The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-03-27
"Cursc the cold!" growled one as he

drew Dack Just within the shadow.
Course him, you mean," said another,
as he leaned thick oak cudgel against
the wall and began to blow upon his
numbed fingers.
"I'll do more than curse him when tn
time comes" answered the first speaker.
"Ay, he'd best not have taken us i
hand. Says he. when with the rest of T.
beaks he sentenced Tim and JEFF: The
poaching rascals shall be stopped, if l
have TO do it single-handcd.
"Well, he'll be single-handed tonight
anyways, for he's no groom wi him. SO
he can try what he's good for wi three
ov us; eh, Jack!"
"IIe'll find it a tough job, I'm think.
ing"
AS e wire right, BobG"
"Surely His mare steps high; bu,
I've lowed for it, and she'll catch beau
tifully. It's past twelve now; he
oughtn't to be long
'lIist! mate; there's wheels. Now
fort. Come on"
The three men went out quickly, and
Jim, following to the door, saw them
leap into the road and hide in the hedge
on the opposite side; then he stole down
to the gate, out Of mere curiosity to watch
what their game was. In II few minutes
the ring Of hoo!s grew louder, and high
wheeled dog-cart spinning round cor
ner came rapidly down the lane. 1t was
occupied by one figure only, the red glow
of whose cigar CLEANED in the frosty air;
aud Just rs the scent OF il reached jim he
saw the horse suddenly plunge and stag
ger forward. The wirc.suare had done
is work, the animal fell heavily, and the
driver. thrown off his balance by the
shock, shot out on to the snow. Before
he could rise, the men were upon him;
but somehow he managed to shake them
clear and struggle to his feet. He faced
them boldly and met their rush with u
right and lcft-handcr which sent one to
the ground, but the other two closed in
upon him.
Jim looked on with languid interest.
Evidently IL was some magistrate waylaid
10y three men who had score to settle
against him. 1t was no business OF his,
anyway, and though three to one was
hardly fair, he was not going to interfere.
The gentleman fought well, whoever he
was, and again sent an nssailant back.
ward with a wcll-got-in blow. But the
odds were too heavy and the cudgels
told. lie began to staggcr and give
ground, and blow on the head beat him
down. "Givc il him, lads, if we swing
fort cried the tallest of the three vii.
lains, jumping upon him, mad and blind
with rage.
A ray of moonlight fell upon the up
turned face of the fallen man; it was that
Of the gentleman who five years ago had
talked with jim in the lane! In an in
stant he was over the gate and Mt the
men like tigcr-cat and so sudden was
his onset that they gave ground; then,
seeing he was alone, they rushed at him
with oaths and threats. Weak from
want of food and half dead with cold,
poor jim had never a chance. For "A
few seconds he held up doggcdly against
the shower of blows; then feeling he
was done for, stopped suddenly, flung
his arms round the scnselcss Squire, and
with one last effort managed to roll into
the deep ditch, keeping himself upper
most. The brutcs jumped down and
stroyc to make him loose MS hold of
their victim; but stunned and blinded
with blood, he clung tierccly to Hugh
Boynton, shcltcring his body with his
own.
The world began to spin around an
other and another heavy blow--a chin
ing of faroir bclls--a hollow buzzing--
and thcn--black night for ever!
Next morning they were found to-
gcthcr in the trampled, blood-smearcd
ditch-onc living, the other dead.
Hugh Boynton often wonders, as he
looks at the white stone which he put up
over namclcss grave, who his preserver
was. But the recording angel will one
day tell how jim, the tramp, the cont
and-out bad lot," gave his life for the
man who once spoke kindly to him.
/ ChdmJerSs JourHdl.