The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-18


was window open there. l lifted
myself cautiously on the window ledge
and caught branch of a cherry.treee
which grew close to the house. Swing
ing myself lightly out, hastily de-
scended the trunk of the tree, and
found myself on the ground, safe.
No. The lightning flash betrayed
me. The Ravens voice shrieked
hoarsely:
"There she goes Catch her Quick !!
This way!'
Out at the front gate came the pur-
suers, hardly ten steps from me. l
dashed toward the thick shrubbrry to
throw them off the track. Fortunate
.ly knew the way, every step of it..
They were guided slowly by the sound
and flashing light.
''Shoot her by the next flash p cried
one. I'd"
My flying feet struck loose boards.
I was passing directly over an old,
unused we'll, very deep, and it gave
back hollow, resonant sound. AL
most the next moment heard a crash,
the report of a pistol, heavy fall,
Oaths, and deep groan. Shuddering,
I sped on through the garden, up to.
ward the cider. press, over the stone
wall, down the hollow, up the hillside,
over the fields. No steps followed no
voices shouted after me. l ran down
to second bars and let them down. It
began to rain few great drops, then
fast, then it poured. was wet to the
skin. I ran on, for heard advancing
wheels coming rapidly I stood in the
road and cried: "Father! father -
The chaise stopped. Another chaise
stopped also. 1t was our next neigh
boris, who lived 4 quarter of a mile
further on.
"Ann, my child. Good heavens !!
What is the matter What has hap
pened? g.
I told the whole in a few words,
amid eager EXPLANATIONS of Joy at my
safety, of surprise, even of anger, be-
cause Thomas had left me alone.
''Don't blame him, father,I insisted
on his going.'
A hurried consultation took place.
My father was very brave. Our neigh.
Dor was very timid. He proposed go.
ing on to his house and returning with
weapons. In the meantime I had got
into the chaiSe and crouched down at
my mothers feet, who was half cry
ing, and wholly thankful to feel me
there.
We rode On and came to our gates
under the willows. There were lights
in the house, but all was still. Moth.
ing moved. My father put the reins
in my mothers hands, and opened the
other gate that led up the lane.
''Will you go home with Nathan %
said he.
'*And leave you here! No.
''Take your wife home, Nathan, if
you will, and come back.''
eve will stay by you.''
''Let us reconnoiter then little.''
They got out, leaving us sitting
still. The rain fell heavily. They got
something that would do for weapons
from the Toulouse. They went all
around the house-all was quiet.
They went in. We sat still, speaking
few words, my hand clasped in my
mothers, and my frame trembling
with fright.
''Thomas is coming! - I exclaimed,
eagerly. II hear the Wheels
We called him as he came to the
gate, for he could not see US. He
drove through and called out:
"What's the matter p
We told him sufficiently, and he left
Betsy and Hannah, and went in at once,
with only the heavy whip. We did
not wait long. Nathan came out di.
recty.
"What have you founds Who is
there e.
"Nothing. Nobody
care they all gone q
eyes, with some of the silver and
few things. We don't know what
.yet.'' "-".
The horses were put under the
shed, and we all went in. Father said
calmly: ......... -'
eve will take lantern, Thomas, and
look around out Of doors little.''
1 knew they would go to the old we'll.
[ stood and looked out of the window
and saw the CLEAN of the lantern as it
moved. In a very few minutes they
came back. =
Zone of them is dead,' said my ia.
Their, and the other lies at the bot.
tom, and groans. The third has es-
capped. ....t -. .......
. They laid boards across some barrels
in the shed and brought up the dead
man and laid him on them. His COM
rade, who had fell in the well, had
shot him through the head as he
plunged through the boards. His ugly
face was uulier. IT. WAS the Raven
That night my fathers prayers were
very solemn, and his embrace was
very close as he gave me my good.
night kiss. - r..
The robber in the we'll was bruised.