Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-29

arrest two armed and desperate men ?
By this time she began to feel silly. She
could not go to bed with this responsibility
! upon her, even though she did not know
how to meet it; SO, dressing herself she
/ opened the front door, and looked and
| listened. The night was darker than ever.
A little space around the gate was lit up
by the waning light. It would not helpin
stopping burglars. she suddenly thought,
to illuminate their way; so going over to
the light, she blew it out, and left the road
in total darkness. That was at least one
move towards the desired end.
All at once she thought Of The gate.
How stupidp' she said to herself.
'Why didn't / think of that before :" 1t
was fastened back age inst the front of the
house, but in moment she had unlocked
it and swung it around, until it stretched
completely across the road. There was
only latch on the gate. but going into
the horse she brought ont of one place a
pad ock, and from another chain with
which she fastened it so securely that no
ordinary strength could force it open
THEY can't get through that" she said
to herself; land there isn't any way of
gettiLg around it," Then she went to the
house, locked and bolted the door, rolled
bureau up against it, fastened all of the
windows, pulled down the shades, and
waited in the dark for the sound of wheels
It was not long before they came, but to
Jennie every minute seemed an hour,
while every rustling leaf outside sounded
like q nan q stealthy tread. When at last
che heard them coming, far up the road,
her heart stood still. Nearer and nearer
| they came. Would they nas $50 the gate
she Vopdsrsa tae horse kept on; and
snstantly there was sudden exclamation
outside, a. crash as though something had
come into collision with the gate,
the sound Of splinteTipg wood, and
tha noise Of a plunging horse.
Jennie did not venture to move, she
dared not go to the window. but sat in the
middle of the roc m shaking with fear, and
listening for what might happen next.
Presently steps sounded on the pianks out
side, and in 4 moment n there was a RAP on
sle door. .
Jennie remained perfectly quiet, though
her heart beat so loud that she thought
they must hear it eptaiae. I'm moment
the knocking ceased,
/ "Folks asleep" she could hear one of
the men say.
ASLEEP, or dead, or run away" the
other one growled.
"Shalf we try the Window"
Jennie trembled all over, bnt thu sash
held firm,
ION, come on,.' exclaimed the companion.
Don't let's waste time; we can splice
the shafts with the halter
They moysa pr ags',s, and Jennie
bleathed more freely. If the SHAFTS were
broken, it would take some time to memo
:, them, and the pursuing party might yet
arrive in time. Mr.. Allen, whom Jennie
knew to be the President Of the Leicester
Bank, had the fastest horse In the coun,
try, and ought to be- able to made up al
least ten h.iLutes i'll ten miles. For a
while there Was quiet outside. For the
men were evidently working at the shafts,
and only the stamping of horses feet gave
any signs Of life, Jennie began to get
nervous, ana: to listen more intenlly for the
pnrsasrs' approach. BY this tune they
could not be far off. Finally, enable to
sit still any .pRgar, sac erept up stairs =,
ana sitting down on the floor by the open
window of the attic listened. The white
horse was quite distinctly visible as it
stood by the gate, out the men, bending
over the wagon. were hardly more than
an outline. Presently they seemed to hay Q
finished, and backing tie horse aroun d.,
preeeeaed e, hitch him in the shafts.
Would the others never come The gate
Was not yet opened, ba6 Jennie began to
fear that tbs burglars would not find that
q aeEious difficulty. Suddenly through the
woods came the sound of horses hoofs
galloping as if for life. Did the men hear
it, too?
Apparently they did.
"Open the gate," she heard one of them
say. s
His companion went 20 it and vainly
tried to pull it open. Its padlocked," he
EXCLAIMED, after a minute.
The other uttered an oath. "rick it ~
he cried. They've put up job on us
here. knew we didn It cut that wire quick
enOugh.' r.
1t was minute before the burglar
skill could pick the lock, and by that time
the pursuing wagon was dangerously
near.
open the gate !" shouted the first man,
pulling back his horse to- escape ita aweep.
The other pushed and the great bar swung
slowly back. But before it had opened
wide enough to let them through the other
, wagon had dashed in upon the Set ne.
''SIand where you are,' Jennie heard
Mr.. Aliens voice call out, ''or I'll shoot
you down.
! What Immediately followed Jennie did
not see, for leaving the window she rush.
ed down stairs, lit the lantern, rolled back
/, the bureau, unlocked the door, and wen!
, out. When she had gained the road the
. two burglars, captured and tied, were be-
ing guarded by the constables, while Mr.
Allan was Investigating the contents of
the wagon, and making sure as far as be
, could IN the darkness, that all was right