Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-12-09
! he old fellow was standing in the
lFway talking to a couple Of stran-

'No,' he was saying, ''they Raint
b no person long yere las few
Is, but what b'longs yere. Mcbbe,
iugh, he mout ben seel over yere |
Bacon's. Ben thar? No? Wa-al,
N boys comm In FIN thar purity |
A., an he en- tell ye. Come in am
"a; Jack'll be yere right soon"
Mat stayed TO help her mother with
he supper, aud during the course OF
be meal learned that the two strangers
|erc officers trailing horse-thief,
no had stolen valuable horse at
ssch forty miles east aud sold 1t at
Tieett Station, and who was believed
owe come this way.
\. she listened to the conversation,
lllen nameless fear came upon her,
mug her feel faint aud i'll. As
so as supper was over, she took her
sill and hurried home.
mellow she was not surprised to
iii the door open. She entered
hily. Sam was in bed, asleep and
blthing sterlorously. He had evil
sltly been drinking, as his clothes
we scattered about the floor, aud
NJ, looking out the back door, could
seiis pony standing patiently where
81 had left him, waiting for some
OF TO come and feed him. Mat
Iced over the sleeping man and
kied him gently, her eyes full OF
loi. Then she turned to pick up his
clhes and put them away. The
trasers were heavy, and something
jigled in one of the pockets. In
slnctiyely Mat thrust her hand into
h, aud drew it forth, clasping several
gcld pieces. AS she did SO her eyes
opened wide, and she stood as II
stunned for a time, her heart chilled
with tho same strange fear that had
stricken her awhile ago and impelle.
her 10 hurry home.
She rushed 10 the bed and shool
Sam roughly. "Saml Sam wake
up.' she almost screamed.
The man turned over and looked a
ier stupidity. "Ii'lo, M-Mat! Yere
be ye2 Gimme kiss he said, in
hull tone.
"Not twell ye tells me whar ye don
got these ycre thingsp Mats voic
Sc broken and shrill.
ssg at n I,d" aud rapsSssat ts,l ii, ;. s head
) 'fwy, them--them thar, honey?
Bhc shook him fierceIy, and said i
a lower tone-a tone of earnest force
"Tell me. Sam Toms, whar ye don
got these yere coins! Quick, now"
Her tone partially sobered the maj
whose eyes opened wider as he asked
querulously:
"What We SO ALFRED fussy bout
hain't done nothin'." Aud h
laughed in half-drunken, half nery
ous way.
"Salnl whar did ye git 'em?'
He sat dumbly staring at her.
"Sam!" her voice was full of no
ror, "did you steal that thar hoss!'
No answer; but Mat saw by his ey,
she had guessed the truth. Slow
the coins fell from her hand to Il
floor; slowly her head bent forwal
until her face touched the pillow. +,
minutes she did not move-not uni
Sam, who had been staring at h
wonderingly, reached out his big hal
and laid it caressingly on her hea'
Then she sprang TO her feet, her h
eyes glaring, and her form trenblir
with anger and horror. She did n
speak, but fixed her gaze OH his fat
for a few seconds. He did not me
her look. and, presently, she turnt
and ran out of the door.
Sam, almost sober now, called aft
her, but she did not answer. He g
ont of bed slowly and started to Dire
himself. lie had almost finishe,
when Mat, accompanied by her fath'
and the two strangers, returned.
"Thar he is--au' thar's TIL money,
she said, and passed on ou. throus
the back door, without looking
Sam.
ftt ~ - IA. -. -.