Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-03

upon his shoulder, won't you please
come and help me? There are rob-
bersj in the house, and I'm all alone
except tho children
Robbers, eh? the man said, in a
tone of sullen cxultation. Where DC
We live?'
Just up the street. Do come-Im
afraid to leave the children alone
All rightT And the man rose
lazily. must get my pistols ready
And, suiting his actions to his words
he drew an immense revolver from all
inside pocket and cooked the trigger
You wont fire, sir Please, sir,you
Won kill anybody ! said Maggie, ter.
rifed at the sight Of the fearful weap-
on.
Don't be ateared, he said, now he.
ginning to walk briskly.
At the lower step Of the house he
paused and faced her.
Girl with a significant nod at the
door, which Maggie had left open,
you'll be run away with entire if you
do such things as that-robbers won't
stop at picking locks-what do ye
$ pose if door stands invitingly open
like that 2
But, sir" commenced the girl.
apologetically.
Come on, he interrupted. Where
do you say YOU heard the noise ?
In the third story back room, she
answered.
Every we'll, you 60 TO your young
ones, and I'll tend to 1t.
Maggie obeyed, with perfect con-
fdence, and heard his heavy step as,
cending the stairs with a feeling OF
security. An instant longer, and his
voice reached her.
Who's there be demanded, in
clear, stong voice. Open the
door, or III shoot you!'
No answer; lie shook the door
violently; again the floor creaked
as if some one stepped.
Will you open this door,
Maggie stood holding the nursery
door in her hand, eagerly listening
for what might follow.
will you open this door? Sur
render, and I'll let you free-refuse
and III burst the door open, and
shoot if l must
Still no answer. Maggie's heart
beat fast.
The man was as good as his word;
and in an instant the door yielded
to his herculean efforts and opened
And out ran the cat! An oath rose
to the lips of the man, which he sup
pressed at sight of Maggie, who now
appeared on the scene.
oh, thank you, sir, thank you a
thousand times!' cried the girl
How good you are!' And she
caught his large, coarse hands IN
hers, gratefully. Master and mis-
tress will be so much obliged to you
m sure.
Look ye, girl, said the man, walk
ing away from the door toward the
stairs. Look ye, ye got me in this
house to free yo from robber, Dc
vc know, child, I'm the leader O
band OF thieves myself? We had
as they say, row last night, and
skipt, and was layin' in wait to blow
on EN-, when you found me. I'm
hard case, child-a very hard case
but let me 60 while the good impulse
is on me. I wouldn't hurt hair O
your innocent head tell ye, your
trusting me has touched the fountain
of good in my heart that l though
dry long ago, and this house shal
never see me again, for can come
into it honest-and I won't come in
to it rogue"
With this, he hurried down the
stairs, followed by Maggie. Sh'
caught his arm at the door.
Sir, she said timidly, If you are
robber, it must be because you ar
very poor, and Mr.. Allen would d.
anything to help you-for your good
ness to me-to his house--won yo'
come and Let him pay you?'
Little innocent chilal said th
man huskily. You're so good an
true yourself that you can't under
stand that a man can be so wicked