Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-11
KELLEY, STIGER & CO.,

a fat-iron and two pokers under her
pillow.
And then, mercy on me, how she did
snore, to be sure.
sat before the fire until past o'coclk
finishing a pair of gray mixed stockings
that was knitting for Bob. And then,
rising with yawn, l looked out of the
window. 1t was raining, and
Merciful heavens! started back with
a low cry, as l saw white, wild face
pressed suddenly against the outer side
of the pane-a face made paler still by
the contrast of a heavy black moustache
and hair the most raven-jet I ever saw.
My first impulse was to run and hide,
my second to face the matter out.
What do you want?" [ asked, open
ing the window little way. "Who are
youT
"I am belated traveller. I need
fiood-restm.rags to bind up my hurt
foot. See!"
And then I saw that one of his feet
was bleeding.
hesitated an instant. He perceived
my doubt.
in" he said, bitterly. "Well, | don't
wonder much. But there's no danger.
Let me in, as you have dear father or
brother of your own. Give me but a
crust of bread, a drink Of milk. | will
go on my way with the earliest dawn OF
morning"
My decision was taken at once. His
pale face, his blood-stained foot, his pit
eous voice, so unlike the prOfe ssional
whine of the regular mendicant, all
appealed to my wOmanly pity. 1 re-
membered my brothers. caution, but l
also remembered that there was an un-
"A. ttrt, hn h nd
of the house, fitted up in a rude way for
the occasional sleeping place of the ad-
ditional farms that we needed in the
height of the season of harvest.
$50 around to the farther door," said
l. Il will let you in"
admitted him accordingly. Gaunt,
pale, and limping, he came in.
''There is a bed" said I. "And here
food. While you eat 1 will get salve
and bandage for your foot"
When | returned he was eating as
greedily as if he had not tasted food for
week, and drinking long draughts of
coffee.
"You are hungry" said I, kneeling to
my task.
starvation as have been this day." he
responded, in low, thrilling voice.
THANK you!;young woman--the foot feels
easier now.n
So left him.
had meant to slip across the bolt ON
the outside of the door that led to the
other portion of the house; but 1 now
perceived, for the first time, that the
bolt was not there. Bob must have
taken 1t out, to use in the stables.
A thrill, half of apprehension, passed
through me at this unwelcome discov-
cry.
''No NATTER" said L valiantly, to my
self, Il must risk it. dare say we are
all as safe as fthere were score of bolts
in the door. Only I'm glad Aunt Je-
NINA sleeps so soundly.n
SO went to bed and fell fast asleep in
less than fifteen minutes.
The sound of the old wooden clock
striking three--or something else
rouse me, and, opening my eyeys, saw
the shrouded light of dark lantern in
the room, and its glimmer three men
were searching the contents of the old
hair funk that stood underneath the
window.
started up with scream; probably
the most imprudent thing / could have
done-but did not stop at that instant
OF terror, to measure consequences.
'Stop that gals squeaking pipe,n
muttered a low threatened tone and the
next instant an iron hand was upon my
throat, my eye balls seemed starting
from their sockets and horrible death
by suffocation seemed closing around
me.
In the self same second, however, /
saw the deadly white face of the man l
had SO recently suecored and fed in the