Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-06-14


and then repair to the house, tie the
oid folks, and under threats of vio-
lence make them point out the spot
where the coveted treasure was con-
cealed.
/ communicated what 1 Rave just
told you to my uncle, who feverish
with excitement started to apprise
old Mr.. JAWS of his approaching
doom, when in the hurry he fell
from the porch, and dislocated his
ankle joint which rendered him pow
erless to do so.
There being no one else to bear
the news, volunteered to do it my.
self. My uncle informed me that
young Mr.. JAWS would pass where
the road forked, and that had het-
ter go that way, lest the burglars at
the gate might intercept me before
l could reach Mr.. Jarvis house. !
had been here about half an hour,
when you came along, and my OBJ
ject is to inquire if you know this
young man Mr.. JAWS, and would
YOU assist me in conveying this sad
news to him ?''
Great Heavens exclaimed l am
the young Jarvis of whom you speak,
come; fly with me TO my home, we
have no time to spare, rs We must
reach it by a circuitous route, and
it will occupy more time than by
the regular road, and we must ap-
prise father and mother of their
danger, and prepare to receive the
blood-thirsty hounds when they
come.
We started in great haste, our
road lay through an unbroken for
est, but oon we We're in sight of
the hours which we could plainly see
by the lighted windows.
Our road led us in the rear of the
house, and we arrived unobserved,
and paused to listen if everything
was quiet within. Being convinced
that all was right, we opened the
door which led to the dining-room,
without the ceremony of a zap, and
entered, my little angel at my side.
The old folks were not a little
astonished at seeing the strange WIS.,
ltor, but L soon Informed them of
what l had heard, and left the rest
of my story untold, until after we
had discounted the burglars.
Now to busine So. l procured an
Old musket, which 1 loaded heavily
with slugs and lashed it in an ele-
waited position to an old chair. I
then passed a piece of cord from
the trigger to staple in the chair
board, which as soon as it came in
contact with a moving object, the
musket would be discharged, and
the contents would find lodgment
in the vitals. 1 then closed the
door leading from the Hall where
the musket was placed, and then
stationed my little angel (for had
not yet learned her name) at the
door leading into the back piazza,
with a Colts repeater, with which
she claimed to be an expert, while at
the windows my father and myself
were stationed, each armed with a
sabre.
We were now ready for the attack,
the lamps were exJinguished, and
my mother with matches in hand.
stood ready to relight them at a Civ
en- signal. Thus we waited, until
the small hours of the night were
being ushered in, when the faithful
watch dog aDprised us that the enc
my was approaching.
Silent as death was all within the
house, presently the soft tread of
some one was heard upon the porch,
when simultaneously with this
came q sound Cf footsteps on the
back piazza, then dull shake or the
door was heard, accompanied by
grating sound as if it was being
forced open by some fiat instrument,
introduc ed between the edge of the
door and castings, but it yielded
very slowly.
My little angel held her post
firmly, with nerve strong and ready
to send the deadly bullet into the
heart of the intruder.
All again was silent, save now
and then low murmuring like some
one talking in AM undertone. The
faithful watch dog, what had become
of him, his warning bark had been
silenced, was he dead ? this thought
seemed to oc cupy all our minds,
but it was now no time to discuss
the matter.
Hark tie front door has yielded,
| hear footsteps within the hall, q
moment more-bang, goes the mus
ket, and tumdling noise is heard |
without the room, almost at the