Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1876-02-10

ten ere Polly rose from her work.
Had just pushed the basket beneatl
the table when the front door open
ed en- two man entered. They wer
in their stockings, their shoes havin:
been left outside.
"Hush r untered the formost in
truder.
"Seak one word above a whisper
and you die"
Polly recovered from her quick
terror and looked up. She saw TIVE
stout, wicked, ugly looking men, one
of whom held a cooked pistol to
wards her. With quickness OF
perfection natural TO 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 fore
most notorious william who bore the
name of Dick Gallus.
She 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 check was
mark enough.
"What do you want?" asked Pol
ly, without betraying the least fear.
eve have come to see the mail
carrier" one replied in hoarse whis-
per; "whcre is he?"
"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 i'll all
probability put her out of the way as
we'll. 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, rough
ly replied Gallus, in answer to Pol
ly's last remark.
"But | can call him, good sir"
reasoned the woman, calmly, though
there was alarm in her soul.
Call him! call!' growled the vii
lians, with fierce oath. "You call
him, and you will be called to anoth.
er world. Quick show us the way"
The mild eye that could aim an
unerring bullet at the forests beast
did not even betray tn. thoughts Of
the woman's soul, nor did look tell
her meaning. She was very pale.
btit did not trcmble.
This way, sirs," she whispered.
And as she spoke she turned to-
wards side door, She did not open
it till both the men were close behind
her.
Don't you hear him breathe"
Yes" returned both villains.
And they did hear a breathing,
but 1T was child child close at
hand.
As they thus answered her she
threw th9 door upen-it opened in
ward. The men saw dark void
but they pressed forward. III an
'n>ran, Polly Burnap leaped back
Gallus was in front. With all her
power, the noble woman threw her
self against the rear man, and the
next moment both the robbers lay
SPRAYING on the cellar bottom.
Thi had been the door opening
to the deep excavation, and the
only means of egre>s was by per-
pcndicular ladder. Could this have
been moved, Polly would have pulled
it up Immediately; but it was Spikcl
to its place and she must let it re-
main. TO close the door would be
useless, for she had 10 ready means
to fasten it. So she did what she
had resolved upon from the first
she :sprang to the fire place and
caught trusty rife, and, cooking it,
she moved towards the open door. -
She heard the curses cf the Williams
y they reached the ladder, and she
soon knew that one them had found
it.
Back" she cried, as she saw
head above the threshold.
The camille upon the table threw
but a dim light upon the spot, but it
was sufficient.
She saw the robber raise apisto'.
She had n husband-a child-and
had set herself to save the carrier.
With these thoughts dashing through
her mind, she pulled the trigger
4 sharp report went ringing through
the house, and its echoe was a deep
groan from the cellar bottom.
Ere the second ro5ber could show
himself Morton came rushing into
the room with a pistol in each hand.
"What is it?' he cried.
There! there! gasped Polly,
pointing to the doorway, where saw
age looking face had just presented
itself.
Liant Morton had been to much
used to danger to waste time in con
lecture, and Immediately shot the vii
lain dead, who fell with a heavy sound
upon the cellar floor.
l:E X \ X =
In the morning, jest as the car
rier was dressed, there vas rap on
the door, accompanied by voice he
knew full well. He FASTENED to open
the door, and gave entrance to Jacob
Burnap. The hunter had met a par
Y 4.