Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-02-26

her from discoveryR She chose the
latter alternative, and shrank further
into the. deep shadow of the withered
beech copse.
"a brown house, said one man,
with a big chimney in the middle
and a new stun wall around i'll tell
yer you can't miss it."
a new chill of terror crept through
Olives veins as she recognized the
description of the Jaynesfofd. farm
house. 8
"And how the plague are we TO get
in without rousing the houseg
retorted the second man, rather
harsher and more grating than the
first.
He told me. Thar amt no fasten-
in but hasp on the shed door--it's
easy lifted with bit of crooked wire.
We can slip in when they're asleep,
an whew, the things done J" min
utew
II don't believe in no such way of
goin' to work as that, growled the
second man.
"What would you dol Go around
10 the front door AID rouse 'em all up !
Pshaw, Jim, you're deal too soft
hearted, 6nd that's what I've always
said y
81 don't like the job, anyhow, " sui
leny retortered the old man.
Its soon ever" was the indiffer-
ent reply, "and where's the edds9
Amt it all the same hundred years
from now? Pooh, Jim. | didn't 'spose
YOU was such a soft-stonached Miss
Nancy of a fellerl"
81 amt no wuss than anybody else y
growled Jim, but I'm human, and
I've little gal of my own at home,
no bigger than Jaynesford's little Bes
sic, and"
The Jaynesfords heard her tale with
breathless horror and dismay.
IL knowed itp cried Mrs Jaynes-
ford with prophetic JUNCTION. II told
you how it would be all along, lothian,
but We wouldn't listen to mel I'm a
woman. and women amt worth payin'
no 'tention tor -.
But | don't see what it is they're
arterw honest lothian cried, scratch
ing the bristly black curls of his round
pate. Anyhow, I'll send over for
Deacon Donley's two sons and Joseph
Packer, and we'll give them a good
old-fashioned welcome, let them come
how and when they may. You say
there are only two of 'em, Miss
Olive2'
81 only heard two of them talk
ing" said Olive, "but there may have
been dozen for what | know"
81 guess we can manage 'em, said
hopeful lothian, taking down the gun
from its two hooks over the stone
chimney piece and beginning leisure
ly to inspect it. "Forewarned is
forearmed, they say, and I've alays
found there was a good deal o. solid
truth in them old proverbs my gran
'ther used toquoteW
Evidently there was no sleep for
the Janesford family that night. All
hands silently made their arrange
ments for vigil.
1--WE must kindle up the FIRE and
put out the lights, as usual, at 8
o'clock, ~ said lothian.
Father pleaded little Bessie, ''can
I bring my two pet lambs in out of
the shed2o
Nonsense, child, nonsense" said
Jotham. But he did not further OBJ
iect, 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 gloom
ily: if she had been told that the world
was to come to an end within the next
"a hours, she would still have taken
up her knitting Olive and Bees
sic nestled close to her side, while
lothian paced thoughtfully up and
down the floor, waiting for the arrival
of the auxiharies for whom he had
already dispatched a messenger. The
clock had just struck s, when brisk
knock came to tho door-every one in
the family started as if the simple
sound had been a trumpet of doom.
Don't open the door, lothian ~
gasped Mrs. Jaynesford, but lothian
drew back the bolt nevertheless.
ITS some neighbor," said he
"Why, Jim Ellison and Jake Blocker
I'm right down glad to see vel Bessie,
run right downs stairs, an draw a
pitcher Of cider, and bring up some O
mothers fresh doughnutsw
As the visitors returned their hosts
cordial greeting, Olive uttered loud
cry:
THE men-tAe men l heard talk
ing by the spring" she gasped, feebly.
"Oh, Mr. Janesford, turn them from
your door-they are robbers and muir
derersr
En- Grid lothian. Jim and
Jake robbers and murders l guess
not, Miss olive
Let them answer for themselves, -
cried Olive, Historically. What
bloody deed is it from which one of
them recoiled, but which the other
said would be soon over2 What was
the plot to gain secret Abundance
through the She'd door2 What"
The taller and stouter Of the two
strangers shook with peal after peal
of noiseless laughter.
9TH tell We what twas, miss, before
the little gal comes back, he said, in
Tho ,H bTe1-,~ r-lt,n that haI 80