrfc-il. said IJail- - <tr tremulously "llo*' much ipn-rii-il Mrs Ca<ldcr, with great anvieiy. "It was here in our str'ei. nol ♦wo huaired yards away, a; that "'. by Tanner's stables. I.'ie itiilitn started out of the and presented two pistols ai my li-al." "Two pihtols riiis-I Mrs i; 4 i(i,l t .r. "Oh, John, are you certain you are not shot'!" "Colt";, revolverst th»-> «,-re." cim- . iinucd Gadder, growing too!.-! am! more resolute. "The villiun d,mawltd my money ot my hie. and the lorewost oiu- (I-think iheiewere •Cti-rat lurking in the darkm-ss) saiil <lut if I dand to call -tut. ot utter * sound lie would blow mil ni\ drains. 'fiinirinlhi. he sa:d, 'ton are dealing with Captain Thunderbolt who bas never Uen known to spare Ih-iNt- who Ihw-art him.' k *i)k, John, are von sure nofiiiug k»s birlH-ind to you pleaded Mrs (iadder, and the o!it rs dn v, n.^r.:. prifotindly intercsuJ. "I told the ruffian that 1 should eertainly speak lo the police about Mii'li conduct. at W'hici; tht- wreleli mntterrd a n oath ;.nd told me il.at if 1 did not hand over my money antl Jewels \ wa« a* as a Wan. At first I thought of grapplins With the ruiTian ilml selling mv liie dearly, but remi-mieied my rife Child and I gave him my money, sncnteui and sixpence., and two stamp;!. "Take mv inonev ' 1 sanl 'but I positiv,-|v rrtns,- to tiv,Ri.v jtwvlhn/ " 'The jewellery.' he hiss,.l. ami it you re not quick about it—' "Then I assured him I had no jewellery. am | he lurni-d and disappeared, just as 1 had made up my luin.l to f, ; llhi„ ;1n lh „ ni , K a Single blow. Thru 1 came home

1 tluik I int'st have lust my hat in mi anger." "JietUr if! 1 the polite," said tlail-ili-v".-, biothct-in-law. "I shall i> Mainly communicate with ilii-mi in ihi- morning." said (.Sadder KvrrylM.dy was profoundly slurc.l. Tli? old gentleman irom next door said -il was a "hamelul tiling for ■ expectable papers in si-t ill-ton;li-tioned people on a carter of clime by inaki: heroes of outlaws and criminals.

"\Yc might all be murdered in our Isds," Mrs (ladder. Gadder was provided with whisky punch, and l.is u-i'lli chaltiiv.l pilifully tn tl-i- glass when he drank il. The shocking adventure, and (ladder's coolness in 111-- tec'h oi an arnu-iT tn•iti\. i u'ii'imlii£T linn liy st-\vral, was til. sole tin iiu- "i iMin'Tsatioli ior ihe lt-si nf the evtiiing ,!i.h:.n:e (iadiler. John's only still ai.d lt.il". s'jiU- UHo tli',' i.eise lit half past itii. He liopid that his cilll'antv v.oiiiil not exc.tc a'.Unli'ju, but h;s molln I' discovticd hiiii. "Come here, sir:" she said. "This is a pi illy li'iui iVi you to tome in. Where have you betu Johnnie, aged twelve, stalled a veiy plausible story about going a message Willi Tommy Irons, which failtd in Us effect for the reason thi.t Tommy had twice been to tli.' house asking [or him "You ate not telling the truth," saiil Johnnie's iiio'ilut, and she spanked Johnnie's ear. Johnnie rallied curiously, and his mother in great surprise spanked him again as an experiment. Johnnie jingled likt a iiiitii of in.-anv. " What haw von ill your pockets 7 Turn them out, sir," said Mr (ladder. Mrs (laddtr dived into Johnnie's knickerbocker pockti and produced 17s. "How have you come by this money she asked severely. Johnnie Gadder began to rrv. "Answer me at once,'' cried his mother. "I—l took it from dad,'' blub beted Johnnie. 'Tcok it from your father eii-yeh-yes. I st-stuck him up, and made htm slai.d and deliver. r ()1 Captain Thunderbolt." In Johnnie's coat pocket they found a mask, two :id packets oi cigarettes. and a toy pistol. Mr (ladder has nol told anybody • -Is,- about Jus cool *mceinrti-r with llie burly ruffian who robbed him.