The examiner., 1886-07-10


and the winds lost their fierce, hungry,
howl she went Off to sleep.
Her dreams We're not pleasant and from
one she started up, cold and shivering
and listening for q sound. Was all a
dreamP Harkl light football under her
window, stately tread unwilling to Be
heardl All at once a strong and fearless,
although growing very pale, she noise
lessly left her couch and going to the win
dow, opened it without sound. The
storm had cleared away, the night YVES
calm and starlit now; faint wind just
stirred the wet leaves of the maple-tree
without and she saw, or fancied she saw,
two stealthy moving figures, trying to
open the door; moment and a muttered
blasphemy reached her; then she drew in
her head, and stood with beating, bound
ing heart in her room. What would or
should she do? Jim! She flung on
loose wrapper over her nightdress and
fairly few up to the little attic chamber
occupied by the farm hand. With trem-
bling fingers she wrapped on the door.
No answer, no sound from within.
"Jimr' she called softly. No reply.
She raped again. Still silence. Then a
sudden fear smote her, and she turned
faint under it. Was Jim there, or was
he below making it easy for the burglars
his friends-to enter? On an impulse she
tried the knob, having found it by cropping.
1t turned readily and the door swung
open. By the light which came in at the
little window directly over it she saw that
the bed was unoccupied, and she flew
back. down the stairs, into her fathers
chamber.
Mr.. Lee always kept n sum of money in
the house, and always kept a revolver
within his reach, should he be Weakened
by burglars at night. She knew where,
and she found it speedily as her fingers
closed on it she ceased to tremble; her
girlish face grew set and stern; and she
went out once more to the hallway, and
glided down the stairs. Ere she had
reached the bottom voice in the kitchen,
which was back of the staircase, caught
her ear; a low, hushed voice but coming
to her through the stillness-the voice that
had told her in the evening that Sc YVES
in danger.
She glded like spirit down The stairs,
along the wide, old-fashioned hall, and
paused in the shadow, just without the
kitchen door; and there she saw what
made her white teeth meet in u determin-
alton not to cry out, or faint; for there
were three men in the kitchen; coarse,
horrible fellows two Of them were, the
third-Jim!
jim. yet not the Jim she had known;
w " Al
drawn the water for them for month !;
but JIM, standing straight and tall before
the others, Il froWn on his forehead, his
disfgured lips set in firm lines of iron de-
termination, his blue eyes emitting flashes,
before which the others seemed to quail;
and, as she listened, she found that he was
commanding them, as 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, eve won't spoil this chance, even
for you! We know what we're about, and
there's something worth while picking up
in this farmhouse; there's money some
place. and that's what we want first then,
if we see anything else worth picking up,
why, we pick it up; and we won't be
stopped by anybody. What's the matter
with You? You used to lead US all in this
sort of work"
ssAnd will again! But not tonight.
You will do nothing here; you understand
me?"
Guess DON'T comrade, as Pm in for
work here and now" was the insolent
answer, and it was punished instantly, for
Jlm's right hand sprang out from his side
quick as ga flash and felled the speaker to
The floor with noise quite enough to
waken the seven sleepels. The ruff1an,
who had been silent all along, rather
shrank to a corner and Jim followed him.
els there anything more to be settled?"
he asked grimly. And the girl outside
uttered sharp, shri1 cry, for she saw the
fallel burglar rise on his elbow, revolver
in hand. and aim at the back of the farm
Land, who had been willing to protect her,
but her cry ayailed nothing, for the re-
port rang out with it, and Jim staggered
toward the wall, both hands f ung out as
ba foil Matfia 1nninH fnl Of narC0nn1
safety unmindful of all save the fact that
murder had been done before her eyes,
darted in from the all 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.
s'Stand where you are, both of your the
girl cried fcarlessly. 'Whichever moves
u step will dep
And at that moment Farmer Lee strobe
in through the way which had been opened
by the rufIians followed by two men, evil
IDENTIFY officers In the excitement their
approach had not been noticed. Now the
girl allowed the weapon to fall from her
fingers, and held out her arms to her
father.
s.Oh, save me papai save mep' she cried,
and her father went and lifted her in his
arms, while the strangers covered the bur-
glars with their weapons
1--WE are Fortunate" one of them said;
ave traced one here and we find three.
Hold out your hands, my friend"
There was no demur from the two sur
prised ruffians as they were deity hand
cuffed. Then the officers turned TO the
wounded Jim; they found him dying, the
blood flowing from wound near his
aeart.
ssYou're done for, my fine fellow" one
Of them said, rather carelessly; s'yOu
have escaped u long sentence, my friend"
Matte, who was weeping in her fathe4's
arms, heard the words and came forward.
CIVIL he-Will he die?" she asked,
HE is dying now"
She knelt down, and her tears fell on
the SCARED face.
stOh, am SO sorry! Can do anything
for your You are dying because you
would protect us! I will pray for you,"
she said brokenly. The glazing eyes took
for an instant that glorious light
81 loved you; forgive me-" he whis-
pered 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; 'sthere are more crimes
against him than l could count"
sBut his death was NOBLE" Matte |
whispered softly.
Later her father told her how it CHANGED |
that he arrived SO opportunity; how the |
detectives had come to him in all that
ctorv,, to warn him that thew SuSnected hiS |