The Opelousas courier., 1891-02-07

/, aLet's see what you have in here" he
said.
Both of the men pushed in, and the
children were forced to yield.
The former looked about them. The
kitchen Yves neat and cool. One began
looking from the various windows; the
other went into the buttery, where he
found a dried apple pie, which he COM
menced to eat. Then the man at the
windows looked at the children, and
they looked gravely back at him.
81 say" said he; and his listeners GER
tainly gave him all needed attention.
"Where'p tn big cheese2"
"Hold on a minute, JIM called the
big black fellow in the buttery. s'Sure
| all's clear9"
"Yes. There's nothing in sight"
'tThere's no hurry, then. I'm hum
cry"
tOh, dash the eatin'i" returned the
other. But, he too, went into the but
terry to have a look about. For an in
slant the three children standing wide
eyed, in the centre Of the big kitchen,
were unobserVed.
$50 out tn side door-still now"
whispered Sophy to Hiram. ssCreep
through the bushes up to Mr.. Arthurson's
don't let 'em see you-an' bring some
one quiekin
As the boy disappeared, the men came
out of the buttery.
"Look here, grill Where's the big
cheesea"
sophy did not speak. The men began
| TO frown.
.sNone o. thati You'll have to tell,
ye know, - said one.
Little Sammy began to cry.
stLet tn young ones alone" said the
other man. .sItis in the house, of course.
Where does tins door go too Where
does that one goan
"The baby's there said sophy
quickly. ssHe's ~asleep-don't disturb
him.
The men pushed their way into q she'd
room. Sophy turned instantly, and
pulled Sammy into the other, which was
bare, shaded, and almost empty. But
there was the baby, asleep upon an old
settee, and there. upon the floor, was the
big cheesel There was little else. Mrs.
salton had been In the habit, during the
summer, of placing the child here, away
from the light and flies for his afternoon
nap.
Catching up the baby, Sophy dung the
blanket and pillow on the cheese, and
laying the little fellow down on them
again, placed Sammy upon one side and
sat down ON the other, hushing and talk
ing to the child, who sat up on his strange
couch and began crying vigorously. The
men, who had been searching through
the house, came back.
ssSay, now said one, ttthat cheese ID
neither in the house or barn. Where is
it2n
ats too heavy for tn old wagon, I
bl'eye, anyway" said the other.
Sophy got up, and taking off the long
apron In which she was enveloped,
spread It over the baby's lap so that 1t
covered Q spot where she could SEQ the
cheese's edge.
ssCan't you speak, you girla How
much does 1t weigh. anyways"
"The girls q fool, said other.
Sophy sat closer on the edge of the
big cheese and speechlessly dangled a
spool on a string for the baby, warning
Sammy (who in his fear sat somewhat
uneasily) not to move.
Sim bound to have til tell youln
exclaimed the more determined of the
men, taking her by the arm. sLook
here,n he added, shaking her, ssyou
know enoughl Where did salton put
that cheese2a
Eophy trembled, hut did not stir, and
Sammy began to whimper.
ssHold on said the moro pacific ras-
cal. ssDon't raise q row with the young
ones, an I'll tell you a better job, Jim.
That ere baby-seea"
The men exchanged chances. Sophy
looked up at them.
stPohi salton's poorin said one.
"Arthurson's got money! returned
the other. sHe'd stand by him.
ssToo much Of q job. TIL young one
II yell SOP
"Gag him. My woman II keep him
all safe till we get the sway
Poor little Sophy turned white. The
spool dropped from her ~neryeless hand.
She cast . glance at the window. The
blind was tightly closed.
HAIl right, 2 she heard one say. ssGo
out and turn th' horse and bring In my
ole coat. I'll sag tn baby int that"
Al the other obeyed, the remaining
wretch picked up the spool, and ap-
preached the child, apparently with the
Intention OF thrusting it into his mouth.
Eophy stood up.
The next instant she had snatched the
shoe from her foot, struck the man q blow
Ii the face with the heel that made him
reel, and clutching the child by the 5elt
Of its dress, sprang TO the door.
ssHelpi helpl helpt'' she screamed,
piercinglv.
Two burly, r~esolute men ran into the
gard followed BIZ little Hiram, Arthur
sons men; and before the evil fellow ID
tho house could escape, they we're on him.
During the tussle or securing him, the
ether escaped on foot. leaving his team.