Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-02-16

| you.
You'll hove to wait until to NOR
row." said Maggie. "You can't come in
tonight"
"My good woman" saidthe stranger.
"you are Morgaret Black?"
"That's my name.
"NIr Van Motifs housekeeper for
twenty years?"
"Yes."
"My good woman il you are attach
ed to your master have bad news for
you"
Gracious Lord!" cried Maggie, but
she did not open the door much wider
enough to thrust her head out. Don't
scare me, mister. What is it?"
1.-The worst you can think of" said
the man. ''Mr. Van Mott travelled on
the-road, There has been an acci-
dent"
preserve u.s." cried Maggie, letting
the door fall back, land him on his way
to his wedding. He's hurt badly,
then?"
He's dead, said the man. Dead,
and we've brought him home"
Maggie sat down i'll a chair and began
to cry.
We've done what We could, said the
man. "The lady he was to marry and
her friends will be down to morrow.
Meanwhile my instructions are that you
shall wath with him and allow no stran-
ger to enter the house. There are val1-
able things here, / am told; and Mr..
Van Motifs lawyer must take possession
of them, and seal them up before stran-
gers have access to the room.
ooh, dear, dearl' cried old Maggie,
.'that il sbnuld Gonna tn this. Yes.
will watch alone, I'm not afrai, d but oh,
dear"
Then she shrank back and let two men
carry a horrible looking coffin into the
front parlor.
They came out with their hats off,
and the other man also held his in his
hand.
II regret to leave you all alone in the
house" he said.
Il don't mind that" said old Maggie
"but it's terrible"
"Would you like me to stay" ," said the
man.
"No," said Maggie, "I've no fear of
living or dead folks. You can go"
Then she locked the door, went into
the parlor, and putting the candle on the
mantle, looked at the coffin through her
tears.
"He was good enough to me-" she
said, poor Mr.. Archibald! And this
comes of wanting to marry at this time
of life, and galivanting on railroads. l
wonder whether he is changed much.
I'll take n lock-" and Maggie crossed
the room and lifted the lid over the face
of the enclosed body.
"I'll take look she said again. I'm
not afraid of dead folks"
In minute more, Maggie dropped the
lid again, and retreated, shaking from
head to foot. She had seen within the
coffin face with it's eyes shut, and with
bandages about his head, and the ghast-
ly features of a clown in a circus minus
the red mouth.
But it was living face, was chalked,
but not her masters. and Maggie knew
at once she had been we'll hnmbugged-
that this story of her masters death was
lie ard that burglar was within the
coffin, ready to spring upon her and
bind her or perhaps murder her at any
moment.
She could of course, open the door
and try to escape; but the accomplices
of the man were doubtless outside. 1t
was along distance to the nearest hohse
and even if they did not kill her, the
would execute their purpose and rob the
place before she returned.
"Master looks natural, said Magg1el
aloud, and tried to collect her thoughts.
Mr.. Van Motifs revolvers were In the
next room, she knew, loaded. Six shots
in each, Maggie could use pistols. She
had aimed with troublesome cats with
success more than once. If she could
only secure these pistols she felt safe.
"Poor, dear master" she sobbed, and
edged toward the back room.
"Poor. dear master" She lifted the
desk lid. She had them safe.
She glided back to the front parlol
and sat down on a chair. She turned up
her sleeves and grasped pistol in each
hand and she watched the coffin quietly
In half ali hour the lid stirred. A eau
tious hand crept up the side. A wiry
} eye peeped out.
1t fell upon the armed figure, and
! closed again.
''You'd better" said Maggie, to her
! self.
Again the head lifted. This time
, Maggie sprung to her feet.
: you're fixed quite handy" she sal(