The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-04-26

- ASA1AA al hAA ~, 400
"speak one word above whisper, and
you die!' z'.
Polly recovered from her quick terror
and looked up. She saw two stout,
wicked, ugly looking men, one who held
a cooked pistol toward her. With the
quickness Of perception 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 foremost q
notorious villain who bore the name of
Dick Gallus.
She had 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 cheek was mark enough.
"What do you want2" asked Polly,
without betraying the least fear.
ave have come to see the mail car
rier," one replied, in hoarse whisper;
"where is he9''
"He is long since asleep. Would it
not do as we'll to see him in the morn
ing2 We can find you room and lodg-
ing"
The fair hostess had said this for the
purpose of gaining time. She knew
very we'll that these men had come to
rob the carrier, and was equally sure
they would murder him if they could,
and would in 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, )" roughly replied
Gallus, in answer to Polly's last re-
mark.
"But l can call him, good sirs," rea-
soned the woman, calmly though there
was alarm in her very soul.
"Call him! call!'' growled the vii
lian, with 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 uner-
ring bullet at the forest beast did not
even betray the thoughts of the woman's
soul, nor did look tell her meaning.
She was very pale, but did not tremble.
"This way, sirs, "she whispered.
And as she spoke she turned toward a
side door. She did not open it till both
the men were close behind.
"Don't you hear bin breathe2''
eyes," returned both Williams.
And they did hear breathing, but it
was child close at hand.
As they thus answered her she threw
thc3Goor open-it opened inward. The
men aw dark void, but they pressed
forward. In an instant Polly Burnap
leaped back. Gallus was in front. With
all her power, the noble woman threw
herself against the rear man, and the
next moment both the robbers lay
sprawling on the cellar bottom.
This had been the door opening to the
deep excavation, and the only means
of egress was by a perpendicular ladder.
Could this have been moved, Polly
would have pulled it up immediately !;
but it was spiked to its place and she
must let it remain. To close the door
would be useless, for she had no ready
means to fasten it. So she did what she
had resolved upon from the first-she
sprang to the fireplace and caught the
trusty rifle, and, cooking it she moved
\ GO""AU VIC OpCA uOO1s kuC 4CdAu Vic
curses Of the Williams as they reached the
ladder, and she soon knew that one of
them had found it.
"Back!'' she cried, as she saw head
above the threshold.
The candle upon the table threw but a
dim light upon the spot. but it was
sufficient.
She saw the robber raise pistol. She
had husbands child-and had sat
herself to save the carrier. With these
thoughts dashing through her mind, she
pulled the trigger. A sharp report went
ringing through the house, and its echo
was deep groan from the cellar bottom.
Ere the second robber could show him.
self Morton came rushing into the room
vito pistol in each hand.
"What is it," he cried.
"There! there!" gasped Polly, point
ing to the doorway, where savage, look
ing face had lust presented itself.
Liant Morton had been too much used
to danger to vase time in conjecture, and
Immediately shot the william dead, who
fell with heavy sound upon the eel
lar floor.
X
In the morning, just as the carrier wa:
dressed, there was rap on the door, &C
companied by voice he knew full we'll
He fastened to open the door, and gav'
entrance to Jacob Burnap. The hunte
had met with party offladers at Lewis
burg, and disposed Of all his skins t.
them, thus finishing his journey six day
earlier than he anticipated.
Polly was soon upon her husband'
bosom, and when he had told them hi
own story, Morton gave him the adven
ture. Jacob was at first incredulous, bu
when he had seen the bodies he was sat
isfied.
"Polly, my jewel" he SAID, placing hi
arm around her neck, ~ am proud G
you. love you more and more, for ev
cry day find more to love-" And the
turning to Morton he added: "What d
+ you think of such wife,"
"Ah!" returned the guest, with dee
feeling, "if poor Liant Morton had sue
+ wife he wouldn't t be mail carrier
When Morton left he was directed
stop at the first settlement and state I
the officers what had happened, and h
- promised to do so. He once more blesse
the brave woman who saved bis life, an
= then set out. Late in the afternoon tw
officers arrived at the cabin, and whe
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