Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-01-28
"Speak one word above a whisper

sue knew the plStnl would not ne lreO
if she held her peace, as that would
make more noise than she could make ;
and further, she recognized in the fore
most notorious villain who bore the
name of Dick Gallus
She had never seen him before, but
the minute description her husband had
given of the man led her to know him
and positively, too, for one big scar on
the left cheek was mark enough.
"What do you want?" asked Polly,
without betrayng the least fear.
1--WE have come to see the mail car
rier," one replied, in hoarse whisper !;
where is he 2"
He is long since asleep. Would it
not do as well to see him in the morning :?
We can find you a room and lodging
The fair hostess had said this for the
purpose of gaining time. She knew
very well that these men had come to
rob the carrier, and was equally sure
that they would murder him if they
could, and would in all probability put
her out of the way as well They had
evidently learned of the valuable load he
carried and meant to carry it in his
stead
Never mind his being asleep Show
us where he is at once roughly replied
Gallna, in answer to Polly's last remark.
But | can call him, good sirs, reason
ed the woman, calmly, though there was
alarm in her soul
Call him call = growled the william,
with fierce oath You call him, aud
you will be called to another world -
Quick show us the way
The mild eye that could aim an unerr-
ing bullet at the forest beast did not even
bctray the thoughts Of the woman's soul
nor did look tell her meaning. She
was very pale, but did not tremble.
This way, sirs, she whispered
And as she spoke she turned towards
a side door. She did not open it till
both the men were close behind her.
Don't you hear him breathe p
Yes returned both Williams.
And they did hear breathing, but it
was of child close at hand
AS they thus answered her she threw
the door open-it opened inward The
men saw dark void but they pressed
forward. In an instant Polly Burnap
leaped back, Gallus was in front With
all her power. the noble woman, threw
herself against the rear man. and the
next moment both the robbers lay
sprawling on the cellar bottom.
This had been the door opening to the
deep excavation, and the only means Of
egress was by a perpendicular ladder
Could this have been moved, Polly
would have pulled it up Immediately
but it was spiked to its place and she
must let it remain To close the dooi
would be useless, for she had no ready
means to fasten it. SO she did what she
bad resolved upon from the frst-she
sprang TO the fireplace and caught The
trusty rifle, and, cooking it, she moved
towards the open door She heard tho
curses Of the villains as they reached
the ladder, and she soon knew that one
of them had found it.
Back " she cried, as she saw a head
above the threshold.
The candle upon the table threw but ;
dim light upon the spot. but it was sui.
icent.
She saw the robbcr raise pistol. She
had a husband child and had sci
herself to save the carrier With thcst
thoughts dashing through her mind, she
pulled the trigger. A sharp report went
ringing through the house, and its cchc
was a deep groan from the cellar bottom
Ere the second robber could show
himself Morton came rushing into the
room with pistol in each hand
What is it = he cried
There there p gasped Polly, point
ing to the doorway, where a savage
looking faec had just presented itself.
Liant Morton bad been too much useG
to danger to waste time in conjecture
and Immediately shot the william dead
who fell with heavy sound upon th,
cellar floor
In the morning, just as The carrier
was dressed there was "A rap on the door
accompanied by voice he knew full
well He FASTENED to open the door, ant
gave entrance to Jacob Burnap til,
hunter had met a party Of traders a
Lewisburg, and disposed Of all his skins
to them, thus finishing his journey siz
d y earlier than he anticipated
Polly was soon upon her husbands
bosom aud when be had told them hi.
own story Morton gave him the advcn.
ture. jacob was at first incrednlous,
but when he had seen the bodies be was
sitis6ed
Polly, my jewel, he said, placing his
arm around her neck / am proud Of you.
| love you more and more. for every day
fnd more to love- And then turning
to Morton he added; What do you
think Of such wife 2
All returned the guest. with deer
feeling. If poor Liant Morton had such
a wife he wouldn't be- mail carrier.
When Morton left he was directed r.
stop at the first settlement and state to
the officers what had happened. and he
promised to do 50 He once more bless
Ell ID" brave woman who saved his life.
and then set out Late 10 the afternoon
two officers arrived AT the cabin. and
when they were shown the dead bodies
at once proceeded to remove them And
ere a week had passed the whole settle
lnent blessed the border heroine for the
work she bad done.