The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-12-14

1Ou OuAit BRt " OC ltiOA-E YOU ftlEs
meg'
why. Why take you whore you win
be properly cared for. OF course
answered Justice McCracken.
"Now. that Ii kind. admit said the
hermit. and he looked ut them with a
strange. amused expression in his eyes.
Believing that they were gaining ground.
they grew boldcr.
Eyes. we wish 10 be kind. We can't
let you perish up here, you know"
me?'
Hem. him: why, you see. Weaver
you see Hillsford has no hospital
and
but you have fixed upon some place
for me. presume:" questioned the her
init. in the tone OF one about TO sur
render.
Yes" spoke up another. 1--WE
thought we would take you TO Johns
town"
"Ah. that's the county seat. isn't IT."
"Xes."
'And the county house is near there.
isn't liz"
YES"
''Well, that's a gecd enough place for
any one who wants TO go there. don't
Now it is time for you to leave" and he
smut the WINDOW.
The besiegers conferred together and
again began to beat upon the door. Feel
ing more courageous when Weaver's
wild eyes were not on them they called
to him that he must consent to go with
them, or they would take him by force.
The window opened once more and re-
vealed the gaunt form of the hermit
grasping a shotgun. Instinetively the
attacking party fell back few PAGES.
a. "a ~ a.
head off any man who again lays n hand
upon my door. am in my own house.
on my own ground. and there is not lays
enough in the republic to permit you to
enter and lay n hand on n man who Is
neither criminal nor pauper. Had you
come here proffering private charity ]
should have resented il, but | should
have respected YOU. As it is will kill
you like dogs II you trouble me a mo-
ment more" And he pointed the gun
at them in n way that was convincing.
Grumblingly they moved away. Hes
right" said the Justice, who had q NOR
tai fear of firearms; "he's not pauper
He owns this ground and lie owns the
house. If he won't come with us will
lingly we shall have to let him alone !"
Hes as crazy as kite, piped up two
or three others, anxious to cover up their
chagrin.
s'IIe ought to be confined as a danger
Gus lunatic," said the doctor. in whose
bosom still rankled Weaver's poisoned
arrow.
They reached Hillsford in a crestfallen
frame of mind. all agreeing that the her
init might die a dozen times over before
they would put themselves out" to do
anything for him again.
Two weeks later. when the weather
was bitter cold, Robby Hart. a sturdy
12-year-old, rushed into lis mothers
sitting room one afternoon. bursting
with news. ''Old Weaver's in town" he
painted.
His mother looked up from her sewing
machine with interest. Like everybody
else in Hillsford she knew the history of
the fr1itless siege of the hermit's cabin.
"Nes. he's here; awful sick. too; out
of his head, and is lying on the floor in
the back part of Hunts grocery. They're
goin' to send him TO the poorhouse at
Johnstown."
''Not in this terrible weather." said
Mrs. Hart, looking alarmed.
''Yes; right off. There's no place here
for him. they say"
mo place for poor old sick man in
all Hillsford? We are not so bad as that,
Robby, am sure"
.'Oh, but | heard Judge Markle and
Deacon White and all of them say so.
It's settled"