The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-26

e Close siave that rs bcin' as we was hid
IL there all list nj sht AMI all day TIL now, sale
). one, MS hepushed through the underbrusA,
y Yes; thought as once them mill chap.
> WAS comm to look" responded the other
l. Good 10, lem as they ddn't, an took ~ fol
/, rats; 'calse the p'ice be on the lookout how
Il an we dat want to Use no shoOun' irons an
!. make things too hot. We must move out live
u ly from lere, Bill"
J, Not MI we get that ere pension" answer
4 ed Bill, significantly. That layout wee a:
l. good n pitched at us, an it'd be a pity moi
to take 1t. Sides, the gov'ment owes he u
pension for all the time I've lost in jailsand
prisons, an this 'erc's good chance To gel
H. knows where the CRIB is, cause we stop
ped there last week for somethin' TO eat; don'i
!, you mlrd? This Teller that owns 1t we're
there at the time. There is nobody but swo.
man Al two little uns, and they're easy fixed
and there ain'tn other house nigh"
, Bat there's that ere other chap as said he
was goin' there?"
Him. He's crazy, and if he goes thee at
all he'll only stop a bit and move on. Atap
on the head'll settle him, anyway, If he's there
but then he won't be there"
During this time Nat was not idle. His tall
form, with long ard steady stride was has
teIing forward ION business for the King 1t
did not occur to him what he should do when
he reached Traceys, and had been supplied
with TODD. At present he was "obeying or
ders," and beyond that his though, did moi go.
Ii was, indeed, long walk he had unierjak-
en-, and II was just at dusk that he reached his
destination. The Halfway House WAS lbne
y hostelry, situated at the intersection of two
roads, with no other house In sight, and was a
common stopping place for persons passing to
and from the city. Nat stepped boldly upon
hp broad IN uit
sciousness Of his right walked unhesitatlngly
into the pleasant sltting.room. Mrs. Tracey
came forward To meet HIM.
"Why, Nat Is that you.'
"lrs'm, a." he answered, gravely IL was told
to come here an get square meal. The King
sent me-"
The King sent your Well, guess I'll
have 10 give you u supper them" SAID she
And, by the way, Nat, did you see my hus-
band on the way here,'
"Yes'm; and he said for me to tell you he
be home to.morrer night, and for you no, to
be uneasy bout that money!
10, dear! did so hope he'd come home
this evening"" she sighed
She was indeed, uneasy on account of the
money IN the house. She had slept but little
the preceding night for thinking of it, and
had worried about 1t all through the day, and
now another lonely night was before her. As
she was preparing supper for her guest anoth-
er thought came to her. Could she not induce
Nat to stop there for the night! His notion of
wandering made 1t an uncertain request aRd
even If he remained, with his beclouded in.
telleet he could not be depended on in case of
trouble. Snl he would be company and per.
haps he might aid her-she prayed for that
IL she needed help.
NAT" she said, IS she poured out glass of
milk for him, won't you stay here toni ght ~
II don't know whether it be ORDERS" be an.
swered uncertainty. "Parson said the King
sent out His messengers, and they wasn't to
take no money nor nOthin TO eat, and don't
know il it be right TO stop"
20, yes It 49," SAID Mrs. Tracey, catching at
once the train of his thoughts. Il heard what
the parson said, too. When q Kings messen.
ger entered house he was to abide there
that is 10 Stop. Don't you remembers"
"Ies'm; that's his orders. I'll stop" he
said.
And, Nat" pursued the lady. rendered 90 |,
ger by her success, there's another thing the
King ssid-you heard 1t at Sunday school.
He said Suffer little children to come unto
me'-that is, such little children as mine
here" pointing to them as they stood at her
'ide. And the King said, too: Whoever
shall offend one OF these little ones ii Is better
ais neck, and he we're cast into the sea-
The King doesn't wish any harm to come to
lis little ones in any way-you remember
hat"
"Yes'm," replied Nat, absently.
"Well, then" continued Mrs Tracey, driy.
ng the concluding nail into her argument, "if
my bad men should come here ton ght and try
o hurt NE or these little ones that belong 10 a,
he King, you would help US, wouldn't you ?" I
She waited anxiOusly for the reply Nat
ooked at her vaguely for a moment, and then
rs eyes wandered almlessly around the room I
nd then back to her Finally he SAID quietly d
The King sent me. I'll obey ORDERS G
How far he understood she did not know, ,
nd all her effort could draw out no more def ..
lite reply, and with that she was obliged to 1
e content. As the evening grew late she pro. f
ideh her guest with sleeping place in an ad. (,
'ining room, by throwing few quilts on tine !,
Oor--for Nat would sleep nowhere else-and ~
len she lay down without undressing on d
ed beside her children. But 1t was long I
me before sleep visited her troubled spirit. ri
As for Nat, no thought OF anxiety or worry :,
" the future was on his mind, and he Slept u
10 sleep of the just" and his dreams were v
eaceful. But after a time those dreams be. L
sme disturbed and discordant, a voice seemed n
be calling him from his King, and present :
he awakened with a start 81
Nat! help! Nat, the King wants your CT
me in smothered tones from the other room. "'
In 40 instant he sprang lightly to his feet, "
I'd grasping his stick he strobe forward and
,ened the door. Two rough, evil.lookingI
en- were there--one holding Mrs Tracey, the
her the children, and the villains were evl. q,
ntly trying to bind and gag their victims. IL.
5 Nat witnessed the scene his tall form seem. 81
to tower yet higher, and = strange, fierce TO
yht CLEANED from h'a eyes. vi
II belong to the KING" he thundered. 90
low dare you offend his little ones" 90 90
At this unexpected intrusion one of the an
rglars released his hold of Mrs. Tracey and OF
rang forward with an oath to meet him But
was in vain. The great stick was whirled
the air, and then came down with fearful le
rec on the head of the villain, and he sank tn
useless to the floor, The remaining burglar sa
stened to his comrades assistance, but he an
"A like n child IN the banda Of a giant and III