The Russellville Democrat., 1888-07-12

could not resist the temptation to tell Bess, who was sitting by The wood box, that great long arm was reach ing out of it to grab herl
 The shriek with which she greeted this announcement and the commo- tion that ensued in getting her quieted rather broke the spell oi alarm, and they soon began to play together more naturally than they had all day.
 But Bess and Carry could not long agree, and, despite all Lizay's attempts to quiet them, they soon squabbled more vigorously than they had for q week past. In despair, Lizzy longed for her mothers return. In vain she reminded them of Uncle Patterson's displeasure; for the time even that had lost it's terrors. The hand of the clock moved on to four. By that time Carry had got Bess' doll and was standing on chair holding it above her head, while Bess belabored her as high as she could reach and in the utmost wrath tried to pull her down by the dress. Lizzy was almost distracted be- tween them.
 "Ah ha, Bess Milham," cried Carry, in her most aggravating tone, II wish Uncle Patterson could see now Wouldn't he think you was a nice, lady like little girln'
 Il don't care, !" screamed Bess, resist ing all Lizzy's efforts to paeify her. "I wish an old tramp would como and carry you off. l do-"
 At this moment the front gate clicked. "Therew said Lizzy, there's mamma coming back, and I'm glad of it. She ran to the window and peeped through the blinds, but ran back in a moment with white face and cried in trembling whisper, "0h, no, it isn't its the tramp! it's the tranip!n
 And at that moment there came a laundering knock at the door.
 The children stared at one another in silent terror for moment, and then Carry began to cry. ''l don't care, Bess," she whimpered its your fault! you went and wishedhe'd come" :" And for once in her life Bess was too frightened to resent the charge. But Lizzy's courage rose to the occa- sion. Hush, hush, childrenm she said. in a whisper. Don't say word, and he won't know we're here. He can't get in, and mamma will soon be home. Let him knock, The blinds and windows are all locked, and per haps he'll go away when he finds he | can't get in Come, let's get under the table here and pull the cover down, l and then he can't see us even if he | does look inn
 They hurriedly crawled into their hiding place, and sat in silent, trem- bling heap, while the knock at the door was repeated once or twice, and then a deep, gruff voice called: Hi! hallo! is any body home?" "Non' piped Bess from under the table, in a very shaky tone. Hush. Bess Milhamr' said Lizzy. She was evidently not heard, for the strange man knocked again as if he would beat in the door, and they heard him say: Il must get in somehow; this sun is too hot for me l out here"
 Then one of the window blinds turned, and they saw the horrible monster looking in. He was rather an elderly man, with a brown, hard-feat- ured face, iron-gray hair, and a very grim and decided-looling mouth. He | wore an old, faded coat and vest, and had on his head high beaver hat of the style of forty years ago, It was set well down over his ears as | if it were little too large for him. He | gazed into the room intently, but could not see the children peering fearfully at him through hole in the table-cloth which hung over them. He muttered something to himself and shook the blinds, but they were fast. Then they heard him go around the house, trying one window after another, but they resisted all his efforts. Then all was silent for few moments.
 'I guess he's gone away whispered Lizzy But hardly had the words been spoken when there came an awful sound from the pantry-the sound of a | window being raised! And at that moment it flashed over Lizzy's mind that there was no fastening to the pantry window--and, in fact, that she had forgotten it altogether. The tramp had found that one undefended point; he was getting in through the window What should they doP Should they | unlock the front door and run? No, those bolts were hard to move, and the man would be in before they could get out, and, besides, he could easily catch them.
 There was but one thing to do, and, in spirit of genuine heroism, Lizzy determined upon it in an instant. Carry she cried, "the tramp is get ting in the window! You take Bess and open the front door and run, and I'll keep him back till you get away, and so saying, she scrambled out from under the table, caught up the nearest available weapon, which happened to be the best broor, and rushed into the | pantry.
 Did Carry and Bess carry out her directions? Not exactly! They did, indeed, follow her out from under the table, but got no further than the mid dle of the floor, where they stood hand in hand, making the rafters ring with their screams.
 But their dauntless champion, when she threw open the pantry door, found her worst fears realized. The strange man had, indeed, got the window
 raised, and was on his way in. He had pitched an old-fashioned carpet
 sack and a large faded umbrella through before him, and had then him. self climbed laboriously and rheumat. n. IL. A !