The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-09

said the man. 'Mr. Van Mott trav-
eled on the-road. There has
been an accident"
Preserve usr' cried Maggie, let
ting the door fall back, land him on
his way to his wedding. He's hurt
BADLY then p
HES dead said the man. "Dead,
and we've brought him home"
Maggie sat down in a chair and
began to cry.
We've done what we could"
said the man. "The lady he was to
marry and her friends will be down
tomorrow. Meanwhile my instruc-
tions are that you shall watch with
him and allow no stranger to enter
the house. There are valuable
things here, l am told j; and Mr..
Van Motifs lawyer must take pos
session of them, and seal them up
before strangers have access to the
the room."
"Oh, dear, dear ?" cried old Mag
gle that it should come to this. Yes,
III watch alone I'm not afraid, but
oh dearw
Then she shrank back and let two
men carry horrible coffin into the
front parlor.
They came on. with their hats of,
and the other laan also held his in
his hand.
Il regret to leave you all alone in
the house." lac said.
Il don't mind that" said old
Maggie, "but it's terriblen'
"If you'd like me to stay said
the man.
NO" said Maggie. 'I've no fear
of living or dead folks. You can
CO."
Then she locked the door, went
into the parior, and putting the can
die on the mantle, looked at the cof
fin through her tears.
"He was good enough to me, !"
she said, poor Mr.. Archibald And
this comes of wanting to marry at
this time of life, and galivanting on
railroads i wonder whether he is
changed much. I'll take a look"
and Maggie crossed the room and
lifted the lid over the face of the en-
closed body.
"I'll take look she said to her.
self again. "I'm not afraid of dead
folks"
In a minute more, Maggie drop
ped the lid again, and retrated.
shaking from head to foot. She
had seen, within the coffin, face
with his eyes shut, and with BAN
dages about his head, and the ghast-
ly features of a clown in circus
minus the red mouth.
But it was a living face, we'll
chalked but not her masters, and
Maggie knew at once she had been
well humbugged-that this story of
her masters death was lie, and
that a burglar within the coffin, was
ready to spring upon her and bind
her, or perhaps murder her at any
moment.
She could of course, open the door
and try to escape; but the accom-
plices of the man were doubtless
outside. 1t was a long distance to
the nearest house, and even if they
did not kill her, they would execute
their purpose and rob the place be-
fore she returned.
Master looks natural" said Mag
gle, aloud, and tried to collect her
thoughts.
Mr.. Van Motifs revolvers were in
the next room, she knew, loaded six
shots in each Maggie could use
pistols. She had aimed at trouble
some cats with success more than
once. If she could only secure
these pistols she felt safe.
"Poor, dear MASTER she sobbed,
and edged toward the back room.
poor, dear master" She lifted the
desk lid. She had them safe.
/ She glided back to the front par
lor and sat down on chair. She
turned up her sleeves and grasped
a pistol in each hand and she
watched the coffin quietly. In halt
an hour the lid stirred. A cautious
hand crept up the side. A wiry
eye peeped out.
1t fell upon the armed figure, and
closed again.
YOU'D better" said Maggie to
herself.
/ Again the head lifted. This time
Maggie sprang to her feet.
you're fixed quite handy" she
said coolly. "No need of laying
you out if / fire, and / can aim first.
rate, especially when / am afraid Of
ghosts, as / be now."
The head bobbed down again.
Maggie reseated herself. She knew
that this could not last long. II
was as she supposed. A moment
more and the coffin was empty, anc
ferocious young fellow sat on it
. edge, and thus addressed her:
/, "Wemeantt to do it all in quiet, ht
said "and / don't want to frighter
! an old woman. Just put then
down."
! I'm not frightened" said Mag
+ gle.
'.I'm coming to take them thing
, away from you,, said the man.
!, Come" said Maggie.
He advanced one step. She tool
E aim and he lodged, but bulle