Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-09-22

void, but they pressed Forward. ll
another instant Polly Burnap leaped
back. Gallus was upon the thres-
hold. and his companion close on to
| his heels. With all her power the no.
bic woman threw herself against the
rear man, and on the next moment
both the robbers lay sprawling on
the floor. $500 tfp
This had been the door opening
into the deep excavation, and the
only means of egress was by per-
pendicular ladder. If this could
have been moved, Polly would
have pulled it up Immediately, but
i: 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. She
bid what she had resolved on from
the first; she sprang to the fireplace
and caught her rifle from its hacket,
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
hand appear above the threshold.
The candle on the table threw a dim
light upon the spot.
Sae saw the robber raise pistol;
there was but one alternative. She
could not die. She had a husband,
a child, and she had set herself to
save the carrier. With these thoughts
flashing through her mind she drew
the trigger.
The sharp report went ringing
through the house and the echo was
a deep groau from the bottom of the
cellar.
Ere the second robber could show
himself, Morton came into the room
with.a pistol in each hand.
'What is it? be cried.
There! there! gasped Polly, point
ing to the open door way, where a
looking face had just present
ed itself.
Liant Morton had long enough
been used to danger not to waste time
in conjecture, when moment may
be lie or death. He turned, b e saw
the face, and quick as thought he
covered the mark and fired.
'Are there any more? he asked,
cooking his pistol.
No, / shot one.' And as Polly |
spoke she sank into chair, and
leaned her head upon the table.
'What! you hurt the carrier ex.
ella lined, springirg to her side.
No, nor she faintly replied, 'oniy
weak. shall be better in little
while Look to the cellar
sHow many were there!'
only two. | know l killed one.
sAnd l vow l killed the other?'
added Morton, as he took the candle
and approached the open door.
He listened, but be could hear no
sound.
Then with his pistol still in his
hand he descended the ladder. At
the bottom be stepped upon human
body, and baving found AN easier
standing place, he held down the
light and gazed around, saw two men,
both dead,--both shot through the
head. and then came up.
K Polly, noble Polly he cried, you
have rid the world Of two OF the
most desperate and cold hearted
scoundrels that ever infested any
country.
DO You know .them?' she asked,
reviving
.Aye--well. Dick Gallus and Red
Harmon.
WAS that other Red Harmon?'
.Yes-tAe murderer Of Parsons
and Nathans.'
sO!I am glad they were robbers.
But then / knew they were--l knew
Eit-or sould not have fired. |
knew theymealt to rob and murder
you. and
sAnd so you meant to save me, re-
piled the carrier. as Polly hesitated.
.Yes-yes--I did. Yes-that
was it.
And as soon as the noble woman
was sufficiently recovered she told
the whole story. Morton expressed
his thanks as best he could; but after
all. the moisture of the sharp gray
eye, the change Of bis countenance
and that very lack Of language, tolf