The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-09-29
A LONE WOMAN.
''Evenin', Miss Dollv!"

Dolly Blake set down two pals of
foamy milk she had carried up from the
! cow-yard, and turned her blooming face
toward the bluff farmer who stood, whip
IN hand, his homespun overalls tucked in
his cow hide boots.
GOOD evening, Mr.. loser. Come in
and have chair, she returned cordi-
ally.
Which ways yer Uncle John?n in
CURED Farmer loser, accepting the rush
bottomed chair Dolly placed for him and
standing his whip on the floor, in the
corner.
"Uncle Johns not at home He's gone
to the city," answered Dolly, bringing
from the pantry crooks in which to strain
the milk.
Farmer loser looked disappointed.
"Aint, hey2 When's he comm homer"
"Not for two or three days, 1 expect.
He and Rob took up drove of sheep to
sell, i" explained Dolly. ''And may be
gone several days Did you wish to see
him particularly, Mr.. Toser?"
oval, yes. did want to see him per-
tickler," returned Farmer Toser, emphat-
ically. "You see I've got five hundred
dollars was a-goin' to pay him fur some
beef-cattle l bought. But seein' he
a-goin, to be gone for that long, mout
as well turn it over to you, Miss Dolly.
an you kin sign fur it, an put it away.
| don't like to kerry it about me no
longer
Dolly received the money and signed
the receipt, as she had frequently done
In similar cases when her Uncle was
away. For Dolly was Uncle Johns bust
ness man, as he often told her, and knew
more of his affairs than even Aunt Cath
crime herself.
''Take good keer of it, Miss Dolly, an
lock the house good, - admonished Far
mer Toser, as he strobe away. "The.e's
some talk lately o robbers around, an
one or two houses has been broke in. "
Robbers And here was five hundred
dollars in the house and only three women
to guard it, Two you might say, for
limp, helpless Aunt Catherine would be
only an added burden in case of trouble.
"But then Susan is as stout as a man,
and plucky, too, " thought Dolly. "And
/ won't say anything to Aunt about the
money or the robbers, either"
After locking up the money she hurrie
down to the cow-yard where Sus an Bow
ers, the buXom help was feeding the
cows and doing up the evening chores at
the barn.
81 sayl" cried Susan. when Dolly had
explained the situation. "Robbers2 l
sh'd think they was. Why, 10 Tllson
says they broke in Canady's house night
afore last, an tuck all the money they
could git, and Miss Canady's old teapot
that was her granma's. l didn't tell We
before fear yed be skeered'
Susan's revelation increased Dolly's
anxiety.
''Don't say word to Aunt Catherine
about it, Susan" she returned. "And
want you to ST. p in my room tonight,
and we'll take the old shotgun with us.
You know how to load it, don't you2"
LOAD it l sh'd say l didm asserted
Susan, confidently :Tf had dollar
fur every time I've loaded a gun, an
fred 1t, to, 1 wouldn't need to be livin'
out now workin' fur wages. But I've
got little money saved up, too, an hid
away safe in a stockin' foot in my burey
drawer l wouldn't like to lose it,
either, kin tell you"
"Well, Susan, you come to my room
and bring the shotgun after Aunt goes
to bed. We mustn't let her know"
"Course not. agreed Susan. "She's
as skeery as a bull frog, anyhow, an, l
reckon she'd hev fit if she heered ther
was robbers round"
dolly" whispered Aunt Catharine,
coming out on the back porch as the two
girls reached the house, there's poor
woman in the kitchen, an I've give her
the cold vittles that was left over from
supper an cup of coffee. reckon we
could make her a bed on the kitchen
fl or, tonight She said she was poor,
lone woman, an hadn't no place to stay.
Dolly and Susan exchanged glances.
but then a woman would be no match
for both of them, reflected Dolly, even If
she had come to rob. And setting down
the bushel basket she had carried up from
:he cow-yard, Dolly went up to her room
make some necessary preparations for
the night
A few moments later, Susan came
mysteriously tiptoeing into the room.
"Dolly," she whispered, cautiously,
"that woman yer aunt tuck in has got
boots on
"Boots I"
''Ies, sir, regular mems boots an she's
big, strappin' cirtter, too, big as any
man. It's my 'pinion she's man with
woman's dress on"