The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-11-18

bedroom aud pointed out the Golfer in
which his money was concealed. Here
she said, reaching him an axe, "this
viii wrench it open at once, and / shall
just step up to my own apartment and
get few things ready for our flight"
$50, lass" he said, "but he not
long"
She disappeared at the words.
He Immediately broke open the chest
and began rummaging the contents.
While he was thus employed, the
brave hearted girl stole down the stairs
on tiptoe, and creeping softly along the
passage reached the door of the cham.
Der unseen by him, and likewise un.
heard, securely fastening the door,
This done, she rushed forth to the
outer door of the mill and gave the
alarm.
ely fly !" she shrieked to the child
her masters little boy. ely to father.
Fly on your life! Tell him we shall
all be murdered, ,and he haste not back.
Fly Fly! ...
The child at once obeyed the COM
mand of the girl, and sped as fast as
his legs could carry him on the road by
which he knew his parents would re.
turn from church.
Jenny sat down on the stone bench by
the mill door to ease her over-excited
spirit.
A shrill whistle from the grated win
dow of the chamber in which she had
shutup the ruflian Rerrick, reached her
ears. ..
"Robbin! Robin !" she heard him
shout, 'catch the child and come hith-
er. l am fast. Come hither! Bring
the child here, and kill the girl"
Jenny thought to herself that this
alarm was false one, but just as the
child reached hollow in the next field
the channel of natural drain-she
saw another ruflian start up, and catch
ing him in his arms, fastened towards
the mill in accordance with the direc-
tions of his accomplice. ...
Ina moment she perceived her dam
ger. .... .......... .......
Retreating into the mill, she double
locked and bolted the door, aud then
took her post at an upper easement.
She scarcely had time to secure her.
self within, when the ruflian from
without, holding the helpless child in
one hand, and long sharp knife in
the other, assailed the door with kicks
and curses of the most dreadful char
acter. .... .........
"Confound thee,' he cried, ''open the
door or I'll break it on ye.p .. ...
"lf you can, you may" was all the
girrreplied. .......r u. ...rs... ..
"Cut the brat's throat" roared the
imprisoned ruflian from above. "That
will bring her TO reason" ....
"An ye open not the door," shouted
the villain from without. "I'll hack
this whelp's limbs to pieces with my
knife, and then burn the mill on your
head" ... -... .....-..
81 put my trust in God" replied the
girl. "Never shall ye set foot within
these walls whilst have life to prevent
ye." ---- -.-s-rfrT .- ----r-. r--..
The rufiian laid the infant for a mo-
ment on the sward, and searching about
for combustibles, espied the only posi-
BILE entrance to the building. ....
1t was large aperture in the wall,
communicating with the great wheel
and the other machinery of the mill,
and was a point entirely unprotected,
because it was never supposed by the
simple occupants that any one would
ever seek admission through such
dangerous inlet.
By this the ruffian hoped to effect an
entrance.
All this was unseen by the girl with
in.
In the meanwhile her mind was bus
led with thousand cogitations.
Suddenly thought struck her.
"It is Sunday" she said to herself
"The mill never works on the Sabbath.
Suppose I set it going now. 1t can be
seen afar off. And happily my master
and some of his neighbors, wondering
at the sight, may hasten home to learn
the cause, A lucky thought" she ex-
claimed. '"Tis God sent it to me-"
No sooner said than done.
1t was but the work of moment for
her to set the machinery in motion.
A brisk breeze which sprung up at
once set the sails flying.
The arms of the huge engine whirled
round with fearful rapidity-the great
wheel slowly revolved on its axle-the
smaller gear turned, and creaked and
groaned according as they came into
action-the mill was iu full operation.
AT this very instant the rufiian Robin
had succeeded in squeezing himself
through the aperture in the wall, and
getting safely lodged in the interior of
the great drum wheel.
His dismay was indiscribable when
he began to be whirled about with its
rotation.
His cries were most appalliug-his !
shrieks were truly fearful-his curses
were horrible to hear.
Jenny hastened to the spot, and saw
him caught like a reptile, that he was,
In his own trap.
1t need not be added that she did not |
liberate him.
She knew that he would be more |
frightened than hurt if he kept within
his rotatory prison.
Meanwhile the wheel went round
with its steady, unceasing motion and
round and round went the rufian
along with it, steadily and increasingly
too. Muttering curses he was whirled
round and round in the untiring wheel
until at last feeling and perception
failed him, and he heard no more.
A loud knock at the door was shortly
after heard, and jenny hastened thith-