St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-02-23

poor Job kick with his thick boots
sis as tenacious as turtle about his
life. It's lucky that | gave him a set
tier, or there's no telling what he'd ave
done"
"Well, leave un alOne," now grum-
bled the man who had first spoken. A
surly enough fellow, yet not without a
feeling of conjunction, as was evil
denced by his STOPPING down over the
PROSTATE man, and looking intently at
the wound in the head.
"He'll bleed to death if it's not
stopped" he said, after a pause, "and
then there'll be another to swing for.
If I'd a known as there wor going to
be murder done, I'd never a come.
Lend us 'kerchief, Bill"
"Not /, you soft thing. Bob, we
thOwt as we'd brought man vii us to
help in this job, but lawk if you're on
ly chicken you'd better'n go home.
No risks, no spOils eh, Dick ?"
"That's my mOtter," agreed Dick.
"But we'd best get out they'll happen
to come on us, instead of us on them" :"
And they walked out. Ny breath be-
gan to come little more freely-just
for the instant. | had no hope or
thought beyond. AS for my mother, all
thought of her had, / verify believe,
fed.
"Where is there some soft stuff to
bind this fellows head 2" said the man
who staid behind, and whom one of the
others had addressed as Bob. 81 dun
no as | need mind, and yet he fought
us all so pluckily that | feels sort of
admiration for him."
This was spoken aloud, and might
have been addressed to me, for the
surly looking fellow stood facing the
cench, glaring at it. l was nearly
stitfed, and when minute later he
walked toward me | had hard work to
prevent myself from screaming. Com
FUNCTIONS as were his feelings for Job,
| had no hope that he would bestOw
the same forbearance on me. l was
cOnsciOus-an eyewitness, and more
over had not called forth any admira-
ton for my pluck. Neither, as | well
knew, should |, if discovered, for
was almost dead with fright as it was.
If | had had time to have thought,
how | should have wished myself back
in our cosy dining busy with
the girls in their pretty decorations.
But | had no time. My eyes were
fixed on the man. He stopped near
me, his boots within foot of my head.
Was he going to stoOp and lift the
valance
"Confound it," he exclaimed aloud,
''there's naught to be found soft enough
All, here What's this 1t will do.n
My heart quite stopped. He was
searching for some pieces of material.
Would he discover me instead When
he said that he had found piece that
would do, my breath came again. He
stopped and bandaged the mans head
none too gently, and then, without
raising him, passed out after the other
two men. Now was my opportunity
to get up. But where was the use of
moving 2 Might | not be discovered
any moment ? Besides, if Farmer
Longton and his wife were killed,
what would become of me And mann
ma, oh yes, mamma. Where was she
crept out and walked to the foot of
the stairs "Mamma, mamma" | called
gently, "where are you ?"
No answer came. Suppose another
fellow should be concealed upstairs.
or the other three returned. "Mamma,
mamma" | called again, but much
more timidly that time. | was really
beginning to feel dreadful. Would
that | had driven home with papa. |
was useless here, besides being almost
beside myself with fear. | could not
find mamma, and self-preservation is
always strong within us. | was afraid |
to stay in the house with the sight of
that unconscious man, moaning and |
CHASTITY looking. In sort of pity and |
dread. | surveyed him as | again |
passed through the room where he lay |
on to the kitchen where poor Dash's |
rigid form was stiff and cold. | might |
be meeting the three men coming |
back, but | did not seem to realize |
that. My object was to gain the fresh |
air, for | was Stit1ed and choking. |
listened for "A minute, and heard moth
ing. | peeped cautiously out, and saw
no one. Which way had they gone ?
Perhaps on to the road to meet their
intended victims, or round by the
front to recOnnOitre. Which was it ?
Aye, could not tell. | only knew
that | must get outside that dreadful |
house. Once my foot was on the door
step; | felt no better. There was
| hide-hide while the men reentered |
the house And then, ah, then there
was an idea dimly suggesting itself to
my dense brain that perhaps | could
make off and get help somewhere.
While looking around, my eye caught
sight of sentinel box reared up near
ly against the side of the coal place.
its face from me. | knew that box
had belonged to someone in the farm
er's family, and that he treasured it
i'll a sort of a way, that is, though per-
fectly useless to him, he had never SO
far had it chopped up for frewOod.
If | could reach that box | might find
safety there. All, they were returning,
voices sounded on my ears. 1t need
ed but that to send me flying; fright
lent me wings. Should / be in the SEN
tinel box before anybody appeared in
view The chances seemed strongly
against me, for if the men were com
ing from the front they must catch
sight of me crossing the pathway be-
tween the house and the coal place.
How my pulses beat as | thought of it.
One step more. Thank goodness, they
were not that way, and | was safe.
safe, but what was the black figure
crouching far inside 2 My heart gave
a bound. l nearly fell senseless down,
but a whisper aroused me. 1t was
poor mamma.
"You here" she exclaimed affrighted-
ly. "Oh, Randie, did hope that you
and Ernie were safe"
"Hush hush " L whispered, "the
men are walking about. They may
be here any minute. Stay quiet,
mother darling, and do not tremble
so. | will take care of you" | had
hardly time to finish, voices were near
ing us, gradually drawing nearer not
nniet voices either TheU unre fenr