Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-02-11
NEW SERIES, VOL. XIV. NO. G.


one, at the plotter's rendezvous. / have in
sisted on this public disclosure, and need
hardly assure you that my principal witness
tells his story with the greatest reluctance,
and only By my express desire"
"If you please, sir" said lit,e Niggs, 81
was down in the birch hut yesterday, which
we built, you know, for our ball club meet
ings. There was one appointed for that day,
but it raiued aud SO it was adjourned. was
Late, aud didn't get there until all the
boys were gone. 1t was raining so hard, that
I could not return, aud as the roof ism very
tight the water poured through, SO craw!ed
into the large box where We keep our clubs
it is the old dog keunel-aud l could not
have been there more than five minutes when
heard MulIett and Decker talking outside.
and by.snd.by they came in and seated
themselves on the box over my head. | was
Just going to come ont, when Muliett said
"'But are you sure you can put your hand
on tho money after you get in Z Yes, said
Decker, he keeps it undor his pillow at
night Miggs saw him put it there the day
master had him sleep the lounge IN his
room when lie was sick l lay very 9niet
while they tslked over,their pnns. was
very much frightened. sir, for | soon dis
covered that they meant to rob you last night.
| found it was their intention to pretend
sleep when the dormitories were inspected
for the night, and then one was to conceal
himself in your room before you came mp
from the study. while the other was watching
! in the corridor and if successful, they were
going to hire Il horse and carriage at Jewett's
early this morning and get away as soon as
possible and run of to Then, sir, they
| began t.iking very low !. deed, aud the rain
upon the roof made go much noise, | couldn't
mako out just what they said, and. oh sirt
lust at that moment found l was going to
| sneeze. | tried all could to stop it, but it
| would come, and | really think, sir, it was
the Ioudest sneezs | ever gave. Then there
was nothing for me to do but to come out
40 See here young one. have you been
listening to sil this 2 said Decker. Oh
yes, Decker cried, 'and how can you-'
Now Just stop that sniveling, or I'll give
you something to cry for, and saw that
Decker had been drinking. TEen Mu!lott
said quite kindly, although he was excited,
Now, little Miggs, we're bound to carry
this thing through, aud we wont have in-
reference. We mustn't permit you to leave
this place to night aud Interrupt our plans.
Yes, ou one condition can you appear st the
school this evening, and that IS that you will
solemny promise, upon your oath, not to
mention what you have heard to a single soul
until our fight has been discovered
''' Mullett, Mullett, huw can / promise
l-yop =tlia FL sAid,..sNa.s sna-S don't ast-it.
| Oh, Decker, think, of this awful thing you
are going to do; aud to the best master boy
ever had. Dear Mullert. you spved MY life
| last Winter when my sled broke through the
| ice, aud love you SO | can't lot you do this.
Listeu to me. II only you will give up these
! wicked plans now and forever and ever, no
one shall hear OF know anything about them;
but if you will not-aud l grew suddenly
brave. sir-I will surely tell master every
word
We all stood very still for few min
utes. and the rain on the leaves outside aud
on tho roof fell with such lonely sound
that believe sir, began to cry. MulIett
| stretched out his hand toward mo and said,
Little Miggs, I've half a mind when
| Decker, who, as told you before, sir, had
been drinking, sprang forward aud soiZng
me by the arm, sEid Miggs, you young
sneakipg caveSdror1rr, you don't leave this
! hut tonight and as for you, Mullett, It
! you're going to back down. III shoulder the
. whole thing myself but have a care how
you step out of it, for you've gone too far to
! prove your innocence now.
| a. I'm not going to back cut said
| Mullctt"
| ."Then help me bind Miggs to :ho center
| post. They'll be sure to find him to morrow,
end by that time VIC will not care how much
he blabs' l prayed Decker not TO tie me
there over night; it was such a cruel, cruel
thing, but he did it, sir. Mul!et insisted
that | should not stand, 20 he brought box
for me to sit op. and then turned and looked
out of the hut while Decker tied mo with the
measuring rope. was faint and dizzy. and
but for the rope under my arms L shou!d
have fallen over. Mulleit came up end
said:
Little Miggs, can you forgive meH
".Yes' | said, Il forgive you Muliet.'-
And that is all | remember, dear master, un-
Ill awoke and found tha: you and CTsGo
were come to relesse me-"
| rBoys." ssid the master, 81 will continue
the narrative. Last evening, after tea, L was
sitting in my study, when Crane entered,
breathless, with the announcement that he
had discovered little Miggs bound fast in the
birch hut, and apparently dead. ] FASTENED
to tho place. nnd as looked in feared that
Crane was right. and that little Miggs was
| indeed dead. Upon examination, however,
| found he he'd only tainted, and even ss We
worked at the rope he revived. Without
questioning l took him in my arms and
brought him up at once to the study. He
| lay on the lounge long time without speak
ing. Presently he said:
'ssMnster, there will be an attempt made
tonight to rob ysu. Please don't put your
purse under the pillow and then they will
get nething'
s.Who will get nothing, little Miggs? %
"Oh, sir, l cannot toll you tonight, in
! deed -"
''He was Interrupted By rap at the door.
It was the housskeeper. "'COme to my
room, quick, sir, Decker is very in she
whispered.
| {. I Gound him nm ths sofa bissrns bspp-