Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-11-10

demanded Mary.
"Or struck with lightning ~ added
Dorcas.
And the upshot of it was that the
three fugitives took refuge in q msera.
bic old shanty close alongside of the
railroad track, where weeds we're grow.
ing up through the cracks of the floor
and plentiful portion of rain came pat
tering through the leaks in the roof,
while the old stone chimney, all settling
to one side, looked as if no stroke Of
lightning could harm it very much
"But it's some shelter, said Mary
choerfully. "Well stay here until the
shower is over. and then make the best
of our way home"
The shower, however, showed no in
dication Of abating in its vigor. The rain
still poured down in sheets. the thunder
still beloved through the rocky gorges
where the little board cabin had been
built; the lightning still lit up every
thing with sudden spurts of blue fame,
like pantomime effects
ooh, dear oh, dear r. said Barbara,
wringing her hands, it must be mid
night"
at cant be 8 o'clock yet" said Mary.
"And I'm so hungry Oh, how |
wish hadn't eat the last of those sand
witches Oh oh what is that ?" aut-
tered Barbara.
An unusually vivid electrical fash had
revealed something white and spectral
at the window. All three girls jumped
at once.
"The ghost p shrieked Barbara, stop
ping her ears and shutting her eyes as
tight as was practicable.
"a stray white cow" suggested Mary
"a young man in flannel tennis
suit, said Dorcas, tho closest observer
Of all.
Don't let him come in ;" said Barba-
IA. "We shall DO robbed and mur-
dercd !"
"Not while we are three to one," said
composed Dorcas.
And at the same moment voice
sounded hurriedly at the door.
"Please may | come in 7 | know it
seems intrusion, but it's raining del
uge and I'm wet through"
Come in by all MEANS" said Mary.
And the ghost entered, dripping like
fountain.
"All in the dark ?" said he, cropping
bis way.
There are no gas jets here" said
Dorcas ironically.
"But we might have little blaze of
sticks" hazarded tho new arrival, shak-
ing himself like Newfoundland dog.
81 saw by that last glare of lightning
that there was heap 10 the corner, aud
I've got my match box intact"
"Oh, that would be splendid, cried
Dorcas, who was wet and shivering.
"And I've got some fish on a string
outside and we could have some SUPPER
suggested the ghost, cheerfully
"Tm 5000 hungryl" walled Barbara.
The stranger was evidently used to
mountain camping He had fire kin
died in no time, and the fish cleaned by
the aid of his pocket knife and washed
in one Of the pools outside. were pres
emily broiling over the Goals, emitting
most savory smell.
"You must be good genius !" cried
Mary.
"Pm only tramp" said the ghost,
"and I'm ever so much obliged to you
young ladies' for letting mo in"
ave couldn't have kept you out il we
had tried" said Dorcas, frankly.
"You don't think | would thrust my
self in here against your wishes2 Even
a tramp wouldn't do that" said tho
young man. BB
The sticks had blazod oheerfully up ;
the ghost economical them to keep the
fire alive as long as possible. lie told
thrilling tales of his experience in these
woods he made himself most agrcea-
BILE companion.
care you from the Valley House p
asked Dorcas.
"No, | am camping just where it hap
pens"
"0h !" said Mary, "then you are poor
like US. We are shop girls on our va
cation"
For she said to herself, II am dc.
termined he shall not take US for other
than we are"
"And," observed tho ghost, II should
think you were having a very jolly time
Of IT, A little more trout, Miss-Miss
Hale And how did you come out in
these wildernesscs 7"
80 then, OF course. little Barbara,
who was generally the spokeswoman Of
the assemblage. related oil her efforts to
secure summer board.
"You see. said she, "Mr. Archer
pays W 80 small n salary that we haven't
much margin for luxury"
"He ought TO pay you more" said
the ghost
Pm in business myself know how
it is, people can't be expected 10 live on
nothing
81 do believe, cried Dorcas, "you are
tho tailor 3 young man from Cut Il Fits
next door 10 Archer's thought | had
seen your face before. But il you ever
get TO the head Of tho frm--and man
can achieve almost anything he pleases
do pay your employees a decent sum. b"
II will" said the young man il the
white flannel tennis suit.
And he spoke as II he meant II.
And then Dorcas discoursed still more
| 'arnedly about tho rights and wrongs,
the iujustioes and petty trials Of lie be-
hind the counter.
1--WE are ladies, you see," said she
"and we expect to be treated like ladies'.
But | suppose you have your troubles
too"
"Lots Of them, said the young man
gazing absently into the fire.
So they all became great friends
At midnight the rain ceased. and tho
moon bursted in stream Of glory on
tho dripping scene.
| ..NIY m