Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-07-26

| MY own uauRnter. ne StusPeu II ihtei
vals: and then stopped in front Of her,
with: "Did you say Gil Morse knocked
him down."
"Yes, father"
"And saved We :"
"Yes, father; and he brought ME home
in his cutter"
"And | drove him away like q dog or
tramp this very afternoon y roared the
squire. "Tll drive 'em all away. I'll
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 alter
noon had not, moreover, been of sort to
induce any unusual quietude.
But how with Gilbert Morse
His expected supper and evening at
Squire Van Vleecks having been 80 un-
tremendously put out of the question, his
after thoughts equally forbade an imme'
diate drive home, for it wculd be ten
miles at least.
Just over the hill, and less than three
miles from the Van Nleeck homestead
was pleasant country hostelry, and
there Gil naturally betook himself for
supper and horse-eare.
This attended to, he said to the land
lord, an old acquaintance
"Al. can you keep secret ::
"Did, once" replied Al.
"Then lend me your shotgun, and,
with the reques: he added an account
of his exploit on the road and the differ
ences between himself and the squire.
Cant 90 to the house you see, Al,
bu, I'm bound to know if that rescal Is
loafng around there
I'D go with you in moment, ii |
could get away" almost shouted the
landlord. Gun: Yes, two on EN-, ii
you want. | wish my wife wasn't sick.
Ii won't do for you TO arrest him all
alone, and without any warrant, but try
for chance 10 fill him full Of buckshot.
Ais notion of law may have been
somewhat 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 no, yet over the hills, but he
felt all the better for having the double
barreled duck gun over his shoulder.
Better than pistol for nisht-work.
he said to himself.
He did not keep the road up to the
homestead, but made a dctour through
woods and came out beyond, not far from
the saw-mill
Better 90 on toward the main road,
he muttered; .it's early yet, and he 5
likely to come in from that direction.
"Hulloo.' he exclaimed moment
later. as he stood among the shelterlng
shadows of clump Of trees, "three OF
'em. The big fellows the same one.
They're making straight for the saw-miil'
Bent on mischief, not doubt OF 1t.
There was no earthly reason for any
sort OF doubt.
The big tramp had met his two asso-
ciates, returning from an expedition
somewhat more successful than his own,
and they promptly agreed with him that
the extreme penalties known to the laws
of their guild.
That is in short fire, and as much
plumber as possible.
1t was already getting well into the
evening. and rural retiring hours are no.
toriously early,
Not that slumber was likely to come
very promptly to the Van Vleeck family
that night, though the squire had calmed
down a good deal and was unusually 81
lent.
Mrs. Van Vleeck had kept very close
to her daughter all the evening and mac
taken the precautions to bring the '"'
dogs, both large ones, into the house
The dogs and the family might o'
safer. but how about tramps
The big ruffian, as has been said' was
not without some traces OF VICIOUS III
tellect, and was quite competeh. 10 'e
the leader Of little affair like that. -,
| 4 Il
"Set the saw-mill first, ne saia
"All the men folks'll start for it, to put
out. Then the barns, to call away .n'
rest, and we kin work the house quici
and get to the woods'and over the hiii'
as safe as so many foxes" :,
So they could indeed, if no mishal
came to interfere. =.
!. The house folks must be in bed, no
| A match some kindlings and bits o
wood, on the opposite side Of the saw
mill from the house-nothing easier thar
to start fire.
"Now boys for the big barns. W.
kin wait there till this un's well ago
ing"
; They made run for it, but the only
reason they were not more closely pur
sued, or even fred upon, was that Gil
bert Morse deemed it his duty to stoE
: and scatter the growing blaze behind th'
saw-mill. 1t was not hard to do, al
, though the fire was beginning to come uI
very we'll when the desperadoes left it
The brands could all be kicked into the
! snow, and there was not a trace of it il
, three minutes after he got there.
, But those three minutes