The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-10-29

| peuCtidlSu AlS SlO" 1dCulLlcS uutll uc
was terribly frightened. He crept
away from his fishing with stealthy
htep until we'll clear of the neigh bor-
hood when he started off with great
speed for the house of the old maids
"Tabitha, Dorcas, Abigail.'' he cried,
and being out of breath sat down on
the floor to recover himself The old
maids were getting ready to retire for
the night and looked at Ben with as
constituent.
"What on earth is the matter, Benz"
said Dorcas.
Robbers, thieves" calculated Ben.
1t was now the women's turn to be
filled with terror. BY dint of rapid
questioning, Ben told all he had heard.
"Oh, what shall we do?' said Abigail.
II know" said Ben, who seemed
struck with an idea. "Give me the
riflew
"We shall all be killed.' exclaimed
Miss Tabitha, wringing her hands.
| NO, we WON'T" said Ben. who now
had hold of the gun. 1t seemed as if
the excitement of the hour had brought
him back his senses. Such cures do
happen. Put out the candle!" COM
manded Ben, land be quiet!'
Scarcely had a quarter of an hour
elapsed when a knock sounded upon
the door.
"Who is there?" demanded Ben.
"A FRIEND" was the reply, "who
wants to stay all night"
Cant stay" said Ben.
II know you" said voice recognized
by Ben and the sisters as that of their
renter. Ben Miller, open the door!
! Will you!'
II know you, too," replied Ben.
you'll not get in"
| The next moment the door was
struck by rail, but the ponderous
wooden hinges and bar held fast.
Ben stood with leveled rifle squarely
in front of the door. Another blow
followed; the door gave little. An
other and it flew wide open. That
| moment Ben touched the sensitive
trigger and loud cry proclaimed one
of the house breakers wounded or
killed. A pistol shot was fred at Ben
and then all was silent.
Ben uttered no groan nor word The
sisters for half IN hour trembled in the
darkness and silence Of their chamber,
and then Dorcas came forth and struck
light. There lay Ben at full length
across the doorway, the rifle UNDER
meath, while just before him, on the
porch floor, was the dead body of the
robber, his eyes staring at the morn
i ing glory vines trained along the
caves.
Speak, Ben," said Dorcas, 1.-The
danger is past" But Ben answered not
word.
"Oh, Ben, are you hurt?" uttered all
three in breath. Ben lay upon his
rifle motionless.
They raised his head; his face was
bloodless; the eyes looked straight be.
fore him.
"Oh Ben, Ben, faithful Ben" cried
Dorcas in agony. Speak to usl Oh
say you are not killed"
Suddenly light shone in the eyes,
the lips moved. Mother, mother
my Johnny" gasped Ben. The linn bs
thrust themselves out, and Ben, Simple
Ben, had recovered his intellect in the
land beyond the river"
Abigail ventured to the next neigh
boris and soon the male inhabitants of
the valley assembled. Johnny was
brought home by the sisters. The next
day Ben was buried; the entire settle
ment followed the wagon that bore
the coffin, as mourners. The white
haired itinerant who ministered on the
occasion selected for his text: Greater
love hath no man than this, that q man
lay down his life for his friends"
| There was not a fearless eye in the as
sembly. Old and young sobbed aloud,
while the three old maids were in a
| very passion of tears.
Dorcas held Johnny's hand, and led
him to the wagon after the service. He
became their delight and pride: and al
though dangerously. petted and, in
obliged, has grown up into an honor
able manhood, his delight being to
cherish his benefactrcsses in their old
age.
The second robber was captured and
met well-merited punishment. 1t is
known that, years ago, one of the tri-
bunals of Justice Lynch was in dense
forest on the headwaters of the One
| Hundred Northumberland b. Heat
on, in Prairie Farmer