Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-02-11

ne nau the unpuQ0nce 10 preSenG nlmSelI
before her. The worst of it was that
Karl was just such ayoung man as might
be indifferent to sharp things. His bold
ness really exceeded belief. Why, that
very evening in touching her fingers he
had actually squeezed-but here Malcheu
gave slight start, for she heard foot
steps, and thought it was the never-to-
be-srfficiently- blamed Karl, who had
played truant from church, faithful to
his impudent promise.
She rose and stood coyly i'll the mid
die of the kitchen, her cheeks pink and
her bosom heaving She thought she
would take to flight as soon as karls
heavy tread should resound in the pas
sage; but she waited two or three min
utes without hearing the door open, yet
there were steps outside, and, now that
her ears were strained, she heard voices.
Her relatives had gone an hour, SO it was
not likely they could have returned SO
soon. Whose, then, could those steps
and voices be?
The kitchen had high window seven
feet above the floor, and it was closed
with shutters. But in the shutters
lozenge apertures were cut. Malchen
climbed ON to the dresser under the win
dow and looked out; what she saw would
have made most timid girls jump down
squealing and run away half dead with
terror.
Nine men-not one less-with black
masks on their faces and housebreaklng
implements in their hands, had entered
the farm-yard, and were evidently hold
ing council as to how they shonld COM
mence their attack on the house. They
stood in group and some of them
pointed to the aperture In the kitchen
shutters, where light was visible, as if
they were taking note of the fact that the
farm was not quite abandoned.
Malchen remembered having heard
that brigands had been infesting some
of the districts in an adjoining province,
and she saw that if she hesitated to act
she would be lost. There hung over the
mantel shelf the double-barreled fowling
pieces and a horse pistol, which were
always kept loaded for the protection of
the farm against wolves in winter and for
the intimidation of poachers and tramps
at other seasons of the year. Malchen
had the same horror of firearms as most
other girls. but at this moment her blood
revolted at the idea of leaving the farm to
be plundered without striking blow for
it. Herr Won Polheim owned q good deal
of silver plate, and was accustomed to
keep pretty large sums of money within
the oaken chest i'll his bedroom. Among
other reflections which rushed through
Malchen's mind was this, that if her
father were robbed of all his cash he
would get into vile humor, which
would make it's effects felt at the farm for
weeks, and render the place uninhabit-
able. Now, Malchen stood In great ter
ror of her father when he was angry.
She ran to the chimney and unlocked
the arms, then swiftly climbed on the
table again. The little lattices outside
the apertures in the shutters were open.
Malchen could thrust out the barrels of
her weapons and fire at the Indicators.
Before doing so, however, she put coin
into her mouth to alter the ring of her
voice, and, making horn of both hands,
shouted in tone which sounded like
mans, "Who goes there?'
No answer. The burglars stared at
one another in establishment, and were
fairly dismayed when they heard the
next exclamation, which conveyed the
idea that the person who had first spoken
was not alone, but had several men under
his order. Now, then, my men, when
I give the word, fire sharp, and aim
straight Firer'
Two reports instantly followed this
command; and then came two others.
When the smoke had cleared away,
Malchen, who looked out with haggard
eyes, her heart humping awfully the
while, saw four men stretched on the
snow, and nothing else. The other five
members of the band had taken to fight.
"The guns were loaded with slugs; per-
haps I have killed them al, p" calculated
Malchen in terror; for her combative
ardor abated of sudden now that so easy
a victory had been won. ooh, dear,
what shall / do?"
She had taken up the horse pistol, and
glanced out to see if there was another
shot to be fired There was a choking
sensation at her throat, and she began to
whimper. It was all too dreadful; she
could not bear the sight of those dead
men, all killed by her hand. But one of
them suddenly moved and tried to rise
to his knees Immediately the senti-
imental Malchen aimed her pistol to give
him his quietus; but, luckily for himself,
the man roared out: ooh, Malchen,
Malchen help! IT'S Karl p
"Karl !" exclaimed the girl, as her
voice seemed to expire in her throat,
while her heart turned to ice "Karl, is
thou ?''
eyes, and am wounded. I am dy-
ing" sobbed the luckless fellow. "And
it is all for thee"
Malchen tottered, and might have
fallen off the table had there been any
one present to catch her in his arms. AS
it was she scrambled down somehow and
made for the door, still holding her
pistol. One moments hesitation as she
touched the door-handle; but she sur
mounted it and went out In another
mooment she could judge with her own
eyes of the murderous effects of her
volley. Three men lay on the snow stone
dead; as for Karl, slug had clean sliced
off part of his right ear and check, SO