Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-10
GaIes ano Sketfbes.
fnE rRlxP's REVENGE.
(Conunuca from yesterday. J

with Did you say Gil Morse knocked
him down?''
..Yes. father
'And saved ye ?''
s.Yes. father; and he brought me home
ia his CUTTER
"And drove him away like dog or a
tramp this very at ernoon 90 roared the
squire I'll drive them all away. III
shoot EN- on sight. They'll burn me out
OF house and home next
Milly's mother had her arms around
her, almost Historically. but her excite
ment was calmness itself compared to the
all but ludicrous frenzy of the old man.
Lack Of love for his own had never been
charged upon him. whatever were his other
faults The events Of the afternoon had
not, moreover, been OF sort TO induce
any unusual qniefude.
But how with Gilbert Morse?
His expected supper and evening at
SQUIRE Van Weeks having been 80 I'M
tremendously put out OF the question, his
after-thougts equally forbade an immedi-
ate drive home, for that would be ten miles
at least.
Just over the hill. and less than three
miles from the Van Vleeck homestead
was q pleasant country hosiery. and there
Gil naturally betook himself for supper
and horse-care.
This attended to. he said TO the landlord,
an old acquaintance;
"Al. can you keep secret ~
did. once" replied Al.
"Then lend me your shotgun" and.
with the request he added an account Of
his exploit on the road and the differences
between himself and the squire.
Cant 60 to the house, you see. Al. but
I'm bound to know if that rascal is loafing
around there.
I'D go with you in moment. if
could get away" almost shouted the
landlord Gan? Yes, two on 'em, il
you want. wish my wife wasn't sick.
II won't 10 for you to arrest him all alone.
and wit.out any warrant. bat try for
chance to fill Em full of buckshot."
AIS notion of law may have been some
what original but his meaning was full
of public spirit.
Il was somewhat dark when Gilbert
Morse began to retrace, on foot, the road
he had SO recently driven over for the
moon was not yet over the hills, but he
felt all the better for having the double
barreled duck gun over his shoulder.
Better than pistol for night-work."
he said to himself
He did not keep the road up to the
homestead, but made detour through the
woods and came out beyond not far from
the saw-mill.
Better go on toward the main road"
he muttered; ''it's early yet. and he's
likely to come in from that direction"
''Hulloo ~ he exclaimed. moment
later. rs he stood among the sheltering
shadows Of q clump of trees. three of
'em. The big fellows the same one.
They're making straight for the saw-mill.
Bent on mischief. not a doubt of it,
There was no earthly reason for any
sort Of doubt.
The big tramp had met his two asso-
ciates. returning from an expedition some
what more successful than his own. and
they had promptly agreed with him that
the extreme penalties known to the laws
of.heir guild.
That is. in short. fire. and rs much
plumber As possible.
II was already getting well into the
evening. and rural retiring hours are
VIGOROUSLY early.
Not that sumber was likely to come
very promptly to the Van Vlceck family
that night. though the squire had Gained
down good deal and was unusually
silent.
Mrs. Van vleeck had kept very close to
her daughter all the evening. and had
taken the precautions 10 bring the two
dogs, both large ones. into the house.
The dogs and the family might be safer.
but. how about tramps?
The big ruffian. as has been said. was
not without some traces of vicious in
tellect. and WAS quite competent to be the
leader OF u little affair like that.
..Set the saw mill first" he said "All
the men folks'll start for il. to put il out
Then the barns. to call away the rest. and
we kin work the house quick and get to
the woods and over the hills as safe as SO
many foxes"
So they could. indeed if no mishap
came in to interfere.
The households must be in bed. now
A match. some kindlings and bits of
wood. on the opposite side of the saw-mill
from the house-nothing easier than to
start fire.
Nov. boys. for the big barns We kin
wait there till this un's well a. going"
They made run for it, but the only
reason they were not more closely pur-
sued. or even fired upon. was that Gilbert
Morse deemed ii his duty to stop and
scatter the growing blaze behind the saw
mill. TWAS not hard to do. although
the fire was beginning to come up very
well when the despertdoes left it. The
brands could all be kicked into the snow.
and there was not trace of it in three
minutes after he got there
But those three minutcs'
The big barn was better than either OF
the small ones, because further from the
house and more easy o.. entrance. 1t con-
tanned no horses, ard WAS not even
locked.
The three tramps were inside quickly
enough, and the big one climbed one of
the high mows.
Better light il up here" he said to his
friends below. They can't get at it to
put it out. Say when. Is the saw-mill
well a-going?"
Cant say. edzactly." growled one of
the smaller ruffians. peering through the
door. And there's a Teller runnin'
acrost the field
'.Here goes. Them exclaimed the
leader. as he caught UP wisp of hay and
scratched match. snow, boys, I'm
coming. Make for the shed. Well work