Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-03-26
quicker whom s6e feached fhs. door


and saw arepulsiYe, grimy-looking man,
who had seated himself on the gallery.
A"Well, sissy he said, with an inso-
lent grin, "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.n
The tone was one of command, and
after a little pause Douee saw that she
must obey. I & 4 Z! ~ 4
"Better not be too scared to bring my
vittles ~ he called out, cor maybe I'll
foller you in spite of locksl'' ts1
Douce felt that the locks would be of
little avail If the man chose to enter the
house. She hurriedly filed plate and
carried it to him. NV
"This is all we have in the house,
she said, quietly. i-s ,r,aa,.U
Without a word he seized it, and
Douce watched him ravenously devour-
ing the food like some wild animal.
SCOT any whisky or winePp he
growled. -.v,-
."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 inockiIg-bird in the
cage; but she knew the hard gray eyes
were watching her every movement.
''Ain't you scared, gal, to be'left here,
aloneP" the tramp said, as he rose,and
slung his dirty bundle over his Shout
der. g.A tko.,oE ~ ~,
Z "What would harm mep" she said,
with faint laugh. "My parents will
soon be back.' -,,.....,i !
The man then went boldly into the
hall, and Douee saw him look upstairs
and into therooms on the lower floor.
She tried to appear cool and Indifferent;
but when he marched out of the house,
without 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.
This unexpected incident cast a 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 Oaksi
port all night. Therain, 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. K
/ thoutexpressing her suspicious, she
said to Alice, 81 must run to Oakport,.
If you don't mind staying a little while
alone with the children"
"But what do you mean by going at
this hour?n cried Alice. "Pa and ma
will be on their way back, Ireckon."
"It's a great secret!" and Douce
laughed, or tried to laugh. "You'll
know all about it when / 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. Yhen quickly she seized a vine
and swung herself into q magnolia tree,
that was so draped by the gray Spanish
moss that even its leaves could hardly
be discerned. A so !
When seated in the tree she was COM
pletely 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.
"Think he'll be back tonight" said
one. ,C.f AJtfff
"Of course. He's left his children all
alone, and he and the ole CONAN will be
sure to 90 back. Wish he'd left her at
home. Two stead of one, and one on
'em a squaly CONAN, is hard to man
age"
"Did you see the money! Maybe
he'll leave it in his store" L
SCOT it AFTER 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 | 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 neal
town, and foller him behind. When he
comes up, you AK for dime, and I'll be
ready if he kicks up rowewhen we
eases him of few more dimes.''
81 don't want to do any KILN eff il
can be helped,'' said the other ruflian
ave kin gag the CONAN. But look
here, Dick, don't like doin' the job or
that spot. They say Amos is a-walkin
round of night, and maybe the ghost
will APPEAR e
'eYou're a blasted fool!'' cried Dick
"You git to your post, and don't be g
sneak ~ . ~ s
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 resist to the death. BY
this time they must be on the way.
Thought after thought surged through
her brain as she sat there, when, sud
denly remembering the tramp's terror
, of ghosts, an inspiration came to her.
+ She knew short cut to the peddler''
tree. In few minutes she had descend
= ed and was gliding through the bushes
No one was at the tree, and she had hid
den herself in it when the tramp APP
|, peared, looking timidly around him.
He stopped nearly under the branch
a es, and looked down the road. -Twiligh