The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-17

enough TO thrust her head out. Dom sea r,
me, mister. What is it?'
"The worst you can think Of said tn,
man. MIR. ar Mott Travelled on the rail
oad. There has been an accident
Preserve us" cried Maggie, lettine
the door fall back. And him on his wa,
20 his wedding. He's burt badly, then
He's dead said the man. Dead, ane
we've brought him home
Maggie sat down on a chair aud begar
10 cry.
We've done what we could said the
man. The lady he was to marry and
! her friends will be down tomorrow
Meanwhile my instructions are that you
shall watch With him, and allow no strang
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 dear, dear!' cried old Maggie.
| That 1t should come TO this. Yos, III
wafcn alone. I'm not afraid, bnt-oh.
dearr
Then she shrank back and let two
men carry a horrible coffin into tho front
parlor.
They came ont with Their hats off.
and the other man held his also in his
hand.
&! regret to Leave yop all alone in the
house, he said.
don't mind that" said old Maggie,
"But's terrible"
"If you would like me to stay" said the
man.
No." said Maggie, "I've no fear of
living or dead fol,s. You can 60"
THEN she locked the door and went in
to the parlor, and putting the candle on
the mantle, looked at the cotlin through
her tears.
he was good enough to me-" she said,
"poor Mr.. Archibald! All this comes of
wanting to marry at this time of life, and
9aliivanting on railroads. | wonder IL
he is changed much. / IL take a look"
and Maggie crossed the room and lifted
the lid covering the face of the enclosed
body.
Il will take look" she said to herself
again. II am not afraid of dead felix's"
In minute more, Maggie dropped the
lid aud retrcated, shaking from head TO
foot. She had seen within the coffi a
face with its eyes shut, and with banda
ges about the head. and the CHASTITY fea-
lures of clown in a circus minus the
red mouth.
But 1t was living face we'll chalked
aha not her master's; and Maggie bnew
at once that she had been humbugged-
that this story of her masters death was
vile lie, and that burglar lay xithin
the coffin, ready to spring upon her and
bind her, and perhaps murder her at any
moment.
shs could of course open the door, and
try TO escape, but the accom- plices of the
man wrre doubtless outside. It was
long distance to the nearest house, and
even if they did not kill her they would
execute their purpose and rob the place.
before she returned.
"Master looks natural" said Maggie
aloud and then tried to collect her
thoughts.
Van Motifs revolvers were 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. il she could secure those
pistols she felt safe.
Poor, dear master! she sobbed, and
edged toward the back room. Poor
dear master! She lifted the desk lid. |
Shs had them safe.
She glided back to the front parlor and |
sat down on n chair. She turned up her |
sleeves and grasped pistol in each hand, |
and she watched the coffin quietly. In |
half an hour the lid stirred. A cautious
hand crept up 10 the side. 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 feet.
You're fixed quite handy, she said
'ooiy. No need of having you out if
ire; and can aim first-rate, especially
when I'm afraid of ghosts as l be now.'
The head bobbed down again. Mag
gle reseated herself. She knew this
'ould not last very long. 1t was as she
upposed. moment more and the cof-
In was empty, and a ferocious- looking
Ioung fellow sat on its edge, and thus ad-
dressed her.
We meaut tn do it all quiet he said;
and don't want 10 frighten old women.
nst put them down..
I'm not frightened" said Maggie.
"fm coming TO take them things away
rom you" SAID the man.
Come" said Maggie.
He advanced one step. She took aim,
nd he lodged, but bullet went through
liz left arm, and it dropped by his side.
Furious with pain he dashed toward
er. She fired again and this time wound.
d him in the right shoulder. Faint aad
mite helpless, he staggered against tbs
rail-.
There you've done it, old woman," he
aid. open the door and let me out
iy game Is up"
mine isn't, said old Maggie, get into
our coffin aga n, or this time I'll shoot
ou through the heart"
The burglar looked piteously at her,
ut saw no mercy in her face. He went
ack TO his coffin and lay down in it,
Hood dripFed from his wounds, and ho
'as growing pale. Maggie did not want
0 see him die before her eyes, but she
ared not call aid. To leave the house
efore daylight would be to meet this '
lan's companion end risk her own life. |
here was nothing for il but to play the
argeun himself, and il little while she ,
ad stopped the flood and saved the
urglar's life. More than this, she !
rought him cup of tea, and fed him =
18th II as If he had been baby. Nothing {