The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-04-22

Olive, but there may have been dozen,
for what know"
81 guess we can manage 'em, said hope
full lothian, taking down the gun from its
two hooks over the stone chimney-piece,
and beginning leisurely to inspect it.
"' Forewarned is forearmed, they say, and
I've always found there was good deal o.
solid truth in them old proverbs my
gran'ther used to quotsl"
Evidently there was no sleep for the
,Jaynesford family that night All hands
silently made their arrangements for vigil
We must kindle up the fire and put out
she lights, as usual, at nine O'clock" said
lothian.
"Father," pleaded little Bessie, scan l
bring my two pet lambs in out of the
shed2 ?"
Nonsense, child, nonsense" said
lothian. But he did not further object,
and Bessie made bed for the two pets in
the shaving basket in the corner of the
roomy old kitchen, greatly to their mutual
content.
Mrs. Jaynesford sat knitting gloomily !;
If she had been told that the world was TO
hours, she would still have taken up her
knitting-and Olive and Bessie nestled close
10 her side, while lothian paced thought.
fully up and down the floor, waiting for the
arrival of the auxiliaries for whom he had
already dispatched messenger. The clock
had just struck eight when brisk knock
came to the door-every one of the family
started as if the simple sound had been O
trumpet of doom.
Don't open the door, lothian !" gasped
Mrs. Jaynesford, but lothian drew back the
bolt nevertheless.
81 It's some neighbour" said he. Why,
Jim Ellison and Jake Becker I'm right
down glad to see vel Bessie, run RICH.
down stairs, nm draw pitcher of cider,
and bring up some o. mothers fresh dough
nuts"
AS the visitors returned their hosts cor
dial greeting, Olive uttered loud cry
:" The men-the men heard talking by
the spring !" she gasped, feebly. 40, Mr.
Jaynesford, turn them from your door
they are robbers and murderers !"
"Eh p cried lothian. "Jim and Jake
robbers and murderersl Iguess not, Miss
Olive.o
i" Let them answer for themselves" cried
Olive, Historically. "What bloody deed d
1t from which one of them recoiled, bui
which the other said would be soon over ?
What was the plot to gain secret admittanct
through the shed door2 What"
The taller and stouter of the two stran
gers shook With peal after peal of noiselesi
laughter.
"Pll tel ye what twas, miss, before the
little gal comes back, he said, in the gruff
husky voice that had 80 terrified Olive Mori
son by the twilight spring. 81 said ther
twas an ugly job, and won't say no lesi
nowl Jaynesford, he sold me them lamb
o his little gal's-I drive meat cart, mis-
and he told me to come on the sly and
get 'em away, for she was dretful fond o'
EN-. So when we come tonight, and found
hey wasn't in the outshed, says l to jake
pieele,, says I, We've jea' got TO go an
ask up an down for 'em !; SO knocked, an
here we be-"
g Is that all ?" sighed Olive, with fac,
of inexpressible relief, 90, have been SC
terrified"
And she broke into hysteric laughter,
while Mrs Jaynesford sat by, half disap.
pointed that there had been no mortal peril
after all.
So faded away the only appearance Of
danger that molested the quiet western vale,
and that was the last the Jaynesford family
aver heard of robbers, burglars and muir
ierers.
But Mrs. Jaynesford had bought big
box-lock, and affixed it to the shed door,
and takes great delight in tremendously
locking it every night Of her life.
+" You can't be too careful" says Mrs
Jaynesford.