The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-10-01

duct" no added, laugnlngly. -dot any
letter or messages you may have to
send ready tonight, Whitney, as we
shall start on the ten o'clock train from
the village tomorrow.
Whitney gave q startled glance at
this intelligence, but soon assumed his
usual self-possessed manner.
Curse the luckl" he muttered, on
reaching his room; II would have mar
ried the girl and got some property in
that way, little greenhorn that she is (;
but If the old duffer goes to Stanton
and finds out I've never seen the place,
that'll end that matter. So I'll be
forced to get at the strong box, where
1 know he keeps good pile. The old
lady is feeble, and can be easily man
aged. Frank Graves and his father
are away threshing, so there'll be no
fear from that quarter. I'll go over to
Lehigh tomorrow for my old pal,
Charles Douglas tell the old lady I'll
be gone for two or three days, but come
back late in the afternoon, and finish
up the job"
He let early in the morning, telling
Jessie that the sunshine of the house
would depart with her presence, and
that he did not expect to Give" but
merely to drag ont blank existence :"
until he saw her again.
A furtive CLEAN of distrust in the
eyes which hitherto had only cast on
him admiring chances, served to further
confirm his purpose of carrying out his
plans that day.
At nine o'clock carriage drove to
the door, curly head was thrust from
the window, then a dainty little foot
was seen on the step, and soon fairy
form was rushing up the walk.
"Why, Dollie," cried Jessie, ecstati-
cally, as she fastened on to the porch,
ais it really you come at last, and when
l least expected you I? How glad
/ am"
Then ensued fervent embrace and
the interchange of many kisses.
"Yes," said Dollie, breathlessly, II
was in Stanton visiting cousin, and l
would not go back home without COM
ing to see you"
This welcome arrival quite changed
Jessie's plans, and it was hastily de-
cided that Mrs. Barnes should accom-
pany her husband, and the two girls
stay at home.
They were enchanted with the pros
pect of long, happy day to them
selves, in which they would talk over
old school-days, girlish secrets, new
dresses, and many other charming
things.
The day passed all too rapidly, and
late in the afternoon they betook them
selves into the parlor to play duets
and sing until the early twilight fell,
when supper-getting was in order.
Don't you feel AFRAID to be alone,
Jessie?" asked Dollie, once.
"Oh, no, mamma and papa will come
back on the eleven o'clock train, and
we can put lamp in the portfolio win
dow if we feel alarmed, and Frank
Graves will come over. We made that
arrangement with each other two years
ago, but it never has been necessary to
carry it into effect"
Il always carry little pistol when 1
travel, and it is in my trunk now; so
we can defend ourselves, since you are
such an expert in target practice" said
Dollie.
A half-hour later pair of sinister
eyes peered at the young girls through
the window blinds, as they still sat in
the parlor.
"Jessie and another girl" was the
startled mental comment of the in
truder. "Bah, the game is not so easy
as thought. Cursed creatures, what
are they doing here? I'll slip out to the
barn and tell Charlie how the land
lies"
Jessie, hear footsteps" said Dol
lie, in low tone; "let us go quickly
and lock all the house. 1t may be some
tramp who knows we are alone"
The girls acted hastily upon this sug-
gestion, and the front and back doors
were closed and barred simultaneously
as the two men issued from the barn.
A torrent of muttered curses greeted
the sound of the closing doors.
"They suspect something" whis-
cred Douglas. "Are you sure there are
but two of them? / heard some one
answer from up stairs while ago when
one of them called"
ooh! well, suppose there are three. I
know there are no firearms in the
house, Come on; we can manage
them"
Twilight had fallen, but the move
ments of one of the stealthily APP
preaching figures, as Jessie watched it
from the side-lights of the back door,
were strangely familiar, and her heart
sank within her.
Some intuition warned her of what
was about to happen. "Dollie, get your
pistol, quick" she said, "and I'll get
mine. We haven't moment to lose.
I'm sure the house will be attacked"
"Tm thankful 1 never mentioned to
Whitney that 1 had pistol" she
thought.
No lamps were lighted, and the girls
kept their ears on the alert to catch
any sound.
"They are on the porch, whispered
Dollie, fortunately the house is not
large and can be more easily guarded.
The windows were the first point of
attack.
The parlor shutters were turned and
a hand thrust through. The window
would next have been broken, when
suddenly pistol-shot rang on the air.