Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-11-22
VOL. LVII.

The old oak chest" cried Dotty,
who was full of romance as a white
clover blossom is of sweetness. "And
to think that Aunt Themis never let
me look into it before"
There was nothing very particular,
after all, in it. Only stutry-smelling
blankets, moth-eaten gown or two,
the brass buttoned military coat in
which Uncle Amaniah-dead these ten
years-had been wont to rally" on
training days.
"PShaww said Dotty. There
ought to have been a forgotten will
there or a skeleton, at the very least.
It's a humbug. that old chest"
Just rs this reflection passed through
her mind, whining, nasal voice
sounded at the bottom of the little
wooden stairway, which wound up
like corkscrew from below.
"Any old clothes to exchange for
beautiful china vases, lady9 Any
cold victuals for poor man?"
He was a stalwart, black-browed
fellow, with villainous, slit-like eyes,
and tattered velveteen suit; and
Dotty's heart stood still with terror
for a second.
Oh, if she had only obeyed her Aunt
Themis and locked up those doors!
NO" she said, shortly. "Go away"
Don't be hard on poor fellow,
missl' whined the man.
And Dotty was quite certain that
she saw the spout of Aunt ThemiS'
cid solid silver cream jug protruding
from the flaps of his ragged velveteen
pocket. At the same moment, he
began ascending the stairs with
insolent deliberation.
In an instant all the doubts, the
breads, the possibilities. the horrors of
the situation, glanced across Dotty's
mind.
Reuben and Rankin were in the dis
tant meadow cutting grass; the tin
horn, by means of which she usually
summoned them, was hanging up
down stairs at the back of the kitchen
door.
Not neighbor lived within sight or
call A Id here she was at this
steaIlhy faced brute's mercy. Would
he gag hc,? Would he murder her
What was to become of Aunt Themis'
gold beads and Reuben's new breast
pin, besides all the nice old silver
which had descended to them from
Grandmother Buffet?
NO." said Dotty to herself; "for
myself l do not care. But the silver
shall be protected"
With quick glimpse Of inspiration,
she advanced toward the shambling
fellow with the sinister face.
There are some old garments in
that big chest" said she. "YOu may
look at them; perhaps they will be
what you want"
The eyes of the sinister man, who
had by this time reached the top of
the stairs, glistened. He promptly ad-
vanced, and bending over the side of
the monster chest, peered into its
depths.
Most anything'n work in in my
trade" said he. 81 amt no ways
! pa'tickler, because"
Now was Dotty'S time. AS he bent
over, with at least two-thirds of his
body in the old chest, she sprang
alertly forward, and bundled the other
third into the stuffy recesses.
The tramp dropped like a huge over
grown kitten into the flannel blankets.
In second, Dotty had the lid shut
down, and had turned the key.
"Now I've got your said Dotty, all
triumphant though dishevelled. ooh,
yesl kick and pound all that you like,
but you'll not get out until Reuben
and Rankin are herep
And flying down stairs, she seized
the old tin horn and blew a blast
which echoed like the "Horn of
Roncesvalles" over hill and dale.
Reuben, swinging his scythe on the
side hill, stopped to listen, Rankin
dropped his milestone, and Miles
Ruggles, the hired man, cried out:
Je-ru-salem! it amt twelve o'clock
YETI
There's something up, anyhow
cried Reuben, making a grasp at the
linen coat which hung on the nearest
tilberry bush.
Mother amt home, and Dotty is all
aloner' exclaimed Rankin.
oval, eff there's anything extraordi-
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