Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-09

found II speedily As her Ihngers closed on
II they ceased to tremble; her girlish face
grew set and stern aud she wont out once
more to the hallway, aud glided down the
stairs. Ere she had reached the bottom
voice in the kitchen, which was back OF the
stairway, caught her ear; n low, hushed
voice. but coming to herthrough the stiffness
the voice that had told her in the evening that
she was in danger.
She gided like a spirit down the stairs,
along the wide, old fashioned hall, and paused
in the shadows, just without the kitchen door;
and there she saw what made her white teeth
meet in determination not to cry out or faint
for there were three men in the kitchen
coarse, horrible fellows two Of them were the
thrd-Jim
Jim, yet not the Jim she had known not
the Jim who had hewn out the wood and
drawn the water for them for a month but
Jim, standing straight and tall before the 9th
ers, frown on his forehead, his dsfgurod
lips set in firm determination, his blue eyes
emitting flashes before which the others SEEM
cd TO quail and ~ she listened she found that
he was commanding them, az one who had
the right to do so, to go quietly away, and
leave no trace behind them.
ooh, come, comrade," one said swagger-
ingly, I'VE won't spoil this chance, even for
you We know what we're about and there's
something worth while picking up in this
farm house there's some money somewhere,
and and that's what we want first then il we
see anything else worth picking up, why, we'll
pick it up and we won't be stopped by any
body. What's the matter with your You
used to lead us all in this sort of work"
"Aud will again But not to night. You
will do nothing here you understand me Z"
Guess l don't, comrade, as Im in for
work here and now, " was the insolent answer,
and il was punished instantly, for Jim's right
hand sprung out from his side quick as flash
and felled the speaker to the floor with noise
quite enough to waken the seven sleepers
The ruffian, who had been silent all along
rather shrank to a corner and jun followed
him.
us there anything more to be settled p he
asked grimly. And the girl outside uttered
sharp, shrll cry, for she saw the fallen bur.
gar rise on his elbow, revolver in hand, and
aim at the back of the farm hand who had
been willing to protect her, but her cry avail
ed nothing, for the report rang out with it,
and Jim staggered toward the wall, both
hands flung out az he fell and Matte, un-
mindful OF all save the fact that murder had
been done before her eyes, darted in from the
hall and knelt, still with the revolver in her
hand, over the PROSTATE man by this time
the one he had struck down had regained his
feet
lbN hio oOth VI gOus tho
girl cried, fearlessly. Whichever moves
step will die!'
And at that moment Farmer Lee strobe in
through the way which had been opened by
the ruffians, followed by two men, evidently
officers. In the excitement their appearance
had not been noticed. Now the girl allowed
the weapon to fall from her fingers, aud held
out her hands to her father.
"Oh, save me, papa, save me - she cried,
the strangers covered the burglars with their
weapons.
1--WE are fortunate" one of them said we
traced one of them here and took three. Hold
out your hands, my friend"
There WAS no demur from the surprised
ruffians as they were deity handcufed Then
the officers turned to the wounded Jim they
found him dying, the blood flowing from
wound near his heart.
You're done for, my fine fellow, one of
them said rather csrelessly you have es-
capped long sentence, my friend"
Matte, who was weeping in her fathers
arms heard the words and came forward.
"Will he die will he die p she asked,
shudderingly.
He is dying now
She knelt down and her tears fell on the
SCARED face.
'Oh | sm so sorry Can l do anything
for your You are dying because you would
protect us 1 will pray for you" she said
brokenly. The glazing eyel took for an in
slant that glorious light.
II loved you; forgive me, he whispered
and moment later he was dead.
The worst and most desperate of the gang;
the head Of it, in fact one of the officers
said there are more crimes against him
than could count"
Bat his death was noble" Matte whs-
pered softly"
Later her father told her how ii CHANGED
that he arrived so OPPORTUNITY how the de-
teetives had come to him in that storm to warn
him that they suspected his farm hand of
being one whom they had long sought, and
asking him to accompany them back to his
farm that be might not escape how they had
lost no time and had arrived in a moment
when they we're sadly needed when only
frail girl faced two murderous men far from
assistance.
but he tried to save me, >" the girl sobbed,
with a kindness in her heart that would never
leave it for the farm hand jim. Mary O..
FrestOn in PhiLddelphid CAL.