Telegram-herald., 1890-02-22

Lshsrs ct tie tAsn present generation
1ho11h gohns e4s sss nos very 80 -lsh.
hls serviees we're "a constant ress lts,-
ts0n- 1he create pat q his worz VS.
done s. the koeses % his employers as
rsmlne-zt50n belag - 81 per aay apd
AS food- On this sczlty pittanee jean
had sroQght Up = large family respscta-
bly; Dat tasy lad al g0t married, lefs
their pausraal home, an we're busily
engaged IA tAe gre4E battle - lte-
Notwithstanding tie poor remUnerA-
ston s0r Is serylcess and the expense q
bringing Up his fzUally, Joan lad man
aged % save over forty po1nds- Tbs
was about tie beginning % the present
century, when - many banks were fall
tnz. aBd ts~ we're considered safe. John
Therefore thought tie wiser plan Vas -
be his own bzhker-th0ggh lie would
lose the interest be would secure tie
prtneipsL
smiths treasured savings caused him
many anxious hours Ia tho village 10
heard the reports Of the daring b ghsay
robberies and burglzries OF Dunkill and
his dreaded gang A suspicious chsrsc-
tsr, stngulzrly misnaEled Samuel Good
man. who resided in the village and
seldom did any work. wss believed 70 %
one Of the fraternity. This man vas
treated with sort OF cool respect, no
one vsnsurtng 10 offend htm through =
fear OF the conseq uences- Smith would
frequently lie awake for hours. deyising
plans OF defense should his dwelling De
attacked For this purpose he purchased
. gun and plentiful supply OF ammuni-
ton
One dark night, shortly after Christ
mas, lying awake, he distinctly heard
heavy footsteps AZ his back door. Ha
sprang out OF bed, though age and In
frmtNies had partially enfeebled his
frame, with somewhat OF the activity Of
his youthful days. de groped about TOR
the -box-shere were then no lu-
cifer matchss-struck light, lighted .
candle, seized his gun and hurried down
stairs. Though the burglars IN the
stiffness OF the night might disttnctly
hear all Johns movements, they were
not IN the least daunted- What was he
10 do? The burglars were evidently en-
deavortng 70 burst open the door. skel-
eton keys were unknown TO them. Re-
sides, the door was secured with two
bolts as we'll as a lock. He spoke 70
them, attempted 20 dissuade them from
their wicked purpose, and, finally, told
them that he had his gun ready loaded,
and II they did not destst he would flre,
which would probably be tho death Of
one Of their number. HIS threats were
in vain and not word could he get in
reply. Again and again did he warn
them. but al to no purpose.
Smith now saw that all attempts at
parley were useless. The wretches
knew he had money, and they were de-
termined 10 have 1t. He stood behind
the door, raised the gun 70 his shoulder,
pulled the trigger, and whizzing went
the bullet Now came the crisis. Tho
thieves had evidently provided them
selves with some kind of battering-
ram, and in few the riCkety old door,
and the doorframe also. knocking poor
Smith down beneath il fat on the floor.
Horror of horrorsl The villains would
now be on him, taking vengeance FER
the slaughter OF their dead comrade. In
an any OF despair Smith now cried
out: 'Ohl take my money; but for God s
sake spare my lifer' He lay on the
floor, with tho door pressing heavily
upon him, anxiously dreading the mur-
derous attack. as there were no means
Of preventing it. He felt certain that
they would avenge the death Of one OF
their number. Gasping for breath, his
hair standing on end, and his heart
throbbing so violently that he could
hear every beat, he awaited the dreaded
attack. He lay for some time in an
agony Of despair, but no one came near.
He peeped from under the fallen door,
but all was still as the grave, save tho
violent beatlags Of his own heart. This
was mysterious. he could only account
for it BY connect turing that they had
gone TO convey th:ir slaughtered com
panion to place OF security-perhaps
to bury him.
Minute after minute and hour after
hour passed away, but the burglars
never again put In an appearance. Poor
Smith sat shivering in the cold, the east
wind coming in gusts at tho open door
way. He dared not to venture out, fear
ing that the burglars mightstill be lGrlI-
ing IN the neigh horhood.
The long and horrible night az length
came 20 an end, and morning dawned
without any further adventure. Smith
now ventured 20 the village and gave a
full account of the bu-glarious attack.
Tho nevs spread like wildhre. Men
gathered at the corners Of the streets,
and women gossiped from house 20 house
90 discuss tho matter; and many. with
bated breath and a knowing shake OF
Tho head. in a low tone as II revealing
profound secret. said: "Sam Goodman
and his crew" Hours were spent in
idlo conjecture, every gossip being anx-
i0us % proDound some new suggestion.
After tho matter had been fully dis
cussed. and every suspicious character
beside sam Goodman had been named,
Bob Johnson required his horse. as nc
had 20 fetch load OF Goals from the
market town. To his horror he found
that his horse was lying in the field,
with a bullet wound In his hind quar-
ters. Johnson 3 feld was behind smith q
garden. a. tho back - lis house. The
footp-ints % tho horse were traced tc
and FRO. across Smiths garden. t. had
evidently stepped over che ul-kep'
fence. walked TIP 20 Smiths door and
persisted Fin rubbing It's fauss against
IL in spice - poor Su- ith .S-er1ons --7noc.
and threats. h-s thr bullet was ton --.-f