Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1878-10-24

us. on see we lie OIL the nam road.
The lane leads to the farm, and nowhere
else"
But" persuaded Maude, that fact
would be all the worse for us If a tramp
sbouM come here"
Really replied, Il shall get quite
angry with You if YOU pursue the sub
iect further. To put an end, however,
to all your fears You shall come with me,
and we will bolt the outer doors.
The alacrity with which Maude rose
from her chair was a good proof that the
proposed measure was of Il welcome ma
ture, so, proceeding from the drawing
room, we walked to the lawn, and fasten-
ing the gate which opened on to the lane,
we re-entered the house. We then locked,
bOlted, and barred the back premises,
saw that all the windows We're fastened,
and then came back to the drawing
room.
must confess that when we had Sc
cured all the approaches to our citadel, |
was myself Il good deal more at ease than
| had been previously.
Slowly the Autumn sun sank beneath
the range Of hills fronting our dwelling.
tinging the sky with radiant hues which
varied mOmcntarily.
could have sat for hours Watching the
numerous hues that swept across the
heavens, but with the uprising moon and
gathering twilight saw that Maude was
once more becoming nervous.
Wont you close the shutters? in
quired Maud.
Not unless you particularly wish it.,
dear, replied.
/ but | do she answered
/ was about to shut out the moonlight
view, and make desperate effort to
change the conversation, when Maud, who
had her eyes fixed on the lawn, suddenly
clutched my arm, and involuntarily
retrcated step. Sis, she cried, what
s that moving in the laurels?'
/ looked, and in moment observed
emerging from the shelter of the laurcls,
but still remaining beneath the dense
shadow of the overhanging tree, what
seemed to be the figure Of man. He
looked in height very short, almost dwarf
| like, but was stOu. of frame. and APP
peared dressed in white, or was without a
coat; what seemed TO be his shirt-sleeves
| beng alone seen as he raised his arms
when freeing himself from the bushes.
"Oh Sis, exclaimed Maude, ut is ii
man. Let us give him all our jcwelry,
or mayhnp we may be murdered ere any
of our peOp 10 may come back.
"Maude, cried, for heavens sake,
endeayOr to retain your senses. You
yesterday remarked the double-barreled
gun which hangs over the mantlepiece in
the kitchen, and asked me if it were load
ed! DO you think YOU could fetch it to
me while keep watch here?
She nodded; | knew her fright prevent
ed her speaking, Clasping her hand
tightly within my own, and then releasing
it, said;
bring it to me then; the gun is per-
Iectly safe so long as you don't touch the
trigger.
Whilst Maude was gone it seemed to
me as though the figure drew closer: it
was careful to remain within the shadow
of the tree, but it struck me as exceeding
Iy strange that, although the white
S!lccved arms were continually raised, as
though their owner had Just awakened
from sound sleep, could not see the
creatures head.
In Il very short time | hemd Maudcs
approaching Iootstrns As shr rlorcJ tbe
gnn in nv hand | felt that her. fingers
were cold and trembling.
At that moment the mystcriou. heinz
drew a few PAGES nearer and seemed to
have limping gait. whether from NAT.
ural infrmity or drunkcnness could not
tell. ave
Flinoinr omen fine window. and RAISING
the gun. / cried at the top of nv voice
"Who's there? Answer, or in 6re,"
4 few seconds ELAPSED, but no response
came to my inquiry.
who are you?" again shouted.
My fingers closed upon the trigger, then |
came Il flash of light and Il loud report
the intruder upon the lawn staggered and |
fell
simultaneously poor Maude sank faint
ing on the carpet.
Not daring to move from the room. |
rested the gun against the table, and
raising Maudc's head in nv hands. en-.
deavored to restore her to CONSCIOUSNESS.
What seemed to me hours, but what
really could not have been more than
twenty minutes nassed and tbon came