Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-03-21
Concluded nom second paseJ

bones, and uttered deep thunderou'
growl at the sound From tho distance the
echo Of voices reached him-careless
laughter and stray sentences here and there
ats Bolton and Ralph Weir, coming
back 10 the inn after their days shooting"
he thought. "lf could only get word to
themw
He tore leaf from his pocket book,
scrubbed line or two on IL as well as he
could in the uncertain dusk, and, wrapping
IL around his watch, flung it as far as his
aim could reach toward the swamp.
"Matters are getting serious" he said TO
himself
But the missive had not been without its
use.
"Hellor' said Weir; "a shooting star"
"a white birdp exclaimed Belton,
checking his long, swinging stride. "No,
IL isn't either, it's a watch with a letter
wrapped around it,"
And then, in the swampy fastnesses, by
the light Of few matches, they deciphered
the cry for aid which had come from the
plum tree.
"whew-w-wp' said Weir. "Let's go
and shoot the dog"
"Lets do nothing Of the sort" said
Bolton. "What would we-or poor, old
war in that sort Of wsyl Let's be polite or
nothing"
And he fired his rife three times in the
air, sort Of signal recognition Of his
prisoned friend
whats thatp said Mr.. Brown, who
was computing the interest on promis-
sorry note at the sitting-room table by the
light OF a kerosene lamp.
al dunno" said Rue, "unless it's
Deacon Hall shootin' weasels in his hen
roost."
"Oh, Uncle Brown" cried Bella, with
clasped hands, "I hope there are no
burglars around"
"Never heard Of such thing in all Bean
Hollow, my dear,'' said the old man.
In the dead Of that same night, however,
two masked men appeared mysteriously in
Mr.. Browns bedroom.
"Your money or your life" said one.
"Miser, unhand your treasuresW shout
cd the other.
Old Mr.. Brown lay quaking there, quite
hopelessly, when, in an instant, 1.-the form
sprang through the open window, balanc-
ing itself second on the sill, and then
fastened TO the rescue.
A brief struggle ensued; but at last the
masked burglars fed precipitately, Caesar
barking wildly at them, and straining his
chain to the utmost in his effort to wreak
his vengeance upon them.
'sYoung fellow" cried the old man,
scramblng out of bed, you've saved my
life beside the Government coupons that
were under my pillow. What can do to
reward youl"
He was very pale and trembled violently.
"rd like something TO eat, if you please,
sir,n said Wynton ITO tell you the truth,
I've Just come out of the plum tree"
ayes, know" said Brown, recovering
himself q little. "You're the fellow that is
in love with our Bella; amt youP
~ don't deny it, sir" said Wynton'
boldly.
"Well, you deserve her. said Mr.. Brown;
''and you shall have her. 1t was that Or
dered the dog chained up to the plum-tree.
meant to balk you If could, but I've
changed my mind. l should have been
dead man, young fellow, if it hadn't been
for YOU. Come right downstairs this mo
ment Nothing in this house is too good for
youl" =.
And he wrung Wynton's hand until 1t
soemed as If 1t were grasped in an iron vi Sc.
A strange midnight collation. 1T was-the
coffee and cold fowl. and biscuits ana
tongue, eaten with Bella nesting close to
his side, and Mr.. Brown heaping all so rts
Of indiscriminate daintie3 upon his plate,
while old Zeruiahs face glowered out OF
the darkness of the kitchen like badly
lighted polyopticon. But happy one-yes,
very happy one.
A constabulary force of Bean Hollow
were promptly notified the next morning,
and q search instituted, but to no avail
Nothing was over heard Of the two masked
burglars.
But when Mr.. Wynton came back to the
Bean Hollow inn, the following day, t.
order his portmanteau removed to the
Brown farmhouse, and bid his late col
leagues adieu he wrung Belton's hand al
ternately with that Of Weir.
81 don't know how can ever thank you,
boys" said he. "Not for the rescue from u
rather sorry plight--brute force could have
done that with blow on the dogs head
but for the manner of It, I'm great man
now in old Browns estimation, and Bolla
thinks am hero And it's all owing to
you"
"Oh, don't mention it, old fellowm said
Weir. allow did you like me as first
class ruf1lanln
''By the way" added Bolton, "pvo burned
the masks Circumstantial evidence you
know. They might get us into trouble"
"You'll invite us to the wedding, of
coursem queried Weir.
"Oh, yes |" said Wynton, beamingly
sand may kiss the brdei' asked Bolton.
"Of course you mayln said Wynton.
And Belton observed, thoughtfully, that
he considered that reward enough for any
man. Helen Forrest Graves, IN Boston Badgct.