Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1858-06-24

deep cellar, where the provisions were KEEP,
In summer, Anl where they could be kent
equally we'll in winter, for frost never euter.
ed che deep hole The hunter had dug 80
sdes these, was the loft, with . tightly
boarded foor, which reached by a ladder
from the pantry aud in this latter place
'se mail carrier slept lie dragged tbsbssS
up after him, not caring 10 leave 90 preciou.
charge beyond his reach
Morton went 20 bed about pine clock az
be vss sleepy from his bard ride. Polly
had work 60 do, having neglected il While
talking With her guest, 30 when she hsd bin
ssfely :. reai IL tie lof,. shr drew 4 E,,le
table where the candle was aud went 10
work upou some elotLiUg for her child. who
was soundly sleeping iu the bedroom in the
corner.
The old German clock, which hong up
on the wall, with it, great weights aud
winding strings all exposed, had struck
ten ere Polly rose from her work She
bad just pushed her basket beneath the "a.
bic, aud taken up the candle, when the
front door was opened aud two men eater
ed
They we're in their stockings, their shoes
having been leh outside
'--sh 7 uttered the foremost Of the In
trudeTs Speak bat one word above
whisper and you die on the instant,
Polly recovered from her quick terror aud
gaErd up She saw two stout. wicked. ugly
lookiog men. one Of whom held cooked
pistol towards her, she knew ,hat pistol
would not be fired IL she held her peace. as
that would make more noise than she could
make Aud furiher-she recognized In the
foremost man a notorious william. who bore
the Dame Of Dick Gallus. She had never
seen hIm before, but tho minute desc iptiops
her husband had given her Of the man led
Der A. ssea 70 k0dS him-saA posnjvs!g.
too, for one big soar on the left check was
mark enough
What seek you, gentlemen7 q asked
Polly, without betraying the least emo
tion
We have come to see Morton, the mail.
carrier, returned GallHs, ip a hoarse whis
per. Where is bey Don't speak TOO
loud
He is long since asleep Would il not
do as well TO sec him 10 the moruiugi 1
can Ind you room for lodging
The tsir hostess bad ssid this for the tur
pose OF gaining time She knew very we'll
that these neu had come to rob the carrier,
and she was equally sure they would mur-
der him If they could, and in all probability.
put her out Of the way as we'll They had
evidently learned Of the valuable load be
carried, aud meant to carry il in his stead
10 short, she not OOly knew their business.
Their very waroipg and threat to her we're
positive
Never mind bis being asleep. Show US
where be Is at once roughly replied Gallus
In Assver TO Pollys last remark
but can call him, good sirs," replied the
woman calmly, though there Was alarm IN
her soul
Call him Call growled the vii.
liAn, With loud oath. you call him, aud
you'll be called to another world quick -
SbW Us the way
The mild eye that could aim az unerring
bullet at the forest besst, did not bstrsy the
thoughts Of that EoBGns soul, nor did
look tell her meaning She was pale. bat
she did not trembls.
'ThiS way, sirs' she whispered
Aud a. she spoke, she turned towards q
door which vas situated directly between
the doors Of the little bedroom aud pantry
She did not open IL until both men were
close behind hsr
'DOht you LsAr him breathe = sue Whis.
Pered.
Yes returned both williams. And they
did hear breathing, but twas Of the child
close Al b md
As thoJ ibus answered her she threw the
door wide Dpen--it opened inward The
men saw cork void, bat they pressed for
ward In az instant Polly BafUap leaped
back k-6allus was upon the threshold, aud
bis CON npsbioB close upon his heels With
e a. a.. L. - 49,
self against the rear mar. and in the next
momeni both the robbers lay sprwling upon
the cellar bottom
bis had been the door opening n the deep
excavation, sBd che oniy means II egress wus
by psrpspdieulaTlsddsr Could tbi. have
been moved, Polly uOald have pulled it up
Immediately, bot IL Wss spiked - i,. rlaes
aud she must let it remsin To close the
door would " useless. fSr she hsi 90 ready
means Of fsstshiaR u. 10 che DID shst she
resolved upob from the Gre, sbe sprarg g.
tbe 6rsplsos and caught her tfusiy rih- from
I its beckett, and bavibg cooked il sbe TUNED
towards ths open DOOR Shs heard tbs wi
hsns searching f,r tbs ladder asi shs soon
! knsu ibst ohs " them bad found Is
Back 2 she cried ss she saa head sr.
I pear above the threshold Tbs oahals pom
, the table thrsu bat dim liFat up5n ias .p5t
I but 70 Wss spihgieat
she siw the robbsf raise ristol There
vas but one sitsruative Sc craIi Dos Do
. She bad bustsnd "A chad- sr1 fi.s
. sst hsrssf 20 -svv ihs etrfier WHh tbs.s
Z sboughts aashing ihroagb hsr misl 80
drew ibs trigger A sharp report asptriuR
I log through ths h0uss, snd iis echo
vas deep gfUab ffom tbs bottom q ibs
I csllar
IRE tie sseona FobbsF eoall shos himsslf
Mofton cane rashing into ths foam uilh .
/ pistol 10 sseh taod
What b ill be esisd
'Thsfs there esspsd Ps'lJ poiBiias 70
ths open doofsay shsfs = savsgs laatiug
f.ss sd jasi pf, ssnisa Itself
ksnt bartsa hsd to3 lsse sseu ussa %
dangsr - pAsfs fius 10 a9sissiafs shes .
n0msnt msy b ifs a. death Hs fufasi
--hs sss ibs fsos SD qsisk ~ tA.aght Be
e1gsrsd he nsfk aa8 ffsi
Are ttsFs ssy noft q hs ssksi. ssgsioR
Be sseso8 gistol
Ne SHOT oas Aaf 81 Psllg Hafuap
thus spoke, ths saBk iato = oaair, aad lssn
81 hsf hss9 spen "a tsbls
'Hhsi ysa hsSf ihs eaFrisg sEsiainsd
spfifRiug ts hsr siis