The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-09-29


stay all night What shall we do3n
CANT do nothin," was the encour
aging answer "being there amt no lock
on the kitching door. II they was, mout
lock her up in there.
Maybe you are mistaken, Susan.
Maybe she is only poor woman, after
all, " said Dolly, hopefully.
oval, mebbe she is-an' mebbe she
amt" returned Susan, phlegmatically.
'But reckon know boots when | see
EN-. wasn't mistook in them. But
you come down, Dolly, and take peek
for yourself"
And, assuming as much composure as
possible, Dolly went down, carrying a
pillow, while Susan bore an armful OF
old comforts for the poor woman's
bed.
One glance at the tall, powerful figure
convinced Dolly that Susan's suspicious
were correct, while the palpably dis
guised tones of the intruder as she re-
piled very reluctantly to a few questions,
confirmed her fears.
'If twan't so late, " whispered Susan,
when the girls had once more retreated
to Dolly's room, lone of us could go
somers fur help"
''But it's over three miles to Farmer
ToseF's, and that's the nearest place, A."
urged Dolly.
''And Uncle John and Rob have the
horses, so we'd have to walk. And
there's no telling what he might do, be-
fore we'd get back, " said Susan.
mo, Susan, we must do the best we
can, by ourselves. You and together
with the old shotgun--will surely be
more than a match for one man, if he
only has no accomplices.
And so the matter was decided.
Aunt Catherine retired to bed early
with complacent conscience at the
thought of having done her duty to a
poor lone woman, and when all was
still, Susan appeared in Dolly's room
with the old shotgun and her precious
stockin' foot She had also taken the
precaution to bring the carving knife and
the axe.
IF you CANT fire the gun, mebbe you
kin chop him with the axe while I'm
loadin' up agin," she remarked philo-
sophically.
Dolly's room adjoined her aunt's, with
door opening between which was left
unfastened; but Dolly carefully secured
both doors opening into the hall and hav-
ing turned the light down, the two girls
sat prepared to await the coming attack.
Eight o'clock, nine o'clock, ten, eleven
struck and still no sound was heard, and
in spite of their fears the watchers began
TO grow drowsy.
Tired with her days work, Susan lay
down on the foot of the bed where she
had been sitting and by twelve o'clock
her heavy, regular breathing announced
that robbers and all things of like ma
ture had faded from her mind.
Dolly persisted in sitting up, but as
one o'clock struck she found herself
doing in her chair, while confused
medley of axes, shot-guns, and gigantic
figures in womens raiment fitted be-
fore her mind, and at last she sue
cumbed entirely to the somnolent deity
which is said to "knit up the raveled
sleeve Of care, p" when suddenly--cr
crash! bang! the report of a revolver
and the sound of violent alteration
in the hall below aroused the sleepers
from their dreams.
"What-what is it," gasped Susan.
seizing the shotgun, while Dolly hurried
screaming "Murderm at the top of her
voice.
The scuffiing in the hall continued for
short time, then another pistol shot was
heard, and then all was still.
Presently light knock suunded on
Aunt GATHERINGS door, and low, firm
voice called: "Mrs Blake"
'Murder Murder'" shrieked Aunt
Catherine, but Dolly clasped her hands
over her mouth.
"Who is it2" she arlked, reassured by
the tones of the strangers voice.
"A friend, " was the response. "Have
no fears, ladies. The robbers are cap.
tured, and the danger is all over"
Hastily throwing a shawl over her
aunt's shoulders, Dolly, with Susan at
her heels suspiciously clutching the shot
gun, opened the door.
A tall figure stood there-the figure of
the lone woman who had sought shelter
the evening before, But the skirt and
shawl, and the slouchy sun-bonnet were
thrown aside, showing a tall, muscular
looking man, clad in his own proper
habiliments.
The disguised tones were gone, too,
ana the stranger, IN a reassurlng voice,
explained the mystery, Susan, in the
meantime, clinging bravely to her gun
and eying him apprehensively.
II am a detective, Miss Blake, he an
nOunced, addressing Dolly" and have
been on the track of these burglars for
some time. Hearing they intended to
attack your house tonight, l adopted
the plan of Disgusting myself as a women,
in case they should be on the watch, and
thus securing a position in the house.
was anxious to capture them both, you
see, and have done so. They are bound
and handcuifed in the hall below, and
with your permission ! will remain here
with them until daylight, as l have given
orders for boy to meet me here with a
wagon at that time.
OF course the permission was given.
"But the pistol sLots2" asked Dolly.
"Was no one hurt?"
"Oh, the fellows fred at me once or
fxUica hafora | aopf1rad than, - raf1rnal