Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-02-28
II don't want the doctor, z saidS the

"Then,' said Almira, riaugttosthe
you're a burglar, and
you'd better clear out O. this,''
She seized the poker and advanced
resolutels toward him.
"Look here, ma'am," said thee stran-
ger
ssI won't look" shrilly uttered Miss
Almira. I'm in charge here, and"
At this moment she caught the toej of
the calfskin boot in the thrifty rag@rug
that lay in front Of the fire and stun nbled.
and as she did so, the poker flew cut o;
her hand and went hurtling throus;h.the
air, hitting the strange man on thea side
of the head.
Miss Almira was appalled,, as she
scrambled to her feet, to see him st'fgger
backward to chair, with a dull trea
stream trickling down his face.
Good land' she calculated. aI've
killed the burglar! I'm murderer sand
never meant it, neither!
sIts your own fault" she added.
"Why did you come ,burgling herei Be
you much hurt2 Oh, dear. oh, dear,
why don't he speak to me2 Why don't
Zenas come, Where's my camphor bot
tie? Oh, my goodness. :, do hope he
amt goin' to die right here on the
kitchen HEARTH"
The sound OF sleigh-behs sHtsads
chimed joyfully upon her ears. She
aid the strong mans head carefully
down on a pillow improvised out other
own carpet bag, and rushed wildly out,
holding the kerosene lamp high above
her head.
Come in, whoever you be" she
screamed. "Help! help"
The passer-by drew rein.
"Hulo" said he. "Ain't this my
sister Almira Brown?''
"Why," cried the bewildered spinster,
'sit's Zenas Where have you been so
long?'
s've been to see sick patient" the
country doctor made answer. What's
the matter, Almira When did you
Gomez"
''I've killed burglar!" faltered the
woman. ''Do come in quick, Zenas, and
see if you can do anything! 1 don't
s'pose they'll hang me, do you, if it was
| done in self-defense? And I didn't do
it, either-it done ITSELF"
"Here-in this house?"
"Why, certainly! Where should it
! be2"
:'But what was you doing he'e,
Almira?" as he slowly unwound himself
from fur robes and buffalo skin cushions,
and dismounted from the little red cutter
with slow, cramped movements.
''Doin' here Why, waitin' for you. ,
''For me, Almiraa''
"Good gracious, Zenas, hope "ou
amt gettin' hard O hearin' in your Did
agel For you, of course"
"But, Almira, don't live here."
] Miss Almira had nearly dropped the
kerosene lamp into snowdrift in her
CONSERVATION.
"Not live here2" she echoed.
"Why, no. l live ia the old house a
quarter mile further on-don't We re-
member?-un the old buttonball
tree"
~ thought the old buttonball tree
had been cut down. gasped Alnlira.
"And this is just the same sort 20
house.
"It's one that Silas Stafford built,
after the same gin'ral PATTERN said
Zenas. "a lar old bachelor. And
he lives here by himself. DO you mean
to say, Almira, that he is hurti'
By way of an answer, Almira energeti-
cally pushed her brother into the kitchen,
, where By this time the injured man wa:
sitting up on the hearth, looking vaguely
around him
''Eh." said Zenas Brown, cheerfully
'What's the matterl Just little skin
cut-thats all. And you re weak witt
loss of blood. I'll soon FIX you up. 4
pretty Saint Valentines Day you'll have
and all the mails TO te sorted out.
For he's the. postmaster, Almira," b.
added, to his sister. ''Been here two
years now. Fetch in bowl of warn
water, and just hand over your pocket
handkerchief, Almira."
"Oh, dear, can't / sort the mails
Zenas.' faltered Miss Almira. Il usee