West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-07-11

burglars coming 10 White Oak Farm.
After they were fairly out of the ward
keziah made Lisba drive back so she
could call To us not To get blown up
with the gunpowdcr and shot that was
up in the barn chamber We never
went up in the barn chamber. and the
ladder was broken. anyway, but that
was just like Kczah.
IL was night before they were off.
Rob aud Invent around and fastened all
the doors and windows securely. Then
we made up a rOuSing fire i'm the kitch-
en-. and made molasscs candy and
cracked nuts, and popped corn. and
roasted apples. The wind was roaring
and whistling. and dashing the snow
against the windows, but IL was bright
and warm and coy inside, AMI. if il had
not been for thinking of the trouble
about the mortgage, and Keziah and
Lisha out in the snow, we shout have
been very Jolly. Dolly and Philly were
merry enough as it was; they are only
children.
Ii was getting toward nine o'clock,
and Dolly and Philly were growing
sleepy, though they wouldn't own il.
We had put some chcstnuts ON the fire
roast. and they were popping away.
when Dolly gave a scream that was
enough to make fellows hair stand
up straight. and said she saw man
looking in at the window. | thought il
was only the snow whirling against the
window, or that she was sort OF drowSv,
and dreamed IL, but the next moment |
saw mans face dark, evil-look-
! ing face pressed again the window
pane! Rob saw it, too.
Somebody who has lost his way,
suppose" he said. cOolly. (Whcn he
feels disturbed Rob is ALWAYS particu-
larry coOl) He went To the window,
and so did |, though don't mind own
ing that | stood behind Rob.
The face had disappeared | said
mcbbc it was ghost, but Rob
"pshavcd" at that. He d.csn't believe
there are any such things The next
moment Philly, who had run into the
stting-room because he was so fright
cncd, screamed that the man was look
ing in AT the window there!
"Why doesn't he come To the door if
he wants anythingP" said Rob.
a few moments aftcrward there did
come IA loud rapping at the kitchen
door, which opened directly out-of-
doors.
Who's thore?" demanded Rob.
"a poor belated peddler wantin' a
shlter from the Storm.
| peeped through tho window, and
saw that the man did not have Il ped
d!cr's pack upon his back.
go to Mr.. Macarty's, a quarter of a
mile further on. He'll take you in"
said Rob.
Sure, it isn't afraid of the loiks of
me ye areP' said the voice, coaxingly.
'lts first cousin to Dennis O'Rellv
am, and takin' his thrade now poor
Dennis is gone"
Ever since we were babies Dennis
O'Reilly had come round with his pack,
and Aunt Penelope had bought table
linen and laces of him. and Keziah her
best dresses, and he had always showed
us children everything he had in his
pack, and given us gay pictures and
bits of ribbon off his muslin. We had
mourned old Dennis rs n friend.
If he is Dennis cousin he must be
all right. said !, and was going TO un
bolt the door. but Rob held me back.
Il sha mt let anybody into the house
to-nightr' he said, firmly.
Hurry up and open the door. me
/ honeys,' said the peddler. "Bein' all
alone in the house yecs needs me to per-
tect yees."
How does. he. know but there may
be somebedy STAIRS" said l.
Rob lookelI ihoughtful and queer, but
be didn't cav anything.
"Will yees open the door now. and
save me the thruble?" said the man,
angrily.
Rob and looked at each other then.
at Will trouble him TO open that
door," said ].
1t was strong door, and it had a
good stout bolt on it But Rob was
looking anXiously at the windows.
or course the man could break pane
of glass, and unfastcn the window. east
~ enough unless we prevented him |
seized the poker. Rob rushed into the
hall closet, and brought out Uncle
Rute's old gun. But it was seldom
used, and was not loaded.
If could only get into the barn
chamber. But it would take too LONG
to climb up" he said.
| He stationed himself at one window
with the gun, and stood at the other
\ with the poker, all ready TO give the
\ mans hand some good wfacks if he
| tried to break the window But. after
1 fumbling away at the door for n little
while, be seemed TO have given it up,
and gone away.
] was beginning TO draw LONG
/ breath thinking he had taken Rob's adj
/ vice, and gone on to Mr.. Macarty's.
when we heard him trying the ba k
/ kitchen door That was strong door.
/ too. There was n strong lock i'm it in
/ stead Of bolt.
''Ho won get in there" said I.
But Rob tried TO lock the door be-
/ tween us and the back-kitchen. The
/ lock was old and worn out. and IL
wouldn't fasten
Never mind, said !, "he can't oet
/ into the backkitchen unless he comes
/ through the kcy-hOle "
"Hlark.' said Rob.
There was a picking and SCREAMING
sound. The key fell ont OF the 10 K
| onto the floor IN another moment we
/ heard the door open. just as If il hadn't
been fastened at all, and the man
walked in"
/ lie was big, burlv fellow. with a
/ lot Of black whiskers that didn't look rs
/ if they grew on his face
You see you might ~ well have
T openc the door and saved me the
+ trouble, hc said, scowling at us. "Buf
] r.f ia.