Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-09-16

lHore n FuulOt tiirtt 4'idu oiot eAiHO4 80
somewhere in hiding in their midst
Think OF thatr'
| WHO is Mad Mortimer | asked.
Haven't you heard of him? A fam
those genteel highwaymen you read
about"
81 don't read about them"
.'WeIl, that other folks read about
who make polite speeches to the lad
les while they pocket their silver
spoons and cameo ear drops. Bah
The humbug there is in this world!
say. Dir
"Wel?"
IF the fellow really wanted to hid,
himself, where could he do it bette
than in just such a place as this?'
said Smith. "Who ever comes here"
We'll, hope he won'tr' said 1.
You're a plucky girl. Di. l dom
believe you'd be afraid even of Ma
Mortimer
"Yes. l shouldr' | persisted.
Remember, the devil isn't Away.
as black as he's painted"
John, don't talk that way!'
"Di, put down that dish-towel
Come here."
'Why?"
"rve got something to say to You
I've been a lying scoundrel all thes,
weeks. | am the runaway scamp tina
men would scotch as they would /;
snake! | am Mad Mortimer. 1 tel
you this because the chase is getting
too hot in my vicinity. | must GO
away!"
looked at him in surprise. Was
dreaming?
I'm not such a william as folks
would believe" he went on. '1f J
could explain all. you would under.
stand that I've been more slnned
against than SHINING, Di. But there's
no use in talking about that. Good-by,
my girl! Tell Adam how it was
Tell him to keep my secret"
John, you are not going to leave
us?"
Would you have me stay to be
hunted down as the ferrets hunt {;
rat?n
burst into tears.
In a moment he had me clasped in
his arms.
''Dil you don't mean to say that you
care whether | live or die? Di., was
it because of this that you said NO to
Ralph Maddox"
My brimming eyes must have be-
trayed the secret that my lips refused
to frame, for he drew one short, quick
breath, his face glowed.
MY girl," said he. this is like {,
new life to me. TIL make myself
worthy to claim you yet-see if l dc
not! One kiss-do, my brave girl!
And now, good -by!'
So he left me.
This happened years ago. Tn.
next spring a new mill proprietor
bought the Allaire property and
settled down at Baldville.
He was dark, with a heavy blacl
beard. softer than any silk. covering
his face. l am not sure l should hav,
known him myself had it not been foI
a certain bright lool1-a smile-a trick
of utterance. His father came with
him to inspect the purchase-a fine,
gray-haired gentleman - one DR.
Burgoyne, from New York.
I'VE are going to put up some con.
servatories for you, my dear" said he.
John tells me you like flowers. Johr
is n great amateur gardener in his way
also. feel n deal safer to leave hin
here, now that he has had the good
fortune to win you for his wife. He
has been wild in his day-a little wild
but he always loved his old father,
and he has had the sense to choose &
wife like you. He'll do well now,
don't doubt"
And John came up and placed blu'
orchid in my hand.
Your favorite color. Dir' said he.
So we were married. and, like the
people in the children's story books
lived happy ever after"
The only reference to my husbands
past history that ever heard, outsid
of our home, was on a summer evening
when l chanced to see two of the mill
hands gathering blackberries on the
rocky side of Bald mountain. as our
pony carriage wound along the steeI
road-the pony carriage that John
always allowed me to drive for myself.
There's a queer story" said one to
the other, ''that the famous cracks
man, Mad Mortimer. once hid a month
in this very cave, behind these wild
clematis trails, that time the New
York detectives were hunting for the
Bigley ba nix case. l wasn't living
here then, but I've often heard of it. v
so have l." said the other. But
didn't know that was the place.
Plucky fellow, wasn't he? By the
way, how did it all end? They treed
him at last, didn't they?"
'.Not they. Came pretty near it up
in Maine, but he gave 'em the slip
once for all.
"Gave them the slip? How?"
Didn't you ever hear? Rode of a
precipice, forty feet high, with his
loaded revolver in his hand, just as
they were chuckling to think of the
reward they were going to get Body
never was recovered And that was
the end of Mad Mortimer He died
as he mad lived clear grit to the end.
Mamma, do stop Fox a minuter'
cried my little boy breathlessly. LET
me look at the cave where the robber
chief hid from his enemies. Only one
minute, mammal
Presently he came back, painting.
Such a jolly deep cave" said he.
But l should't think a man could hide
there a month, should you?n
No." | answere absently, Z"