Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-12-08

! Delt ABOUT MS WAIST and Deggeu tndt
it might remain there no matter how
I, Ill he became.
Louis had been gone several days
and life had gone on as usual in the
little cabin, which Mrs. Stacy and
Laura had managed to make comfort
able and home-like after much trouble
and with many ingenious contrivances.
Much of Mrs. Stacy's time was spent
with Arthur Morris, who grew restless
and feverish il left alone. Laura, too,
frequently read and talked to the Ia
valid, unconscious that his handsome.
worn face and dark eyes had caused a
more tender feeling than compassion to
find place in her heart.
The cabin consisted Of three rooms
on the ground floor-a main room, used
for cooking, eating and general pur-
poses: a bedroom, and a small room
used as pantry.
Beneath was deep cellar, where
provisions were kept in the summer,
and even in the winter. for frost never
ente1ed the deep hole Louis Stacey had
dug. Above was loft, reached by a
ladder from the pantry, and here the
two women slept, giving their sick
guest the pleasant room on the first
| floor.
1t was nearly midnight of the fifth
day Of Louis absence, when Laura
was aroused by hearing noise at the
cabin. Not disturbing her aunt, who
was sleeping heavily, worn out by
watching with the invalid the previous
night, the brave girl hastily threw on
her clothes and descended the ladder
lust as the door of the main room
opened, and two men in bare feet en-
tered, carrying a lantern.
They started little at seeing Laura,
standing silent and motionless with
lighted candle in her hand. One of
them. a tall, burly fellow, with an evil
eye, advanced toward her and shook his
fist Ia her face.
'Speak one word above a whisper"
he said, ''and 1 will put bullet through
your BRAIN" flourishing huge revolver
as he spoke.
Laura knew that if she disobeyed
the command the threat would be car
ried into execution, and recovering
from her terror she asked the men IN an
unfaltering voice what they wanted.
I'VE want that money.belt on the
STRANGER you have here" was the reply
in hoarse whisper. I'VE know all
about it, so you needn't lie to US, Tell
us where II is, and be quick about 1t. y
"Surely you would not rob a sick
manp" said Laura, trying to gam time
and think what was best to be done in
this terrible emergency. SIT would
certainly Kill him be reused in such n
brutal manner"
''We won't give him any chance to
speak, growled the man who held the
lantern. "He'll never know what hurt
him. Harry up, girl, we're wasting
time. Is he up in the loft?'
laura turned deathly pale. In that
terrible moment she realized how dear
10 aeS al eEul Morris ha1 become, and
she resolved to save his life even if
she had to sacrifice her own.
This way, gentlemen" she said,
softly; and she turned toward door
situlted midway between the bedroom
of the invalid and the pantry. She
opened it a little way. ''Do you hear
him breathe?" she asked.
"Yes, yes," answered the ruiliins;
but it was the heavy breathing of Mrs.
Stacy in the loft above that they heard.
Laura threw the door wide open; it
opened inward. Then the men saw
dark void and pressed eagerly forward,
not even stopping to throw the light OF
their lantern on the place.
At this instant Laura sprang back
and threw herself with all her force
upon the rear man. and the next in
slant there was heavy fall, a crash of
tie broken, lantern and a volley OF
oaths, for both men lay at the bottom
of the cellar.
But the danger was not over by any
means. Laura knew that the men
would mount the ladder at once and
there was no way of fastening the door,
AID so Laura sprang to the Fireplace
and caught Louis revolver from the
rude mantel, while she offered a prayer
for courage and strength.
She heard the deep curses OF the vii
lalns as they searched for the ladder,
and the next instant head appeared
above the threshold.
The candle threw faint light on the
scene, but 1t was enough to enable
Laura to see.
"Backr' she cried; but the order was
not obeyed.
The robber raised his pistol, and
Laura knew that unless she fired at
once size was lost-Arthur. too.
With these thoughts flashing through
her mind, she leveled her deadly
weapon at the man, and, as sharp re-
port went ringing through the cabin,
deep groan and the sound OF heavy
fall came from the cellar.
But the creakIng of the ladder
showed that the other robber was about
to dare his fate, ard he appeared above
the threshold, pistol in hand. But
Laura was too quick for him. A
second report, and again came groan
and the sound of heavy fall.
The brave girl, overcome at last,
sank to the floor just as her aunt came
rushing into the loom, frightened al
most out of her senses, and the door OF
Arthur's room opened and he appeared,
worn and ghost-like. to inquire the
cause Of the shots which bad reused
him from his sleep.
.sGreat heavensl'' he cried, as he saw
Laura crouching on the floor. "Are
you hurt? Laura, my darling, speak
to mel Are you injured?"
Perhaps In that moment of terror Ar
thur Morris heart was revealed to
him, and he knew he loved the niece Of
this Arkansas hunter.
mo, no." faltered the girl, rouslng
herself. 81 am not hurt. But 1 sho.
two men in the cellar-and-and-"
But she could 90 no further, for her
eyes closed and she lost consciousness.
Perhaps Arthur's kisses were more
efficacious in restoring her than h-r
aunt's dippers OF cold water. But the
faint was not very long one, and she
was soon able to tell the whole story
of the assault.
So there was a quiet wedding In the
cabin one day in the early summer, and
the girl, who had so truly earned her
right to her husband, set out with
him on a Journey to a comfortable
home within the borders OF clvlliza-
ton, where there was no danger OF
being murdered by border desperadoes.