The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-01-20
"A man wo. robbed on the creek A

Morton, carelessly, ms he threw his mail.
bags after him.
Morton went to bed at . O'Clock, ~
he was tired from his long ride, Polly
had work to do, having neglected Il
while talking to her guest; 81 when She
had seen him safe NJ rest she drew her
basket to a little table where the candle
was, and went to work upon Somt cloth.
ing for her child, who was soundly sleep
ing in n corner.
The old German clock upon the wall,
with its great weight and wind strings al
exposed, had struck 10 ere Polly rose
from her work. She had just put ~
basket beneath the table when the front
door opened, and two men entered.
They were in their stockings, their shoes
having been left outside.
Hush - uttered the foremost in
truder.
Speak but one word above n whisper,
and you die in a moment y
Polly recovered from her quick terror,
and looked up, She SAW two stout,
wicked, ugly looking men, one Of whom
held u cooked pistol toward her, Witha
quickne.s Of perception natural 10 her,
She knew the pistol would not be fired
if she held her peace, AS that would make
more noise than she could make; and
further, she recognized in the foremost n
notorious william who bore the name Of
Dick Gallus.
She had never sccn him before, but the
minute description her husband had given
Of the man led her to know him-and
positively, too, for Il big scar On the
left cheek WAS mark enough.
what do you want p asked Polly,
without betraying the least fear.
We have ONE to see the mall-Car-
%ricr,' one replied, in Il hoarse whisper
+" where Is he: Don't speak too LOUD
" He is long since asleep, Would it
not do ~ 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 CONT to
rob the carrier, and was equally sure
that they would murder him if they
could, and would in all probability put
Nv '"I vi WV way 40 WILL lINJ llbu
evidently learned Of the valuable load
he carried, and meant to carry it in his
stead.
"Neyer mind his being asleep. Show
Us where he is ut once" roughly replied
GaIlus, in answer to Polly's last remark.
"But can call him, good %sirs," rea-
soncd the woman, calmly, though there
was alarm in her soul.
"Call him call !" growlcd the william,
with a fierce oath, "You call him, and
you will be called to another world.
Quick show us the way
The mild eye that could aim an uncrr-
ing bullet at the forest beast did not even
bctray the thoughts of the woman's soul,
nor did a look tell her meaning. She was
very pale, but did not tremblc.
"lhis way, %sirs," she whispered.
And us 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;"
yes" returned both Williams.
And they did hear a breathing, but it
was Of II child close at hand.
As they thus answered her sue threw
the door opcn-it open inward. The
men saw a dark void, but they pressed
forward. In an instant Polly Burnap
lcapcd back, Gallus was in front. With
all her power, the noble woman threw
herself against the rcar man, and the
next moment both the rObbcrsla sprawl
ing on the cellar bottom.
This had been the door opening to the
deep excavation, and the only means Of
cgress was by a perpendicular ladder,
this have been moved, Polly
would have pulled it up Immediately ;
it was spiked to is place, and she
let it remain. To close the door
would be useless, for she had not ready
means to iastcn it. So she did what she
lad resolved upon from the tirst-shc
'prang to the Fireplace, and caught the
rusty rifle, and, cooking it, she moved
owards the open door. She heard the
Of the villains as they reached the
adder, and she soon knew that II OF
hem had found it.
Back v' she cried, " she saw a head
.bovc the threshold.
The candle upon the table threw but a
light upon the spot, but it was suf-
She saw the robber raise a pistol. She
mad a ~husband-a child-and had set her.
self to save the carrier. With these
thoughts dashing through her mind, she
pulled the trigger. A sharp report went
through the house, and its echo
was II deep groan from the cellar bot
tom.
Ere the second robbcr could show him
self, Morton came rushing into the room
with Il pistol in each hand.
"What is it % he cried.
"lhcrc? there" gasped Polly, point
ing to the doorway, when a savage look
ing face had just presented itself.
Liant Morton had been too much used
to danger to waste time in conjecture,
and Immediately shot the villain dead,
who fell with n heavy sound upon the
cellar floor.
In the morning, just as the carrier was
dressed, there Mas a rap at the door, ac-
companicd by Il voice he knew full well.
He FASTENED to open the door, and gave
entrance to John Burnap. The hunter
had met n party of traders at Lewis
burg, and disposed of all his skins to
them, thus finishing his journey six days
earlier than he anticipated.
Polly was soon upon her husbands
bosom, and when he had told them his
own story, Morton gave him the adven-
ture. Jacob was at first incredulous,
but when he had seen the bodies was
satisfied.
"Polly, my jewel he said, placing his
arm around her neck, 81 I'm proud of
you. ! love you more and more, for
every day | find more to love-" And
then, turning to Morton, he added,
What do you think of such a wife,
"Ah !" returned the guest, with deep
feeling, IF poor Liant Morton had such a
wife he wouldn't he a mail carrier"