The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-04-12

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uhey took him up Stairs, and h
climbed up the steep attic stairs
The women shut The door a,
he very politely bade them goot
might. and they fastened the paddock
hearing him chuckle to himself a
he kicked of his boots.
I'D take the key, mum, " said Sa
|rah. gllls
Mamie took the key with her and
the two descended to shut up the
house. After they had made every
thing secure they went back uI
stairs.
You must sleep in my room t..
night Sarah, /" the mistress said
Sarah dragged in her bedding and
made . pallet on the floor, and then
after the custom of women, they ex,
amined the closets, looked under the
bed and piled the chairs against the
locked door. The rain was still fall.
ing heavily and the night was black
as ink. The mistress and maid
went to bed and, although worried
and anxious, finally went to sleep.
Alter midnight Mamie found her
selfawake and a bright light shin.
ing in the room. She started up
and saw that it was the moonlight.
The storm had cleared away at fast
She got up unable to compose her.
self Immediately, and went to the
window. The moon was indeed shin
ing brightly. As she stood looking
at the peaceful scene before her she
saw way down the road, for it was
as bright as day several horsemen.
1t was such an unusual sight at this
hou. that she stood watching them
as they came nearer. To her sur
prise they turned up the lane lead
ing toward their house, and on
reaching the gate came into the
yard. Now, almost paralized with
fear. she saw that they were mask
ed. The truth almost blinded her.
They knew tina. she was alone, that
she had this money and they had
come to get it. For a moment she
was paralyzed. She remembered
Harry's last words: aYou must
guard it with your life necessary
She ran to the sleeping Sarah and
awakened her. She got down Har-
rys rifle, which he had loaded and
taught her to use. The sleeping
girl was soon thoroughly awake, and
she explained to her their condition.
"It's the tramp that's done it." .s
"Ths tramp. No. Sarah, the
key, to the attic" Ts759e of 70
She few up the stairs. q unlocked
the paddock and, opened the trap.
The man sprang up at the e'sound. !.
"Come, come with me- His own
senses alert, and hearing the noise
of the horses below and steps about
the house, he followed her without
q word. At the foot of the stairs
she stopped. e aqi .'ii1 s..
II have a large sum of money in,
the house and those men have
come to get it, thinking / am alone.
If they kill me that money must be
guarded" e. 2.
"What, have you pistols. shot
guns ?'' he whispered, taking in the
whole situation.
Here is my husbands rife. Is is
loaded" ~ ~ aa
aHist. Where are they going to
break in ~ The steps came boldly
on the piazza to the front door. :,
Get behind me I will fire at the
first man that enters. How many
barrels are there ?" 'l ~ q
"Six, all loaded" s7tt-gs =
every well. Keep this cane
in your hand for me in case ] need
il" g
.There was no storming Of shut
tiers. They heard the key applied
to the door softly. 1t opened and a
man followed by two others conf
IDENTIFY entered. The first figure
walked directly to the stairs. He
had taken but a step when three
shots came in rapid succession.
There was heavy thud; this man
dropped and the other two turned
and Aed. Sarah ran to the window
and two horses galloped down the
lane. ss ''i-.,-'3 Ai.ls' 4
"Don':: faint. madam there's
work yet to do,n said the tramp. !.
Mamie caught hold of the rail for
support and then Wentinto the room.
Get a candle, Sarah" mgk !.
They lighted a candle and gave it
10 the tramp, who went down stairs,
The two women following with bran.
dy and ammonia. The man had
fallen backward and lay with his
face up and head toward the door.
''Raise the mask and give him air
lirst, madam. " 81 a aad
Mamie raised the mask and fell
back with o wild shriek. =
"Do you want to know now why
her hair is white p he asked.
"It was Harry WellsP / an
,wered. st was that smiling, popu-
ar young scamp gdi e 4
"lt's no use to ask why he did
i. Idont care. Motives don't mat
er in such q case. But she, Ma
nie-Mrs. Wells-she has gray hair,
put there is no trace of that mid
night tragedy in her face" "b9sea s
II believe she was i'll for q long
line, answered my friend. They
,ay small pox cures one of other dis
,eases. Well, some griefs are like |
they cure you Of lesser
weakness tenderness of the heart,
or example. This, 1 think, was
,ne of them" s'.e = 49,.
"And the tramp
aHe and Sarah were of course the
atthe inquest. The next |
lay he was of on his journey, and |
have never heard of him since
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