Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-03-01
"I'd take the kew. num-" said Sarah.

Id take the key, mum, said Sarah.
| Mamie took the key with her, and the
two descended to shut up the house.
After they had made everything secure,
| they went back up stairs.
"You must sleep in my room tonight,
Sarah" the mistress said Sarah
dragged in her bedding, and made pal
let on the floor, and then, after the GUS
tom of women, they examined the closets,
looked under the bed and piled chairs
against the locked door. The rain was
still falling heavily, and the night black
as ink. The mistress and maid went to
bed, and although worried and anxious,
finally went to sleep.
After midnight Mamie found herself
awake and bright light shining in the
room. She started up and saw that it
was the moonlight. The storm had
cleared away at last. She got up, I'M
able to compose herself Immediately,
and went to the window. The moon was
indeed shining rightly. 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 hour that
she stood watching them as they came
nearer. To her surprise they turned up
the lane leading toward their house and
on reaching the gate came into the yard.
Now, almost paralyzed with fear, she
saw that they were masked. The truth
almost blinded her. They knew that she
was alone, that she had this money, and
they had come to get it. For moment
she was paralyzed. She remembered
Harry's last words: "You must guard
it with your life if necessary"
She ran to the sleeping Sarah, and
awakened her. She got down Harry e
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 tramps that's done it.
"The tramps. No. Sarah, the key,
the key of the attic. +"
She flew up the stairs, unlocked the
paddock and opened the trap. The man
sprang up at the 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 a word
At the foot of the stairs she stopped.
CT have a large sum of money in the
it, thinking [ am alone. If they kill me,
that money must be guarded.
"What have you, pistols, shotguns?"
he whispered, taking ia the whole situa-
ton.
"Here is my husbands rifle. It is
loaded"
"Histl Where are they going to
break imp" 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 bar
rels are there?"
"Six; all loaded"
every well. Keep this cane in your
hand for me, in case I need it."
There was no storming of shutters.
They heard the key applied to the door
softly. It opened, and man, followed
by two others, confidently entered. The
first figure walked directly to the stairs.
He had taken but step, when three
shots came in rapid succession. There
was heavy thud; this man dropped,
and the other two turned and fed.
Sarah ran to the window, and two horses
galloped down the lane.
"Don't faint, madam; there's work
yet to do, said the tramp.
Mamie caught hold of the rail for sup
port, and then went into the room.
"Get a candle, Sarah"
"They lighted candle and gave it to
the tramp, who went down stairs, the
two women following with brandy and
ammonia. The man had fallen back
ward and lay with his face up and head
toward the door.
Raise the mask and give air first,
madam"
Mamie raised the mask, and fell back
with wild shrek.
"Do you want to know why her hair
is white ?" he asked.
cit was Harry Wells !" I answered.
eft was that smiling, popular young
scamp"
/" It's no use to ask why he did it.
I don't care. Motives don't matter
much in such case. But she, Mamie
Mrs. Wells-she has her gray hair,
but there is no trace of that midnight
tragedy in her face.
81 believe she was ill for long
time" answered my friend. "They say
smallpox cures one of other diseases.
Well, some griefs are like the small
pox; they cure you of lesser weaknesses
tenderness of the heart, for example.
This, I think, was one of them"
"And the tramp"
Gle and Sarah were of course the
witnesses at the inquest. The next day
he was off on his journey, and I have
never heard of him SINCE