The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-06-24

where they could be equally well kept
in the winter, for frost never entered
the deep hole the hunter had dug.
Besides these was the loft, with tight
ly boarded floor, which was reached by
ladder from the pantry, and in this
latter place the mail carrier slept. He
had dragged the mail bags up after him,
not feeling disposed to leave so pre-
cious charge beyond his immediate
reach.
Morton went to bed at nine o'clock,
as he was tired and sleepy from his
hard ride. Polly had work to do, hav-
ing neglected it while talking with her
guest, so when she had seen him safely
at rest, in the loft, she drew her basket
up to the table, where the candle was,
and went to work on some clothes for
her child, who was sleeping very sound
ly in the bedroom in the corner.
The old German clock which hung
upon the wall, with its great weight
and winding strings all exposed, had
just struck ten ere Polly arose from her
work. She had just pushed her basket
beneath the table, and had taken up the
candle, when the front door was opened,
and two men entered. They were in
their stockings, their shoes having been
left outside so as not to make any noise.
"-sh 7" uttered the foremost of the
intruders. "Speak but one word above
a whisper and you die on the instant p
Polly recovered from her quick ter
ror, and gazed up. She saw two stout,
wicked looking men, one of whom pre-
sented a cooked pistol towards her.
With that quickness of perception nat
ural to her, she knew that the pistol
would not be fired if she held her peace,
as that would make a greater noise
than she could. And further-she re-
cognized in the foremost of the men, a
notorious villain, who bore the name OF
Dick Gallus. She had never seen him
before, but the minute descriptions her
husband had given her of the man, led
her at once to know him-and posi-
lively, too; for one big scar on his left
cheek was mark enough.
"What seek We gentlemen ?" asked
Polly Barnap, without betraying the
least fear.
"We have come to see Morton, the
mail-carrier," returned Gallus, in a
coarse whisper. Where is he? Don't
speak too loud"
"He is long since asleep. Would it
not do as well to see him in the morn
ing? can find you room forlodging.' u
The fair hostess said this for the pur-
pose of gaining time. She knew very
well, that these men had come to rob
the carrier, and she was equally sure
that they would murder him if they
could, and, in all probability, put her
out of the way as well. They had evi-
IDENTIFY heard of the valuable load he
carried, and meant to carry it in his
stead. In short, she not only knew the
character of the bold ruffians, but she
also knew their business. Their very
warning and threat to her were positive
proof.
"Never mind his being asleep. Show
us where he is at once" roughly re-
piled Gallus, in answer to Polly's last
remark.
"But 1 can call him, good sirs,'
reasoned the brave woman, calmly,
though there was alarm in her soul.
"Call him? CaP-w growled
the villain, with a fierce oath. "You
call him and you'll be called to another
world. Show us the way"
The mild eye that could aim an un.
erring bullet at the forest beast did not
betray the thoughts of that woman's
soul, nor did look tell her meaning.
She was pale, but she did not tremble
"This way gentlemen" she whispered
And as she spoke she turned towards
the door which was situated directly
between the doors of the little bedroom
and the pantry. She did not open il
until both of the men had got up close
behind her.
"Don't you hear him breathe ?" she
whispered.
eyes" returned both villains; and
the did hear a breathing, but it was OF
the child close at hand.
As they thus answered her, she
threw the door wide open-it opened
inward. The men saw a dark void,
but they pressed forward. In another
instant Polly Barnap leaped back
Gallus was upon the threshold, and his
companion close on his heels. With
all her power the noble woman threw
herself against the rear man, and in the
next moment both the robbers lay
spralling OH the cellar floor.
This had been the door opening into
the deep excavation, and the only
means of egress was by perpendicular
ladder. Ifthis could have been moved,
Polly would have pulled it up immedi-
ately, but it was spiked to its place, and
she must let it remain. To close the
door would be useless, for she had no
ready means of fastening it. So she
did what she had resolved on from the
first /; she sprang to the fireplace and
caught her trusty rifle from its hecket,
and, having cooked it, she drew to-
wards the open door. She heard the
curses Of the villains as they searched
for the ladder, and she soon knew that
one of them had found it.
"Back!' she cried, as she saw a
a hand appear above the threshold.
The candle on the table threw dim
light upon the spot.
She saw the robber raise pistol +:
there was but one alternative. She