The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-09

In a few minutes the BOY returned,
breathless.
"It's horrid old man," he cried,
with gray beard, and such red face,
and such dirty hands! and he asked for
the master of the house, and told him
pa was in town, and he said he must see
you, Douce, or somebody"
Douce felt her heart beat little
quicker when she reached the hall door
and saw arepulsive, grimy-looking man,
who had seated himself on the gallery.
swell, sissy" he said, with an inso-
lent grin, s'I'm desperate hungry, and |
reckon you've got to come across some
meat and bread fur me. Better fetch it
quick lest | take bite at you"
The tone was one of command, and
after little pause Douce saw that she
must obey. CIV rs.'t.
"Better not be too scared to bring my
vittles!" he called out, ''or maybe III
foller you in spite of locks!"
Douce felt that the locks would be of
little avail if the man chose to enter the
house. She hurriedly filled plate and
carried it to him.
"This is all we have in the house,"
she said, quietly.
Without word he seized it, and
Douee watched him ravenously devour-
ing the food like some wild animal.
"Got any whisky or winep" he
growled.
"No; nothing but milk" and she
brought him pitcher full. She tried
to appear unconcerned, shipping the
dead leaves off of her geraniums, and
whistling to the hooking bird in the
cage; but she knew the hard gray eyes
were watching her every movement.
Saint you scared, gal, to be left here
alone?" the tramp said, as he rose and
slung his dirty bundle over his Shout
der.
sWhat would harm me?" she said,
with faint laugh. ''My parents will
soon be back" .... ....... ........
The man then went boldly into the
hall, and Douce saw him look upstairs
and into the rooms on the lower floor.
She tried to appear cool and Indifferent;
but when he marched out of the house,
without a word of farewell or thanks,
she felt like uttering cry of relief.
She watched him disappear in the
woods, and then returned to the fright
ened children. .iitis r-'4 Hta ...8
This unexpected incident cast gloom
over her spirits that she could not throw
off. A sudden shower of rain came up
late in the afternoon, and she began to
fear her parents would remain at Oak
port all night. The rain, however, held
up before sunset, and her mind was
made up that she and the children must
not remain alone in the house that night.
She felt assured that the tramp would
return. IHe @ .g ..
Withoutexpressing her suspicious, she
said to Alice, 81 must run to Oakport,
if you don't mind staying little while
alone with the children"
"But what do you mean by going at
this hourP'' cried Alice. Spa and ma
will be on their way back, reckon"
''It's great secret!" and Douce
laughed, or tried to laugh. "You'll
know all about twhen 1 get back.''
She left the house and walked rapidly
until she got to the woods, but then,
turning from the path, she moved eau
tiously, looking on every side, and with
the stealthy step of an Indian.
About halfway through the woods
she paused, and looked intently before
her. Then quickly she seized vine
and swung herself into magnolia tree,
that was SO draped by the gray Spanish
moss that even its leaves could hardly
be discerned.
When seated in the tree she was COM
pletelv hidden from view Soon after
there was acrackling among the bushes,
and two men came in view, one of them
her friend of the morning, and the other
quite as wicked-looking. They were
lounging slowly along, pausing every
now and then, and their words came
distinctly to her. r. t.a
"Think he'll be back tonight" said
one.
"Of course. He's left his children all
alone, and he and the ole CONAN will be
sure to 60 back. Wish he'd left her at
home. Two stead of one, and one on
'em squally CONAN, is hard to man.
age"
"Did you see the money! Maybe
he'll leave it in his store"
SCOT it arter the bank shut up. Col.
Sparks he counted it out, three hundred
dollars, and heerd Tureau say, Reckon
I'd better take it home tonight, as they
say there's tramps in town. Didn't
know l was listenin' outside.''
"Whar's the best place to wait for
himP" said Dounce's acquaintance.
"The best place, where you kin see
furthest, is the peddler's tree. You take
your stand there, and I'll watch near
town, and foller him behind. When he
comes up, you ak for dime, and I'll be
ready if he kicks up row when we
eases him of "a few more dimes"
81 don't want to do any KILN eff it
can be helped" said the other ruffian.
"We kin gag the CONAN. But look
here, Dick, don't like dom the Job on
that spot. They say Amos is a-walkin
round of a night, and maybe the ghost
will appear" ~
"You're blasted fool!' cried Dick.
"You git to your post, and don't be a
sneak!'
They separated, Dick going toward
town and the other slouching slowly
along in the other direction. ~
= Douce's heart beat like sledge-ham
mer. She could not get to town, fol
! the only path was blocked up by the
, ruffian. She felt sure her parents would
be murdered, for she knew that hel
! father would racist 70 tho dootb d,