Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-11-08

My good woman, if you are attached
to your master, have very bad news for
YOU
"Grsoio0s Lord!" cried Maggie, sut she
did not open the door much widag-only
enough to thrust her head out Don't scare
me, mister. What is itY"
THE worst you can think of said the
man. Mr.. Van Mott Travelled on the rail
road. There has been an accident
Preserve usr erisd Maggie, letting
the door fall back. And him on his way
! to his wedding. He's burt badly, thenY'
Hes dead said the msn. Dead, and
we've brought hin home
Maggie sat down on chair and began
to cry.
We've done what we could said She
man. The lady he was to marry and
her friends will be dowa tomorrow.
Meanwhile my instructions are that you
snail watch With him, and allow no strane
ers to enter the house There are vain
! able things here, I'm told. and Mr.. Van
Motifs lawyer must take possession of them
and seal them up before strangers have
access tot he rooms.
Oh, dsar, dearr cried old Maggie.
| That it shOuld come to this. Yes, III
watch alone. I'm not afraid, but-oh,
dearr
Then she phrank back and let two
men carry horrible coffin into ths front
psrlor.
They came out with their hats off
and the other man held his also IN his
hand.
81 regret to lsaye yoO all slons in tho
house, he said.
Il don't mind that" said old Maggie,
Quits terrible"
"Lf you would like mo to stay" said the
man.
NO" said Maggie, "pye no fear Of
living or dead folks. You can go"
| Then she locked the door and went in
so the parlor, and putting the candle on
the mantle, looked at the colin through
| her tears.
He was good enough to me, y she said,
"poor Mr.. Archibald! AL this comes of
wanting TO marry at this time OF life, an6
/ gallivanting on railroads. I wonder if
he is changed much. / Il take look, -
and Maggie crossed the room and lifted
the liz covering the face of the enclosed
| body.
~ will take a look" she said to herself
again. II am not afraid Of dead folks.n
In minute more, Maggie dropped the
lid and retreated, shaking from head 10
foot. She had seen within the oufia a
face with its eyes shut, and with banda
ges about the head, aad the ghRstly fea-
| lures of a clown in a circus minus the
red mouth.
But it was a living face we'll chalked
! snd not her masters; and Maggie bnsw
at once that she had been humbsgged-
that this story of her masters death was
a vile lie, and that a burglar lay within
the coffin, ready TO spring upon her and
bind her, and perhaps murder her at any
moment.
| She could of course open the door, end
try 20 escape, but the sccomplicss of the
man were doubtless outside. IL was s
| long distance to the nearest house, and
even if they did not kill her they would
execute their purpose and rob tho place,
| before she returned.
"Master looks natural" said Maggie
| aloud and then tried to collect her
| thoughts.
Van Motifs reyolverB we're in the room,
she knew, loaded, six shots in each. She
could use pistols. She had aimed at
troublesome cats with great success more
than once. If she could seours those
! pistols she felt cafe.
| Poor, dear masterr she sobbed, and
edged toward the back room. Poor
dear masterp She lifted the desk lid
She had them safe.
She glided back to the trent parlor and
sat down on a chair. She turned up heT
slesves and gresped pistol in each hand,
and she watched the coffin quietly. In
half an hour the lid stirred. A cautious
hand crept up TO the side. A wary eye
peePed out; 1t fell upon the armed figure
and closed again.
You'd better said Maggie to herself
Again the head lifted. This time Mag
gle sprang to her fest.
You're fixed quite handy she said
cody. No need OF having you out if
! fire; and can aim frst-raJe, especially
when I'm afraid OF ghosts as be now
The head bobbed down again. Mag
gle rssested herself She knew thi'
could net last very long. 1t was a. she
opposed. moment more and .hs cof-
fin was empty, and ferocious-looking
young fellow sat on its edge and thus ad
| dressed herr
I'VE rneaut to do is all quiet he said
and l don't want to brighten old woman
| Just put them down
I'm not frightened" said Maggie.
"rm coming 70 take them things swsJ
from you" SAID tn. man.
| Come" said Maggie.
He advanced one step. She took aim
and ne lodged, but bullet went through
his left arm, and it dropped by his side
| Furious witk pain he dashed TOWARD
her. She fired again and this time woand
ed him in the night shoulder. Faint aac
rite hslplsss, he staggered against ts'
/ vail.
"There you've done &c, old woman" h
said open the door and let mo out
Ny game is up"
mime isnt, said old Maggie. get intc
your cofln aga n, or this time IN shoe
you through the heart"
The burglar looked pitoously ct her
bu; saw no mercy in her face. de wen
back 70 his cUfin and lay down in II
Blood dripFed from his wounds, and h'
was groving pale. Maggie did not wsn
/ TO see him die before her eyes, bit sh'
| dared not cali aid. To leave this house
before daylight would be TO NEST thi
/ mana r0rn DeuiOp end risk he- own life