The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-08-30

Iregret to leave you all alone in the
house, he said.
don't mind that, said old Maggie, but
it's terrible.
If you would like me to stay said the
man.
No, said Maggie, I've no fear Of living
or dead folks. You can go.
Then she locked the door and went
into the parlor, and putting the candles
on the mantel, looked at the coffin thro'
her tears.
I'll take look, she said to herself, Pm
not afraid of dead folks.
In minute more Maggie dropped the
lid again and retreated, shaking from
head to foot,
She had seen within the coffin face
with its eyes shut, and with bandages
about the head and the ghastly features
of clown in circus, minus the red
mouth.
But it was living face well chalked
and not her masters; and Maggie knew
at once that she had been we'll hum
bugged-that this story of her masters
death was a vile lie, and that burglar
lay within the coffin ready to spring up
on her, aud bind her, and perhaps muir
| der ner AT any moment
She could of course open the door and
try to escape, but the accomplices of the
man were doubtless outside. 1t was a
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 tried to collect her thoughts,
| Van Motifs revolvers were in the room
the knew, loaded, six shots in each, Mag
gle could use pistols. She had aimed at
| troublesome cats with great success more
than once. If she could secure these pts
tolls she felt safe,
Poor, dear master, she sobbed, and
edged toward the back room. Poor dear
master. She lifted the desk lid, She had
them safe.
She glided back to the front parlor and
sat down on a chair She turned up her
sleeved and grasped 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 wiry eye
pePped out: it fell upon the armed figure
and closed again.
You had better, said Maggie to her
self.
Again the head lifted. This time Mag
gle sprang to her feet.
You're fixed quite handy, she said
coolly. No need of laying you out if l
| fire; and can aim first rate, especially
when am afraid of ghosts as be just
now.
The head bobbed down again. Maggie
reseated herself. She knew this could
not last very long. 1t was as she sup
posed. A moment more and the coffin
was empty and ferocious young fellow
sat on its edge and thus addressed her:
We meant to do it all quiet, he said
and don't W ant to Brighten old women.
just put them down.
I'm not frightened, said Maggie,
I'm coming to take them things away
| from yor, said the man.
Come, said Maggie.
He advanced one step, She took aim
and he lodged, but bullet went thro'
his left arm and it dropped by his side.
Furious with pain he dashed toward
her. She fired again and this time
wounded him in the right shoulder.
Faint and quite helpless, he staggered
against the wall.
There you've done it, old woman, he
said. Open the door and let me out. My
game is up.
Mine isn't said old Maggie. Get into
your coffin again or this time I'll shoot
you through the heart,
The burglar looked piteously at her,
but he saw no mercy in her face. He
went back to the coffin and lay down IN
it. Blood dripped from his wounds; and
he was growing pale
Maggie did not want to see him die
before her very eyes. but she dared not
call aid. To leave the house before day
light would be to meet this mans com.
panions and risk her own life, There was
nothing for it but to play the surgeon
herself and in little while she had
stopped the blood and saved the burglars
life.
More than this, she brought him a cup
of tea, and fed him with it as if he had
been baby. Nothing. however, could
induce her to let him get out of his cof-
fin
About one or two o'clock she heard
steps outside, and knew that the other
burglars were near, but her stout heart
never quailed. She trusted in the bars
and bolts and they did not betray her.
The daylight found her sitting quietly
beside her wounded burglar, and the
mikman, bright and early, was the am
bassador who summoned the officers of
justice.
When the bridal party returned next
day the house was neat and tidy, and
Maggie, in her best alpaca told the news
in laconic fashion.
Frightened she said, in answer to the
sympathetic CALCULATIONS of her new
mistress. Frightened Oh, no Fear
WASN'T born in me.