Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-07-09
She could Of course open the door

| OH6 COulu OF course open the door
and try to escape but the accomplices
of the man were doubtless outside. It
was long distance to the nearest house,
and even If they did not kill her, they
I would execute their purpose and rob
the place before she returned.
" Master looks natural" said Maggie
aloud, aud tried to collect her thoughts.
Mr.. Van Motifs revolvers were in the
next room, she knew, loaded, six shots
in each. Maggie could use pistols.
She had aimed at troublesome cats with
great success more than once. If she
could secure these she felt safe.
Poor, dear master," she sobbed,
and edged toward the back room.
| "Poor, dear master;" she lifted the
desk-lid. She had them safe.
She glided back to the front parlor
and sat down on q chair. She turned
up her sleeves and grasped pistol in
each hand, and watched the coffin-lid
quietly. In half an hour the lid stir
red. A cautious hand crept up the
side. A wiry eye peeped out. It fell
upon the armed figure and closed again.
!" You'd better, said Maggie to her.
self
Again the head lifted up.. This time
Maggie sprang to her feet.
you are fixed quite handy" she
said coolly. "No need of laying you
out if I fire, and I can aim first-rate,
especially when I'm afraid of ghosts, as
am now"
The head bobbed down again. Mag
gle re-seated herself. She knew this
could not last long there must be
conflict before long. It was as she
supposed. A moment more and the
coffin was empty, and a ferocious young
fellow sat on its edge, and thus ad-
dressed her:
"Wo meant to do it all quiet" he
snid, "and don't want to frighten old
women. Just put them down"
I'm not frightened" said. Maggie.
"I'm coming to take them things
away from you, said the man.
"Come, said Maggie.
and he d 'dged, but bullet went
his side.
Furious with pain, he dashed toward
her. She fred again, and this time
wounded him in the right shoulder,
Faint, and quite helpless, he staggered
against the wall.
"There, you've done it, old woman, "
he said. "Open the door and let me
out. My game is up"
7" Mine isn't" said old Maggie. "Get
back into your coffin again, or this time
I'll shoot You through the heart"
The burglar looked piteously at her,
but he saw no mercv in her face. He
went back to tho coffin and lay down in
it. Blood dropped from his wounds,
and he was growing pale. Maggie did
not want to see him die before her eyes,
but she did not dare go for aid. To
leave the house before daybreak would
be to meet this mans companions, and
risk her own life. There was nothing
for it but to play the surgeon herself,
the blood and saved the burglars life.
More than this-she brought him cup
of tea, and fed him with it as if he had
been baby. Nothing, however, could
induce her to let him out of his coffin.
| About one or two o'clock she heard
steps outside, and knew that the other
burglars were near, but her stout heart
never quailed. She trusted in the bars
and bolts, and they did not betray her.
The daylight found her sitting quiet
| ly beside her wounded burglar, aud the
milkman, bright and early, was tho am
bassador who summoned the officers OF
Justice.
When the bridal party returned next
day the house was neat and tidy, and
Maggie, in her best alpaca, told the
ncws in laconic fashion.
" Frightened !" she slid, in answer to
the sympathetic ejnculations of her new
mistress. Frightened Oh, no ! Fear
wasn't born in me-"