Nevada County picayune., 1889-11-06

take. The tread of horse was soon audible to the others, and shortly after the son and brother rode up to the door. After some warm greet ings on both sides, and the brief ex- pIanation that he had been delayed in starting, while the darkness and condition of the road compelled him to move slowly, he proceeded to stable and feed his horse and then came in.
 On seeing the tramp and wonder ing why he was there. he felt moro uneasiness than he cared to show, for he had brought home with him a considerable sum of money. His de- cision, however, was prompt and full of the kindness of charity, After two or three pointed questions to the unwelcome stranger, which were sat isfactorily answered, he said:
 "Certainly you can stay through the night. I could not find it in my heart to turn adrift any well-behaved human being on q night like this
 "Thank you kindly, sir,' politely responded the man. You will not regret your hospitality"
 The language and manners of the poor fellow indicated certain degree of refined culture not in keeping with his present forlorn appearance, and while the young host ate his supper he held conversation with him which convinced him of this fact,
 His first intention was to throw down some horse blankets and robes, and let him camp down before the fire, but this design was altered with his opinion of the mans antecedents and so he finally lighted him to de- cent bed upstairs under the roof, and then he and family retired for the night, occupying two rooms on the ground floor.
 While these things were taking place inside of that lonely farmhouse some things were occurring outside that vitally concerned the parties we have introduced. Two men met in the road few rods from the dwelling
 "Hi, Sam" said one.
 ''Ho, Ben!" replied the other
 Then they came together, and spoke in low, guarded tones.
 "Well:' queried Ben.
 "All right,' answered Sam. "He is home and got the money with him. There are Sl700 l know about, that know he brough with him for sure, and that ought to pay us for the venture, if we don't get any more. :"
 ''All right, then; when shall we begin:'
 Fl reckon between 12 and O clock will be the best time. He's been home about long enough to get his supper and turn in, and after the long, hard day and night he had of it, we must give him a chance to get sound asleep.''
 The plotters got under a shed and waited till the time fixed upon for their burglarious work. There were no shutters to the windows-only fastenings on the inside. With a diamond the burglars cut the glass close to the frame in which it was held, but in their endeavors to take hold of it the glass fell with crash on the inside. There was faint murmur of "What is that 7" in tone that showed he was asleep again by the time the words were fairly ut tered. Then the two burglars, their faces concealed by black masks, worked their way into the room, each assisting the other, and flashed a light all around them from the bull S eye of the lantern they carried. To their surprise they found the door of the young mans sleeping room partly open instead of being shut and locked, and they were disposed to take alarm at it till they heard hls steady, heavy breathing. Then both, after another sharp sweep of the light around them, noiselessly ad- vanced to the bed of the sleeper-one prepared with the chloroform to seal up his senses, but both ready to mur- der him rather than fail in their pur- pose. Just at that critical point of tune another human figure, unseen by them, came silently gliding through the darkness and stealing up behind them. It was the tramp. In his hand he held 8 rope with moose