Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-11-05

and whistling. and dashing the snow
against the windows, but it was bright
and warm and coy inside, AMI, II IL had
not been for thinking OF the trouble
about the mortgage, and Keziah and
'Lisha out in the snow, we should have
been very Jolly. Dolly and Philly were
merry enough as it was; they are only
children.
1t was getting toward nine o'clock.
and Dolly and Philly were growing
sleepy, though they wouldn't own it,
We had put some chestnuts on the fire
roast, and they were popping away,
when Dolly gave scream that was
enough to make fellows hair stand
up straight, and said she saw man
looking in ut the window. thought it
was only the snow whirling against tho
window, or that she was sort of drowsy,
and dreamed it, but the next moment L
saw mans face--a dark, evil-look-
ing face-pressed again the window
panel Rob saw it, too.
Somebody who has lost his way, |
suppose" he said, coolly. when he
feels disturbed Rob is always particu-
larly cool) He went TO the window.
and so did |, though don't mind own
inc that / stood behind Rob-
The face had disappeared. | said
mebbe il was ghost, but Rob
''pshawed" at that. He doesn't believe
there are any such things. The next
moment Philly, who had run into the
sitting-room because he was so fright
ened, screamed that the man was look
ing in ut the window therei
"Why doesn't he come To the door If
he wants anythingP" said Rob.
A few moments afterward there did
come loud rapping at the kitchen
door, which opened directly out-of-
doors.
"Who's thereP" demanded Rob.
"a poor belated peddler wantin' a
shilter from the Storm"
l peeped through the window, and
saw that the man did not have ped
dler's pack upon his back.
go to Mr.. Macarty's, u 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.
'It's first cousin to Dennis O'Reilly |
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
bc5 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 as friend.
''If he is Dennis cousin he must be
all right" said /, and was going to I'M
bolt the door, but Rob held me back.
II 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 yees needs me topper
tect yees."
How does he know but there may
be somebody up-stairs?" said l.
Rob looked thoughtful and queer, but
be didn't say anything.
"Will yees open the door now, and
save me the thrublePh said the man,
angrily.
Rob and l looked at each other then.
at will trouble him 10 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.
OF course the man could break q pane
of glass, and unfasten the window, east
ly enough unless we prevented him. |
seized the poker. Rob rushed into the
hall closet, and brought out Uncle
Rufe's old gun. But il was seldom
used, and was not loaded.
.,If an,,lI op1,, cot ;oto tlo Io,,,
chamber. But it would take too long
to climb up" he said.
lie stationed himself at one window
with the gun, and stood at the other
with the poker, all ready 10 give tho
mans hand some good WI acks if he
tried to break the window But, after
fumbling away ut the door for little
while, lie seemed to have given it up,
and gone away.
was Degiuung 70 draw q long
breath thinking he had taken Rob's adj
vice, and gone on to Mr. Macarty's,
when we heard him trying the back
Kitchen t.5or ~. ~. 80" :s S.:'cc- ; dcc-
too. There was strong lock in it in
stead of bolt.
"He won't get in there" said l.
But Rob tried to lock the door be-
tween us and the back-kitcben. The
lock was old and worn out, and il
wouldn't fasten.
"Never mind" said /, che can't get
into the back-kitchen unless he comes
through the key-hole."
"Hark!" said Rob.
There was a picking and sorapine
sound. The key fell out of the locE
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"
He was big, burlv fellow, with {
lot of black whiskers that didn't look q:
if they grew on his face.
"Yon see you might as we'll have
opened the door, and saved me the
trouble" he said, scowling at us. "Bu
it doesn't pay to get mad with such lit
tie rascals.' (He put in great many
very bad words that made it SOUND
awfully). Hurry now, and get me
something to cat and drink-the bes
you got in the house while l make
myself comfortable. It's not likely tha
that hired man of yours will get back TO-
night in such travelling Us this, and if hi
should come could fix him! Do you see
thatp" He took out of his pocket {
pistol, and held it very close indeed tc
Rob's head '.Now you'd better mint
what tell without making any fuss"
He hadn't bit OF any Irish brogut
now, so we knew that must have beer
put on, like his whiskers.
He set down his pack, and put his fee
up to the fire, and lighted cigar, anc
we got him something to eat. liz
looked around, and caught sight o
Dolly's silver mug, and PHILIPS cup
and he got up and examined them, ant
then coolly slipped them into a sort O
pocket on the outside of his pack.
chats good, as far as it goes
Where's the restp And the money!
don't suppose there's much. / shouldn't
have stopped except to make mysel
comfortable, and to keep you from
being lonesome. Now speak right up
and tell me where the silver and The
money isl