Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-10-12

dered him pityingly solicitous in view of
her changed and troubled manner of late
So wakeful did he continue to be that he
finally rose, dressed, lighted lamp and
sat down again by the fire.
Presently, to his surprise, there was a
knock upon the office door. He opened
it and admitted the commandments wife
and Miss Oberly.
1--WE really could not Sleep" said the
former lady, Mrs. Tolliver Hearing
you up, we concluded to come down. |
cannot imagine what ais us ALL 1t must
be something in the air"
"Do you think, Philip" said Stella,
"that there is any danger attached to
our present situation? OF course | don't
know much about these things, but |
should say we were rather unprotected
just now"
Stirling thought Of the money in the
,afe at the head Of his cot and was glad
that the ladies did not yet know of its
arrival. OF course there was no real
danger, yet such knowledge might con-
jure up unreal perils in their minds. lie
replied in IA half ocular wholly reas-
surfing way, and for some time they
chatted together upon irrelevant mat
tiers as they sat about the fire until Mrs
Tolliver declared that it was high time
for her to WOO the drowsy god once
more.
When the ladies got up, Miss Oberly
moved to the window, whittier Philip
followed her at once. A gibbous moon
had just risen and over tho plain with
out thin haze seemed to be brooding.
Under the scintillating heavens the
gloomy undulations of the prairie looked
unutterably lonely and desolate. AS they
stood gazing out in silence the sharp bark
of Il coyote broke dissonantly upon their
ears, followed by the depressing and pro-
longed wall peculiar to the species. Miss
Oberly shivered and Philips arm stole
protectingly about her waist
What a droadfully dreary sound!"
she said, AT this hour it seems not UNI
like the moan of distressed spirit lost
upon these dcsolate wastes
Philips reply was a reassurng pres
sure Of his arms. Mrs. Tolliver was
waiting patiently, with her hand upon
the doorknob, She had not forgotten
her own counting experiences. At that
moment dim form passed before the
window so swiftly that Stella's unearthly
smile appeared to have suddenly mate
rallied. She turned and looked at
Stirling. He, too seemed to be puzzled.
Then q clamor Of the dogs arose without.
and other forms farther out upon the
n.y. i,.ip ou md
seemed to scatter rapidly.
While Stirling still hesitated, hardly
knowing what to make of it all, an outer
door was heard to open and close softly.
Then the bolts were violently shot. Philip
started toward the Office door, when it
was suddenly opened and Arizony, pale,
disheveled, staggered into the room, her
dark hair glistening with dew and in her
eyes wild, unnatural light. She came
at once to Stirling, noticing the other
two, and seized his hand.
Thank God-Im here" she ex-
claimed in Il suppressed, Quivering tone.
but they're a-comin they're a-comin!
You saved my mother once, leftenant
and l haven't forgot. Call your men up;
there's trouble a-comin, tell you! They
come all round ketchin me-"
While she paused, struggling for
breath, Stirling pressed a button upon
the wall sharply and repeatedly.
That alarm will bring my men here.
But what does this mean, Arizony? VIII
are you here?
ITS some Of our own people, said
the girl hurricdly. They've heard
about some money here-a-a-h-h!" she
interrupted herself with faint scream
as voices and footsteps suddenly sound
ed without They're here; they mean
to rob, and they're ready for murder
Her voice sank to whisper that, how
ever, thrilled the three who heard. The
girl seemed nearly beside herself with
nervous excitement and dread. The two
| ladies looked alarmed, yet said nothing.
/ The steps and voices We're close at hand.
Directly window was smashed in mvs-
teriOusly by unseen hands. At the same
time the door was burst open, and a mot
ley crowd Of seeming savages rushed in,
all armed and filled with hostile designs.
AriZony shrank behind Stirling. The
lieutenant fixed his eyes at once upon a
burly looking Indian who seemed to act
as the leader. Meanwhile the invaders
evinced signs of establishment at the
sight of Arizony. But now there came
in through another door file of half
dressed soldiers, who gathered about the
lieutenant and the three women.
Don't fire until give the word said
Stirling to his men i'll low tone. They