Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-01-02

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another sixty minutes had passed
although it appeared to her like hal
q day; and then considering it useles
to remain up longer, sought her owl
pillow, after commencing herself {,
Him who is the protector of the wild
ow and the fatherof the fatherless. :
But she had not closed her eyes be
fore there was loud rap upon tn,
| door. aaft g54 sHs-ll Ha
as that you, iBridget?"' she asked
hopefully. - Z siol
"No, vas the answer, and hel
heart sunk like lead within her.
mo; am stranger1-haye~io lost my
way; you must let me in.'' 'ie 5
II cannot--cannot! I am poor
lone woman. / dare not let you in (
HYou need have no fear. As there
is a God in Heaven, / will not harm
you. am an escaped convict-ai
innocent one-and as you have mer
cy in your heart, open the door,
When was such au appeal made to
an Irish heart in valn?, An escaped
convict, and wanting succor? That
is talisman to open every door-to
have the last potato or bite of bread
forced into the hungry mouth. Yes,
1t is truly the open sesame.to an Irish
neart. and it operated so in this
case. - -
The woman arose. opened tn.
door, gave the fugitive food, and
having again received his assurance
that he would do, her no harm, but
on the contrary, protect her, and
having also seen him stretch himself
upon the floor before the remnant oi
the peat fire, she again sought the
side of her sleeping children.
But even then she was not allowed
to rest. At first her fears kept her
awake. Then came another loud rap
for admission, and both she and her
strange visitor arose.
''Is this part of your gang?" she
asked in trembling whispers.
81 call Heaven to witness" he an
swered, solemnly, ''that such is not
the case. Ask them what they
want"
She did so, and was told that thew
knew she had money in the house,
and were determined to have it.
"TeH thcm," whispered the straug
Gsthaf have f,.sn,,l a.
and that it will be dangerous FOR them
to enter
81 have q friend here" she said
going close to the door, IS. man who
will protect me, and you had better
not try to get in
81 know better" laughed female
voice.that of Bridget, the servant
girl, Il know that there is no one
except the children"
What shall I-shall / do?" asked
the poor woman, wringing her hands.
Tell them again said the stlau-
ger, that l have pistols, and will
shoot the first one that dares to step
his foot within the door God help
me! l would not have blood upon
my hands, but / promised to pro-
tect you with my life, aud l will :
Warn them yet once more
Bridget" shouted Mrs. O'Bricn.
''the friend l have here has pistols,
and will certainly kill you. warn
you to go away.
Again the bold, bad laugh of the
servant girl rang ont, and her voice
could be distinctly heard urging them
On. . -.--- 0..I...
Its only talking they are. Devil
one is there in the cabin but the
children. Break down the door, and !
be done with it. l tell you there is
more'n hundred pounds hidden be-
,ween the BEDS
''Stand back whispered the con
'ict to his hostess. Their blood |
De upon their own heads" 1
Scarcely had the words been utter |
ID before heavy blows fell upon the
loor, and made it tremble upon its
hinges. The self appointed protec-
or stood little to one side, calm
md firm. In either hand he held
PISTOL, and bis manner showed that
lie was no stranger to their use.
"Down with the door" shouted
Bridget, 'or else stand aside and
rive me the ax"
A shower of heavy blows, and it T
ell. The false servant girl entered,
nd dropped dead with a bullet
,uried in her brain The foremost
# the men met the same fate, and
he others fed. They had had quite
.nough of bloodshed t"hl
To leave the helpless woman thus,
vas not to be thought of by the stran
,er, and though prison or transpor-
alton stared him in the face, he com
orted her as well as possible,
traightened the corpses, and then
lastened to the nearest magistrate,
old the entire story, not even deny
ng who and what he was.
The facts were too evident to even
year questioning, and as reward
or his bravery the convict was par
Ioned- subsequently found to have
,een convicted innocently, and when
he husband and father returned,
vas readily pursuaded to emigrate
With the family to 95"the land of the
rec and the home or the brave"
Now in one of the Western States,
ference O'Brien has house by tho
ide of beautiful river, and not far
rom it is another where the once
fugitive convict has wife and chill
lren of his own to protect, and both
antilles will give as an heirloom to
heir decendents the little but true
tory, of how pardon was won.
E At Quincy, ILL.,, is German