The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-08-30
says, Go to Tracey's Half Way house for
a ROuare meal -

says, 'Oo W lIhceJ hah-Way hVuSo AVh
q square meal"
eyes, 1 know'd it 1 know'd it r. ex-
claimed Nat, exultingly. "The King
said take no money nor nothin' to eat,
an He'd take keer Of me. he says Co.
an I'll obey ORDERS" and instantly his
tall figure was moving swiftly down the
road.
Tommy gazed after him n mute in
bewildered silence, and then O. claimed
emphatically as he turned away:
"My but amt he crackedp
With rapid steps Nat hurried ftrwa-d,
swinging his huge stick and talA ng TO
himself. He had taken the plscatd as
veritable command to so to Traceys,
and thitherward he directed his steps.
1t was not the first time he had been
there. On previous occasions when he
passed that way he had been kindly
treated by Mrs. Tracey, and perhaps
that had something to do with the alac-
rity of his movement, and he hastened
down the road till it brought him to q
small stream, on the bank Of which
stood eawmill. Mr.. Tracey, the
owner of the Hallway house, was en-
gagged at work here, aud he turned aside
to speak to him.
"I'm on business for the King, and
I'm going to your house." he announced
with the dignihed gravity that belonged
to his royal commission.
"On business for the King, and goin'
to my house, eh 2" answered the person
addressed, good-natured smile cross-
ing his kindly face. "Well. I reckon
that's high honor TO me. You've got
a tramp afore you, though, Nat-a good
seven miles,"
81 must obey ORDERS" replied Nat,
simply.
"ThAt's right - obey orders. Well,
IL you do go tell Mrs. Tracey I'll be
home tomorrow night. Tell her, too.
not to be uneasy about that money bein'
in the house, cause I'll see to it when l
come"
"What moneys that?" askeda fellow
workman as Nat turned away.
My pension. My claim was allowed
last week, and got my noney-fve
hundred dollars-yesterday. was
foolish not to put it in the bank right
off. but didn't, and as L didn't have
time to go to town yesterday had to
leave it ut home. reckon it's safe
enough, till tomorrow night, and
then"
"Hist I" interrupted his companion,
suddenly. Whats thatT'
Tracey paused to listen.
"I didn't bear anything" he said.
"I thought / heard some one over
there" pursued the other, pointing to
a large, high pile of boards few feet
distant--the boards being piled in form
of a square, with large cavity in the
center. 'Most likely it was rats.
though"
"More likely to be rats than anything
else, there's so many about here" an
swered Tracey. Then he added,
iocularly: "Maybe, though, it's them
burglars that's been playin mischief
round these parts for the last week OF
so-maybe they're slowed away in that
pile of lumber. My if I really be-
lieved that I'D be uneasy myself, fol
the chaps would have heard all l said
about my pension"
"What burglars is thatP" inquired
the other.
"What burglars? Why, man, dom
you read the papers2 Why, only yes
terday the sheriff and his deputies rode
by my house on the hunt for 'em. Las
Saturday night they broke into Lawyer
Burkes house in the village and carried
off about hundred dollars, and ther
on Sunday night they got into the rail
road station, broke oEen the safe, ant
| made off with about three hundred
more. That's the biggest of their hauls
. though they've entered several othe
places"
, The conversation was continued ol
} this topic for few minutes, and thel
dropped. Neither of the men though
l it worth while to investigate the caus
of the noise, and they pursued thei
3 work for short time and were the
3 called over to the other side of the mill
Just as they disappeared face peere
2 over the top OF the board pile from thu
!. inside, another followed moment later
Q and presently two rough, villainous
o looking men came into view, and seeing
. they were unobserved, sprang quickl
0 to the ground and hastened into tn
{ forest.
o "Olose shave that, as bein' as We wa
7 hid there ali last night and all day til
o now,n said one, as he pushed throug
Q the underbrush.
d "Yes 1 thought as once them mi
chaps was comm to look, responde
5 the other. "Good for 'em as the
Q didn't, an took us for rats cause tn
n p'liee be on the lookout now an "
d don't want to use no shootin' irons a
: make things too hot. We must NOV
d out lively from ere, Bill"
ot "Not till we get that ere pension
d answered Bill, significantly. Thi
le layout were as good as pitched at u
1, an it ID be a pity not to take it. Side
j. the gov'ment owes me pension for a
ID the time I've lost in iails and prison
k. an this ere's good chance to get it.
i'd knows where the crib is, cause v
to stopped there last week for somethi
O. to eat, don't you mind? This fello
thot owna II was there at the tim