Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1888-12-08

distance the echo of voices reach ed
him-careless laughter and stray sem
fences here and there.
''It's Bolton and Ralph Weir, coming
back to the inn after their days shoot
ing" he thought. "If l could only
get word to them!'
He tore leaf from his pocket book
scrubbed lin @ or two on it as well as
he could in the uncerta dusk, and.
wrapping it around his watch. flung it
as far as his aim could reach toward
the swampJ
"Matters are getting serious" he
said to himself
But the missive had not been without
use.
"Hellor' said Weir; "a sh ooting
star"
"a white birdr' exclaimed Bolton,
checking his long, swinging stride.
mo, it isn't either. it's a watch with
8 letter wrapped around it."
And then. in the swampv Businesses.
by the light of q few matches. they
deciphered the cry for aid which had
come from the plum tree.
"Whew-w-wn' said Weir. Lets 60
and shoot the dog"
Lets do nothing of the sort" said
Bolton. "What would we-or poor,
old W. nton. elther-gain by declarin z
direct war in that sort of wayP Let's
be polite or nothing"
And he fired his rife three times in
the air, sort of signal recognition of
his prisoned friend.
whats that?" said Mr.. Brown,
who was computing the interest on @
promissory note at the sltting-room
table by the light of kerosene lamp.
81 dunno" said Rue. "unless it's
Deacon Hall shootin' weazels in his
henroost."
ooh, Uncle Brown" cried Bella,
with clasped hands, II hope there are
no burglars around.
'Never heard of such a thing in all
Bean Hollow. my dear, said the oil d
man.
in the dead of that same night
however, two masked men appeared
mysteriously in Mr. Browns bed.
room.
Your money or your life. " said
one.
''Miser. unhand your treasures!'
shouted the other.
Old Mr.. Brown lay quaking there,
quite hopelessly. when. in an instant,
1.-the form sprang through the open
window. balancing itself q second on
the sill. and then fastened TO the res
cue.
A brief struggle ensued; but at las
the masked burglars fed precipitate-
ly. Caesar barking wildly at thom,
and straining his chain to the utmost
in his effort to wreak his vengeance
upon them.
Young fellow" cried the old man,
scrambling out of bed, you've saved
my life, beside the Government coup.
ons that were under my pillow.
What can do to reward your"
H. was very pale and rembled
violently.
I'D like something to eat, if you
please. slr," said Wynton. TO tell
you tho truth, I've just come out of
the plum tree"
''Yes. l know" said Brown. recov,
ering himself u little. YOU'RE the
fellow that is in love with our Bella;
amt youP"
Il don't deny it, sir" said Wynton,
boldly.
well. you deserve her, said Mr..
Brown; land you shall have her. 1t
was that ordered the dog chained up
to the plum-tree l meant to balk
you if | could. but I've changed my
mind. | should have been a dead
man, young fellow if it hadn't been
for you. Come right down stairs this
moment Nothing in this house is too
good for you!''
And he wrung Wvnton's hand until
it seemed as is it were grasped in an
iron wise.
A strange midnight collation. it was
the coffee and cold fowl. and biscuits
and tongue. eaten with Bella nesting
close to his side, and Mr. Brown heap
ing all sorts of indscriminate dainties
upon his plato. while old Zeruiah' S
face glowed out of darkness of the
kitchen like a badly lighted polyopti-
con. But happy one--yes. very
happy one
A constabulary force of Bean Hol-
low were promptly notified the next
morning, and search instituted. but
to no avail. Nothing was ever heard
of the two masked burglars.
But when Mr. Wynton came back to
the Bean Hollow inn, the following
day, to order his portmanteau remov-
ed to the Brown farm, house, and bid
his late colleagues adieu. he wrung
Belton's hand alternately with that of
Weir.
Il don't know how l can ever thank
you, BOYS" sad he. Not for the
rescue from a rather sorry plight
brute force could have done that with
blow on the dogs head-but for
the manner of it I'm a great man
now in old Browns estimation. and
Bella thinks [ an q hero. And its ali