The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-05-18
EBENSBURG. PA, FRIDAY, MAY Is, 1877.

DOWN TWO steps INTO the chamber below. |
knew there was a window open there. |
crept across The room, listening keenly. |
lifted myself cautiously on the window
ledge, caught a branch of the cherry Tree
which grew close to the house. Swinging
myself lightly out, | hastily descended 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 hei Quick
This way? ~
Out at the front door came the purSuer,
hardly ten steps from me. | dashed 20
ward the thick shrubbery To throw them off
the track. Fortunately knew the way,
every step of il. They were guided only
by the sound and flashing light.
shoot her 10y the next flash ~ cried one.
My flying feet ztIuck loose buaiGs. |
was passing directly over AN old, unused
well. very deep, and 1t gave back IA hollow,
resonant sound. Almost the next moment
/ heard Il crash, the report of pistol.
heavy fall, oarhs and deep groan. Shud
Jiering | sped on ihruugh the garden, up
toward the cider press, over the stone wall,
/ down the hollow, up the hill side. over the
fields. No steps followed me no voices
shouted after me. | ran down to the
sec;ud bars ard let them down. 1t began
To- rain few drops, then fast then 1t
poured. | was wet IT, the skin. | ran on,
. fOr | heard advancing wheels coming rapid
ly. STOOD III he road aud cried Faith
pr. father. The chaise stopped. Auutier
chaisr stopped also 1t was ourneXt neigh
bor's who lived ii quarter of mile further
on.
''Ann, my clild Good heavens What
is She matter? What has happened p
| told The whole in few words, amid
eager exclamati"ns of JOY at my safety. "f
sur pI Use, even of anger, because Thomas
bad left me alone.
Don't blame him, father, for | insisted
on his going"
\ hurried consultation took place My
father was very brave. Our neIghbor was
very timid. lie proposed going on To his
house and returning with Weapons. In the
meantime | had got into the chaiSe and
crouched down ut my mothers feet. who
was half crying, ana wholly thankful III
| feel me ttiele.
We rode on and came TO our gate unner
the willows. There were lights in the
house but all was still. Noihing moved.
My father put ,ie iei.,S ia my mother's
hands. aud 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
I'VE Will stay 10y you."
Let us recunnoter little then"
They got ont, leaving us sitting still
The rain fell less heavily. They got some
thing that would do for weapons from the
tool house. They went in. We sat still
speaking few words. my hand claSped Il
my mothers aud my frame trembling " it'll
fright.
I Thomas is coming ~ exclaimed Gag
erly. Il hear the wheels
We CALI q to him as lie came to :he gate
for lie could not us. He drove through
aud called out:
; What's ;he matter?'
We told him sufficiently, and he lef
Betsy and Hannah aud went in at once
with only the heavy whip. We did no
wait long. Nathan came out directly.
: What have you found? Who there ?
'Nothing. Nobody.'
: Are they all gone? ?''
! ''Yes, with some of the silver and a few
:hings. We don't know what yet"
The horses were put under the she d ano
we all went in. Father said calmly:
1--WE will take il lantern, Thomas, anC
look around out OF doors a little"
knew they would go to the old well
: | stood aud looked out of the window anC
saw the CLEAN of the lantern as 1t moved
: In few minutes they came back.
'One of them is dead, - said my father
, land the other lies at the bottom of til,
: well and groans. The third has escaped.
. They laid boards across some barrels il
the shed, aud brought up the dead maj
| and land him on them, His comrade, wh'
t fell in the well, had shot him through ih.
head as lie plunged through the boards
Ills ugly face was uglIer. 1t was th,
J Raven. That night my fathers prayers
were very solemn, and his embrace wa
close as he gave me my good night kiss
: The robber in the well was bruised bu
. not seriously hurt; the law took him I,
, punish meut The third escaped. | Wa
, never again left at home aloue.-fr0m a.
: Ei'g5tsh .Nogdzins