Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-06-25

and gallivanting on railroads. wonder
whether he is changed much. I'll take q
look" and Maggie crossed the room and
| lifted the lid over the face of the inclosed
! body.
al'll take look" she said to herself
again. "I'm not afraid of dead folks"
In minute more Maggie dropped the
lid again and retreated, shaking from
head to foot. She had seen within the
coffin face with its eyes shut and with
bandages about the head, and the CHASTITY
features of q clown in circus, minus the
red mouth.
But it was living face, we'll chalked,
not the masters; and Maggie knew at
once she had been humbugged-thatt this
| story of her masters death was lie, and
that burglar lay within the coffin ready
to spring upon her, or perhaps murder
her, at any moment.
She could, of course, open the door
and try to escape; but the accomplices of
the man were doubtless outside. 1t was a
long distance to the nearest house, and,
even if they did not kill her, they would
execute their purpose and rob the place
before she returned.
Master looks natural" said Maggie
aloud, and 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 sue
cess more than once. If she could secure
those pistols 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.
l. 10 IL
sat down on chair. She turned up her
sleeves and grasped pistol in each hand,
and she watched the coffin quietly. In
hand crept up the side. A wiry eye
and closed again.
YOU'D better" said Maggie to herself.
Again the head lifted. This time Mag
gle sprang to her feet.
"You're fixed quite handy" she said
coolly. "No need of laying you out if 1
fire, and l can aim firstrate, especially
when I'm afraid of ghosts, as / be now"
The head bobbed down again. Mag
gle reseated herself She knew this could
not last very long-that there must be a
conflict before long 1t was as she sup
posed. A moment more and the coffin
was empty, and ferocious young fellow
sat on its edge, and thus addressed her:
1--WE mean to do it all quiet" he said,
"and don't want to frighten old women.
Just put them down."
"pm not frightened" said Maggie.
"I'm coming to take them things away
from you," said the man.
Come" said Maggie.
He advanced one step. She took aim
and he lodged, but the bullet went
through his left arm, and it dropped by
his side.
Furious with pain, he dashed toward
| her. She fired 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"
"Mine isn't" said old Maggie. "Get
into your coffin again, or this time I'll
| shoot you through the heart"
The burglar looked piteously at her
| but he saw no mercy in her face. He
went back to the coffin and lay down in
| it. Blood dripped from his wounds, and
he was growing pale. Maggie did not
want to see him die before her eyes, but
she dared not call for aid. To leave the
house before daylight would be to meet
this mans companions, and risk her OWL
life. There was nothing for it but to play
the surgeon herself, and in little while
she had stopped the blood and saved the
burglars life. More than this-sht
brought him cup of tea, and fed him
with it as if he had been baby Moth
ing, however, could induce her to let hin
out of his coffin.
| About one or two O'Clock she heart
steps outside, and knew that the othel
burglars were near, but her stout hear
never quailed. She trusted in the bar'
and bolts, and they did not betray her.
The daylight found her sitting quietly
beside her wounded burglar, and thu
milkman, bright and early, was the am
bassador who summoned the officers O
| justice.
When the bridal party returned mex
day the house was neat and tidy, anC
Maggie, in her best alpaca, told thu
news in laconic fashion.
Frightenedr' she said, in answer to
the sympathetic CALCULATIONS of her new
mistress. Frightened! Oh, no! Feal
wasn't born in me-"