Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-01-31

''On business for the King. and goin' tc
nv house, ehP" answered the person ad
dressed, a good.nstured smile crossing hi,
kindly face. "Well. reckon that's high
honor 10 me. You've got a tramp afore you,
though, Nat-a good seven miles"
al must obey ORDERS" replied Nat. simply
That's right-obe orders. Well, if you
go, tell Mrs. Tracey I'll be home tomorrow
night. Tell her, too, not to be uneasy about
that money bein' in the house. cause III see
to il when come"
"What moneys that ?" asked a fellow
work man, as Nat turned away.
my pension. My claim was allowed
last week, and l got the money-tive hun.
dred dollars, Yesterday. Twas foolish not 10
pu, it in the bank right OF, but didn't and
as didn't have time to 60 TO town yester-
day, had to leave il at h,me. | reckon
it's safe enough, though, until tomorrow
night, and then"
"His, :" interrupted his companion. sud
denly, whats that y
Tracy paused 10 listen.
ii didn', hear anything" he said.
Il thought heard some one over there. y
pursued the other, pointing to a large. high
pile Of boards a few feet distant the
boards being piled in form Of square. with
large cavity in the centre. Most likely
il was rats though
More likely to be rats than anything
else. there's so many about here answered
Tracey. Then he added, joculsrly Maybe
though, it's them burglars that's been play
in mischief round these parts for the last
week or so-maybe their slowed assay in
tha, pile of lumber. Ny. i'll reslly hslisvesl
that Id be uneasy myself for the chspS would
have heard all said about nv pension" \.
What burglars is that p inquired the
other.
What burgiarsg Why man. don't you
read the papers? Why, only Yesterday the
sheriff and his deputies rode by my house
on the hunt for 'em. Last Saturday night.
the, broke into LAWYER Burke's house, in
the village, and carried of about hundred
dollars. and then on Sunda, night, got into
the railroad station. broke into the safe, and
made of with about three hundred more.
That's the biggest Of their hauls. though
they've entered several other places.
The conversation was continued on this
topic 70: few minutes, and then dropped.
Neither Of the men thought il worth while
to investigate the cause Of the noise, and
the, pursued their work for short time
and ~cre then called over TO the other side
of the mill Just as they disappeared, a
face peered over the top OF the board pile
from the inside. another followed n momen,
later and presently two rough, ,illainous
looking men came 10 view. and seeing they
were uhotscr,ed. sprang quickly 10 the
ground and fastened into the forest
Close shave that as bein' a. We was hid
there all las, night and all dsy till now
..,,4 ba kal ,brnp,h H.. t,l.r
brush.
"lcs; ! thought at once them mill chaps
was comm to Look" responded the other.
Good for 'em as they didn't. an took u.
for rats cause the p'lice be on the lookout
now. an We don't want TO use no shootin
irons an make things too hot. We mus,
move on lively from ere, Bill"
But there's tha, ere other chap as said
A. be was a gon' there ?"
Him. He's crazy. an If he goes there
al all he'll only stop b., an move on. \
tap on the headl settle him, ANYWAY, Il
he's there-bui then he uon't be there"
During this time Nat was not idle. His
tall form. with long and steady strides. ~as
fastening forward ION business for the
King" II did not occur 10 him what I've
should DO when he reached TrAcey's and had
been supplied with food. Al present he = a.
"o5eying order" and beyond that bis
thought did not 20. II was indeed long
walk he had undertaken. and IT was jus, al
dusk he reached his destination. The Half
Way House a lonely hostelr,. situated
al the intersection of two roads, with no
other house in sight. and was a common
stopping place for persons passing 10 and
from The CITY. Nat stepped boldly upon the
broad piazza IN front, and with full con.
soiousness Of his right. walked Undertaking
ly into the pleasant sitting room. Mr..
Tracey came forward 10 meet him
WHY. Nat. Is that YOU ~
"lesm," he answered, gra,ely. Il was
told 70 come here an get square meal. The
Ming sent me"
The King sen, You? Well. guess III
have TO give YOU a supper. then said Size
And, BY the way. Nat. did YOU see nv hus.
band On the way here ?"
"ies'm and he said for me to tell YOU
he'd be home to-morrer night. and for you
not TO be uneasy about tha, money"
20. dear, did so hope he'd come thi,
evening" she sighed.
She vas uneasy on account OF the none,
in the house. She had slept but little ,hs
preceding night thinking about it, and had
worried about ii all through the day. and
now another lonely night was before her
A. She vas preparing supper for her gues
another thought came to her. Could sh.
not induce Nat TO stop there for the night
HIS notion OF wandering made il an uncrr.
tain request, and even If he remained with
his beciuudeG intellect. he could not he de
! pended on IN case Of trouble. Still he would
be company. and perhaps he might aid hel
she PRAYED for that-li she needed help
Nat she said. as she poured out gas,
of milk for him, won't YOU stay here 10
nigh,?"
II don't know whether il be ORDERS b.
answered, uncertainty. "Parson said III,
. Ming sent out messengers, an they WASH
To take no money nor nothin' TO eat, an
don't know If il be right to stop"
20, yes it is,' replied Mrs. Tracey. catch
, ing at once an idea of his thought. -.
heard what the parson said, too. When III,
, Kings messenger entered house he wa
/ TO abide there-that is TO stop. Don't ,oi
remember? 2"
Nat considered the proposition.
e "les'm, that's his orders. I'll stop" h
/ said.
! "And, Nat pursued the lady. rendere,
SoSNh W ~ SASNNoc, tucbe ubotHci tHiu
. the King said-you heard it at Sunds
4 school. He said Suffer little children 1
S come unto me'-that is, such little childre
' as mine. there pointing to them a. the
y stood at her side. "And the King said, toe
y .Whosoever shall offend one Of these ittl
e ones it is better for him that mlls,on
5 were hanged about his neck and he wer
B. cast into the sea- The King doesn't wis
any harm to come of his little ones, in an
" way-remember that"
"Yes'm," replied Nat, absently.
well, then" continued Mrs.. Trace,
:, driving the concluding nail in her argument
"if any bad. wicked men should come her
i tonight, and try to hurt me or these littl
y ones that belong to the King, you woul
: help US, wouldn't you?"
She waited anxiously for the reply. M
: looked at her vaguely for moment. an
3 then his eyes wandered aimlessly aroun,
o the room and then back to her. Finally b
e said quietly
The King sent me. I'll obey orders
: How far he understood she did not know
and all her efforts could draw out no NOR
d definite reply, and with that she vas oblige
n | H. IL l..