The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-16

frightened, sir, for soon discovered that
they meant to rob you Inst night. !
found it was their iutcption to pretend
sleep when tho dormitor,s were inspect
ed for the night, and then one was to
conceal himself in your room before you
came up from tho study, while the other
was wntchingin tho corridor; and if sue
ccssful, they were goingto hire n horse
and carriage at Jewett'a 'arly this morn
ing and get away NJ son as possible
and run of to sea. Thel, sir, they be-
gan talking very low indeed, and the
rain upon the roof madi 80 much noise,
1 couldn't make out Just what they said,
and, oh, sir just at that atnoment1 found
l was going to sneeze. I tried alt |
could to stop it, but it w,uld come, and
really think, sir, it ms the loudest
sneeze l ever gave. Then there was
nothing for me to do butto come out.
"See hero, young enc, have you
been listening to NIL this said Decker.
'Oh, yes, Decker I crisd, and how
can you Now Just st,p that sniyel-
ing, or I'll give you sorething to cry
for, and | saw that Decker Ind been
drinking. Then Mullet said quito
kindly, although no wasrery much ex-
cited: Now, little Miggs, we're bound
to carry this thing througt, and wewon't
have any interference. " mustn't per.
nit you to leave this plae. tonight and
interrupt our plans. Yes. on one condi-
ton can you appear at u school this
evening, and that is thai you will SOL
emnly promise, upon your oath, not to
mention what you have head to single
soul until our flight has boel discovered.
NIullett, MullGtt, howauI promise
you thisl' I said. no, NJ don't ask
It. Oh, Decker, think Of this awful
thing you are going to do and to the
best master Il boy ever Lad. Dear
Mullctt, You saved my life last winter
when my sled broke through tho ice,
and lovc you so l can't lot Sou do this.
Listen to inc. II only yot will give
up these wicked plans now El forever
and ever, no one shall hear oA know any
thing about them but If yoh will not
and I grew suddenly brave, sir-1will
surely tell master every word.'
1--WE all stood still for few minutes,
and the rain on the leaves outside and
on the roof fell with such lonely sound
that, l believe, sir, began to cry. Null
lett stretched out his hand toward me
and said: Little Miggs, I've half n
mind when Decker, who, rs l told
you before, sir, had been drinking,
sprang forward, and seizing mo by the
arm, said: 'AIiggs, you young sneak
ing cavesdroppcr, you don't leave this
hut tonight and us for yon, Mullett,
il you're going to back down, I'll shoul-
der the whole thing myself, but have Il
caro- how you step out OF it, for you've
gone too far to prove your innocence
now.
"'I'm not going to back out said
Mullett.
"'Then help me bind Miggs to the
center post. They'll be sure to find him
tomorrow, and by that time We will not
care how much he blabs. 1 prayed
Decker not to tic me there over night
it was such n cruel, cruel thing, but he
did it, sir. Mullctt insisted that I should
not stand, so ho brought n box for me to
sit on, and then turned and looked ont
of tho hut while Decker tied mo with
tho measuring rope. l was faint and
dizzy, and but for tho rope under my
arms | should have fallen over. Mul.
lett came up and sGid
"Little MIiggs, can You forgive MI y
"'Ycs,' l said, l forgive you, Mil.
lett And that is NIL l remember, dear
master, until l awokc md found Glat
you and Crane were come to rclesG
me-
"Boys,s said the master, ~ will con.
tinuc the narrative. Last evening, jrst
after tea, I was sitting in my study,
when Crane entered, brcathless, with
tho astonishing announcement that tlc
Ind discovered little Miggs bound hst
in the birch hut, and apparently dead.
| hastcncd to tho place, md MS | looked
in l feared that Crane was right, abl
that little Miggs was indeed dead. Upon
examination, however, | found ho hhl
only tainted, aud even us we worked lt
tho ropo ho revived. Without question.
ing took him in my arms and brouglt
him up Mt once to the study. Ho lay o.
the lounge n long time without speak
ing. Presently lie said:
"Mastcr, there will be an attemp
made tonight to rob you. Please don'
put your purse under the pillow, AM
then they will get nothing e
"Who will get nothing, littl'
Miggs1"
"9Oh, sir, 1 cannot tell you to,night
indeed ~
"He was interrupted by rap Mt III.
door. 1t was the housekGcpcr.
"Come to my room, quick, sic
Decker is very i'll, she whispered.
"I found him on the sofa, his arm
hanging lifclessly over the back, his hail
disheveled, his clothes in disorder. II
truth, found him not sick, but intoxi
Gated. Giving instructions that III
should not bo removed until returned
| left the room anil was met in the hal
by Mullett, who asked to have u worl
with me.
"'Not now, Mullett,' 1 explained
I'm very much occupied.
"'If you please, sir, | know all abou
it. Decker, little Miggs, and all ant
if you'll only let me, I'll confess every
thing. | can't 50 to bed. ! can't sleep
Oh, sir I'm so miserable
" Come to my study, Mullett, l said
As opened the door hc caught sigh o
little Miggs. Springing to the louag,
ho threw himself upon his knees anl
buried his face in his hands, and
guessed much Of the truth hat once. Wha
| did not know was told mo between til,
sobs Of tho contritc boy. But the pos
sibility OF such II crime in our midst wa
too imminent not to demand sever
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