The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-05

"That's right-obey orders. We'll, if ou go, tell Mrs. Tracy I'll be home to- morrow night. Tell her, too, not to be uneasy akout that money bein' in the house. cause I'll sec to it when come"
 "What moneys that !" asked fellow workman, as Nat turned away.
 My pension. My claim was allowed las, week, and l got the money-S5oo, yesterday. was foolish not 10 put it in the bank right of, but didn't, and az didn't have time to go to town yesterday, 1 had to leave it at home. l reckon it's safe enough, though, till tomorrow night, and then"
 Hist" interrupted his companion, suddenly. "What's thaiI'
 Tracy paused to listen.
 :" 1 didn't hear anything" he said.
 thought l heard some one over there," pursued the other, pointing to a large, high pile of boards few feet dis tant-the boards being piled in the form of a square with large cavity in the centre. "Most likely it was rats. though"
 "More likely to be rats than anything else. there's so many about here," an- swered Tracy. Then he added, jocularly l: Maybe, though, it's them burglars that's been playin' mischief round these parts for the last week or so-maybe they're slowed away in tbat pile of lumber. My !. if really believed that I'd be uneasy my self, for the chaps would have heard all said about my pension"
 What burglars is that :' inquired the other.
 What burglars: Why, man, don't you read the papers? Why, only yester- day the sheriff and his deputies rode by my house on the hunt for lem Last Sat urday night they broke into Lawyer Burke's house, in the village and carried oit about sIoo and then on sunday night got into the railroad station, broke open the safe, and made off with about ,oo more. That's the biggest of their hauls, though they've entered several other places
 The conversation was continued on this topic for a few minutes, and then dropped. Neither of the men thought it worth while to investigate the cause of the noise, and they pursued their work Tor short time and were then called over to the other side of the mill. lust as they disappeared face peered over he top of the board pile from the inside, another followed a moment later, and presently two rough, villanous looking men came into view, and seeing they were unobsersed. sprang quickly 10 the ground and hastened into the forest.
 Close shave that, as beln' as we was hld there all last night and all day till now. said one, as he pushed through the 
 Yes l thought once them mill chaps was comm to look. responded the other. . Good for 'em IS they didn't, an took us 'or rats: cause the p'iice be on the look oei now an we don't want to use no shootln irons an make things too hot. We must move on lively from ere, Bill"
 " ot tlll we git that ere pension,' an- swered Bill, significantly. ''Tha, lay out were as good as pitched at us, an it'll be a pity not to take it. Sides. the gov'ment owes me pension for all the tune I've lost m Jails an prisons, an this 'ere's good chance to get il. knows where the crib IS. cause we stopped there last week for somethin to eat, don't you mind. This feller that owns it was there at the time. There IS nobody but woman an two little 'uns, an they're easy fixed, an there amt no other house nigh"
 y" Bu, there's that ere other chap as said IS he was goln there 2''
 Him: He's crazy, an if he goes here a' all, he'll only stop bit an move ,n. \ tap on the head'll settle him. any way, fl he's ,here-hu, then he won't be here
 During this time Nat was no, de. His lall form. with long and steady stride. was hastening forward on business for the King. IL did not occur 10 him wha, he should do when he reached Tracy's and had been supplied with food. Al present he was " obeying orders" and beyond that his thoughts did not go. It was indeed long walk he had under taken. and It was just al dusk he reached h's destination. The Halfway house Sas d lonely hostelry. situated at the in- ersec,lon of two roads. with no other house in sight, and was common stop ping place for persons passing 10 and rom the city. Nat stepped boldly upon inc broad piazza in front, and with full consciousness of his right. walked unhes- 'a,ingly into the pleasant si,,ing-room. Mrs. Tracy came forward to mee, him.
 Why, Nat, is tha, you:"
 " Yes m. he answered grave,y. II sas told to come here an ge, square neal. The King sent me- . The King sent you: Well. guess I'll have 10 get you a supper, then" said I 'he And, by the way, Nat, did you ice my husband on the way here?"
 Yes m and he said for me to tell you ne d be home to-morrer night and for | iou not to be uneasy about that money" {
 " Oh, dear. l did so hope he'd come his evening" she sighed.
 Sht was uneasy on account of the money n the house. She had slep, bu, little he preceding night thinking abou, it, and had worried about 1t all through the l day, and now another lonely nigh, was before her. As she was preparing SUD- per for her gues, another though, came .o her. Could she not ipduce N at to stsn