Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-07-14

should hear them, until Garry could no
resist the temptation to tell Bess, who
was sitting by the wood box, that 1
great long arm was reaching out of it t.
grab her.
The shrek with which she greeted
this announcement and the commOtior
that ensued in getting her quieted
rather broke the spell of alarm, anG
they soon began to play together more
naturally thar hey had all day.
But Bess and Garry could not longe,
agree, and, despite all Lizzy's attempts
to quiet them, they soon squabbled
more vigorously than they had in week
past. In despair, Lizzie longed for hel
mothers return. In vain she reminded
them of Uncle Patterson's displeasure
for the time even that had lost its ter
rors. The hands of the clock moved on
to four. BY that time Carry had go.
Bess's 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 hel
down by the dress. Lizzy was almost
distracted between them.
"Ah ha, Bess Milham," cried Garry,
In her most aggravating tone, Il wish
Uncle Patterson could see you now.
Wouldn't he think you was nice, lady
like little girl !"
81 don't care" screamed Bess, resist
ing all Lizzy's efforts to pacify her. 81
wish an old tramp would come and carry
you off. i do"
At this moment the front gate clicked.
"There - 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 moment
with a white face and cried in a tremb-
ling whisper, "Oh, no, it isn't-it's the
tramp! it's the trampi"
And at that moment there came q
laundering knock at the door.
The children stared at one another in
silent terror for moment, and then
Carry began to cry. 81 don't care,
Bess," she whimpered. Its your
fault you went and wished he'd come" "
And for once in her life Bess was too
frightened to resent the charge.
But Lizzie's courage rose to the occa-
sion. "Hush, hush, children ~ she
said, in whisper. 'Don't say q 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 perhaps 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, and then lie can't
see us even if he does look ill.,"
They hurriedly crawled into their hid
ing-place, and sat in a silent, trembling
heap, while the knock ut the door was
repeated once or twice, and then deep,
gruff voice called, "Hi halo is any
body homer" "No." pipes Bess from
under the table, in very shaky tone.
"Hush, Bess Milham !" 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,
+" I must get in somehow; this sun is too
hot for me out here"
Then one of the window blinds turned,
and they saw the horrible monster look
ing in. He was rather an elderly man,
with brown, hard d-featured face, iron
gray hair, and verv grim and decided
looking mouth, faded coat and vest, and
had on his head high beaver hat of the
style of forty years ago. 1t was set we'll
down over his ears, as if il were alittle too
large for him. He gazed into the room
intently, but could not see the children
peering fearfully at him through a 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 all resisted his efforts. Then
all was silent for few moments.
81 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 win
dow 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 foi gotten it
The tramp had found that
one undefended point; he was getting in
the window
What should they dol Should they
unlock the front door and rum No,
the 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
a spirit Of genuine heroism Lizzy de-
termined upon it in an instant. "Carry,"
she cried, "the tramp is getting in the
You take Bess and open the
front DIOR 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 broom,
and rushed into the pantry.
Did Garry and Bess follow out her
lirectionsl Not exactly. They did
indeed follow her out from under the
table, but got no further than the mid
lle of the floor, where they stood hand
IN hand, making the rafters ring with
heir screams.
But their dauntless champion, when
she threw open the pantry door, found