The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-03-17
In rev mlnu1es the BOY returned,

cts horrid old man." he cried,
"with gray beard, and such a red
face, and such dirty hands! and he
asked for the master of the house, and I
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 repuls1ve, gr1my looking man,
who had seated himself on the gallery.
s'Well, sissy" he said, with an in
solent grin, I'm desperate hungry, and
I 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.
"Better not be too scared to bring my
vittles r. he called out, cor maybe I'll
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 hurriedIy filled plate and
carried it to him.
'sThis is all we have in the house."
she said, quietly.
Without a word he seized it, and
Douce watched him ravenously devour-
ing the food like some wild animal
Scot any whisky or wine ?" he
growled.
mo; nothing but milk and she
brought him pitcher full. She tried tc
appear unconcerned. shipping the dead
leaves OF OF her geranlums, and whstl1ng
to the hooking bird in the cage but
she knew the hard gray eyes were watch.
ing her every movement.
:" Aint you scared, gal, to be left here
alone?" the tramp said, as he rose and
slung his dirty bundle over his shoulder.
What 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 up stairs
and into the rooms on the lower floor.
She tried to appear cool and Indifferent !:
DuJ Wnen ne marcned out or the mousse
without a word of farewell or thanks she
felt like uttering a cry of relief. She
watched him disappear in the woods,
and then returned to the frightened
children.
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
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. .--....
Without expressing her suspicious,
she said to Alice, &C. must run to Oak
port, if you don't mind staying little
while alone with the children"
"But what do you mean by going at
this hour?' cried Alice. "Pa and ma
will be on their way back. I reckon"
cts a great secret!'' and Douce
laughed, or tried to laugh. "You'l
know all about it when I 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 half way 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 dis
cerred.
When seated on the tree she was COM
pletely hidden from view. Soon after
there was crackli1 6 among the bushes,
and two men came liz view, one of them
her friend of the morning, and the other
quite as wicked looking. They wero
lounging slowly along, pausing every
now and then, and their words came dis.
tinctly to her. ...-
"Think he'll be back tonight ?" said
one. III ...
"Of course. He's left his children all
alone, and he and the ole CONAN will be
sure to go back. Wish he'd left her at
home. Two stead of one, and one on
EN- squally CONAN, is hard to man
age" ......
Did you see the money? Maybe
he'll leave it in his store"
"Got it arter the bank shut up. Col.
Sparks, he counted it out, $500, and I
heerd Tureau say, Reckon I'd better
take it home tonight, as they say there's
tramps in town. Didn't know I was
listenin' outside"
Whar's the best place to wait for him 2"
said Douce'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 few more dimes"
81 don't want to do any KILN eff it
can be helped" said the other ruHian.
"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 night, and maybe the ghost
| will appear"
"You're blasted fool |" cried Dick.
"You git to your post, and don't De
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 go to town, for the
only path was. blocked up by the ruffian
She felt sure her parents would be muir
dered, for she, knew. that her father
they must be on the way.
Thought after thought surged through
her brain IS 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's