Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-05-16

on my ears. It needed but that to send
me flying; fright lent me wings. Should
1 he in the sentinel box before ANYBODY
appeared in view? The chances seemed
strongly against me, for if tie men were
coming from the front they must catch
sight of me crossing the pathway be-
tween the house and the coalplace. How
my pulse beat as thought Of it. One
step more. Thank goodnt So, they were
not that way, and / was safe, safe, but
what was the black figure crouching far
inside? My heart gave bound. I
nearly fell senseless down, but whis-
per aroused me. It was mamma. poor
mamma.
"You here" she exclaimed alright
eddy. "Ob, Randie, I did hope that you
ana Ernie were safe.''
"Hush! hush!" I whispered, "the men
are walking about. They. may be here
any minute. Stay quiet, mother darl-
ing, and do not tremble SO. Twill take
care of you." I had hardly time to finish,
voices were nearing us, gradually draw.
ing nearer; not qniet voices either.
They were fearless in their strength and
brutality. Mamma shook to such an ex-
tent that feared she would betray ue.
On, and on they came. I quite gave
myself up for lost. Tie men could not
be q yard from us when they suddenly
stopped.
"It's no use arguing any more," said
the one whom I recognized as Bob;
"there's been sum 'un near here when we
we're ransacking upstairs, or else low
come it that the lady's hand fur should
be down in the lane. It warn't there
when we came, aud that I'm sure and
certain on. Fac: is, sum 'uns been and
smelt rat, and gone. Off TO tell, may
hap. Let's get our goods and be going.
We do not want to be caught red
handed"
They had found mammals mutf, which
Ernie bad perhaps dropped. Suppose
it aroused their suspicion and made
them search. Yes, my fears were con.
frmed directly the next man spoke.
you great scrft," calculated the
brute who had kicked Jobs PROSTATE
form, "if anybody's been here they re
here yet, hidden somewhere. They
du1stn't make off after seeing enough to
give the alarm. How could they know
whereabouts We were, more especially a
female? They're mostly timid. Let's
set to and fiud. OILY make this reser-
vatiol-let ma wiring their necks."
Mamma clasped NE, ard clasped
her, brea,hlessly. We both felt that our
hour had come. Indeed, I had almost
spoken, go sure was I of discovery. But
not yet. Near as they were to us, they
pever scene ed to think of the sentry box.
1t was such simple unlikely place. At
last things grew quieter. l thought
they had returned into the house. This
was the moment had been longing for.
Were they really in" It was impossible
to see, for, as had been before stated,
our sentry box faced the dead wall-iust
short space from it. We should have
been discovered otherwise. But lucky
as it was that it gave them no chance Of
seeing us, it was awkward, in as much
as it prevented our view. With the i'm
puleive rasbnees If boy hood, was just
going to venture out when mamma
pulled me closer and said tremblingly:
"Wait another moment, Randie;
Ranoie, my beautiful boy. They are
Watching yet. Only one man bas re-
entered the house. 1t is a rusc. Hush!'
The men we're outside speaking. "There
is nobody here. Its all your confound-
ed fears, Bob. Let's prepare for the
farmer. Ha! ha! We will give him a
warm reception. A rcd Christmas, ard
no mistake" I shuddered at the sig
nificance Of their speech, but I was try
ing to brace myself up again. The mar
row escape I had had made me timid
and fearful. "Mamma," I whispered
Selling her hand and kissing it, 81 am
going to try and bring help. They
catch me-and-and kill me, but if they
do shall not-not mind-eo very
much" Here I gulped down sob as
thought Of home life and It's sweetness.
II shall do-my best-to bring saccor. !"
'Bless you, my Randie." murmured
mamma, in such low tone that I could
scarcely catch what she said. "Yes,
my darling you must go for both our
sakes. God bless you, boy. He will, I
know, watch over you, for we always
trust in Him; don't We, Randolph, dear.
I know I feel that you will reach home
in safety. I have prayed for it, and if I
am outbound out here, dear boy
give my love to them at home, and say
God knows best"
(Which way should venture ?" I
asked; Ground through this pathway to
the front, or round by the back again ?"
And my heart sank with dread as IN
wardly recognized how great were my
chances of being caught.
"Your best way, Randolph" replied
mamma. running her 6uger through my
hair carelessly, as if she were 10th to
part with me, yet recognized the neces-
sity nevertheless, is to slip along
straight with this coal place, wind be-
hind the outbuiljirgs, 80 that they can
not see you from the house; then when
you reach the lane run for your life.
Rua to papa, dear, and tell him to bring
succor quickly. Plenty CT men and
firo arms. Tell them they have desper.
ate men to contend with. Good.by, my
boy. DO not be afraid. know you
will succeed"
81 am not afraid" I replied daunt-
lessly. crushing down every feeling. Il
am off," and out went. The first feel
ing had was that 1 could not run, but
tcen I was eff like shot. I few, each
minute increasing rather than diminish
ing my pace. Once as I ran along the
lane fancied I saw two eyes glazing
through the hedge. I gave scream
and hurried on, but as no one pursued I
concluded it was only the distorted ef-
fects of vivid Imagination. Ere I
reached the lane end I cogitated which
was the best way to take when I reached
the highroad. Truly, my mother had
enjoined me to get papa's and the vii
lage assistance; but meanwhile, while so
doing, the farmer and his wife might re-
turn-be robbed and murdered. Which
course should 1 take? Home in half q
mile, or the other way, with the chance
of meeting Farmer Longton any mo-
ment, or else having to go on for miles
I do not know which way I should have
gone, but as left the lane I saw two
workmen- common laborsrs- returning
home toward the village. I shoated to
them, all fears for myself from that mo-
ment gone. It Was so nice to set eyes