The national leader., 1889-02-09

me several hours to thread. Seating
myself on log, commenced to reason
, as to the best method Of regainiDg my
bearings. when the sound Of voices fell
upon my ear. Congratulating myself,
l arUse and approached the spot from
| whence the voices seemed to issue,
! when my steps were arrested by the
i words:
L tell you there's two thousand
dollars in the house, from the sale Of
that mountain land, and if we don't
get 1t tonight, the jig's up, for she
means to bank il Tomorrow
And yer want US to do the work and
60 halves growled a deep voice.
'Them's hard terms, my beauty, to risk
prison fur
Who asks you to do all the work2'
continued the nrSt voice, angrily.
Haven't made things safe at the
house-don't let you in and tell you
where to lay hands on the money? All
you have to do Is to tie me to keep
suspicion down, and bag the stuff.
Seems TO me you'll look long before
YOU find an easier or better pa ing job,
Hank
i've been a pesky varmint all my
life, know, but l never went so far
as this BEFORE murmured the man
called Hank. Still, reckon it's a go.
Cuss'd if it oughn;t be divided in three
piles, though. Howsomever, my pari
and me will he thar. Guess the wlddcr
won't AK fur a note with curlty, hey
Not from you, Hank. But must
be going. Be there at twelve, sharp
ha tn oh L ot
me make this haul successfully, and
I'll soon be ready to bid goOd.by to
petticoar governmeLt-curseit it'll Ii my
uncle hadn't been a fool, he would
have remained single, and this money
would have been mine instead OF going
to an alien, who poses so admirably az
aunt And with a few choice oati:s.
this virtuous gentleman turned Oh lis
heel and walked away.
l mechanically dogged his footsteps.
keeping my body we'll covered, how
ever. [ followed him for two miles,
possibly, when he reached a clearing,
and crossing field, drew up before an
old but stately residence. He entered
the gate and strolled leiSurely toward
the barn, which stood about fifty yards
to the right OF the house. knew then
that l had lacked my man down, and
the house bo ore me was the one chosen
for robbery.
Ard then the question Of action pre-
sented itself. L felt called upon to do
something. The idea OF sitting down
and allowing trio Of villains to rob a
uefenselesS woman was not to be
thought of for a moment.
IF could only see this woman l
exclaimed, "a plan might be devised
but it might not be we'll to let this
scoundrel Of a nephew get wind of me.
He seems capable of committing any
crime.
Plan after plan seized upon and as
quickly abandoned as lmpracticaOle.
In the meantime it was almost sun
down, anu l was fast becoming cold,
hungry and desperate. at last L shoul J..
dered my gun and cautiously approached
the house from the east. Not a living
object was in sight; but spied a back
door, and at once determined to seek
admission there, and trust in chance
for the sequel. l raped lightly, and
the door was opened by lady both
young and beautiful, who looked at me
inqulcingly.
Il would like to sec the mistress OF
the house, | stammered.
Il am Mrs. Anderson, SIR she
answered. 'W:ll you walk imp
If you please, madam 1 replied,
regainlng my cOmpoSure. But first
listen; lave intelligence to communi.
cate of Importance. and | would beg a
strictly private interview for a few
, moments
Certainly, Sir, if it be necessary.
But you will scarcely object to the
presence of my mother?'
Undoubtedly not; but 1 would be
seen by no Other.'
She Immediately conducted me up a
flight OF stairs and ushered me Into a
sitting-room occupied by an elderly
lady, who arose III great trepidation
upon seeing stranger enter with a
, shotgun in his hand. but reassure1 by
the presence Of her daughter, she
smiled and motloned me to sit down.
then, in as few words as possible,
acquainted the ladies with the partlcu-
lars of the proposed robbery. The poor
old lady wrung her hands and moaned
piteously when l finished, but the
daughter showed different spirit.
The miserable wretchl' she ex-
claimed; her cheeks flaming with fndIg-
nation. Being the son Of my husband 8
brother, / had determined to do much
for him in the future; but not satisfied
with what have done, and still meant
to do, he hires ruffians to help rob me
at night. On, I'd take the money and
burn it rather than let him touch 1t
now.'
Excuse me, Mrs. Anderson, but the
question is, how are We to thwart these
vIllainsp In the 6rst place, have you
any man servantsT
Yes, sir-two, she answered. But
they both left home this morning. to
be absent until tomorrow. There
remain only Dinah and half grown
boy
Can this boy be trustedp'
Il fear not, with sigh. lie is one
of my honorable nephew'5 creatures,
while DInah would go wild if she knew
a robber was IN the neighDOrhood.'
How about your neighborsp'
paterson and his son live about a
l. H.<~k l.