St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-10-12

Whose crazy!" yelled the tramp.
The baby, now wildly terrified, set
up loud weeping, while from the
stairway came succession OF blows
and angry demands that the door
be opened. A moment later it was
forced ajar, and head crowned
with a mass of tossed hair was
thrust out and quickly followed by
hand in which was clutched a
gun.
"She's got the gun Oh, Florence,
run to the baby !" cried Rose.
who's that? ?" demanded the APP
partition, making rush toward the
tramp.
Here, keep off! Leave me alone!"
backing away and warding off an
expected blow
She stood before him, tall, strong
and agile.
~ won't leave you alone. What
do you mean by locking me in that
room? I'm no more crazy than
you are. What's this" as she
stumbled over the hat which the
tramp had put beside the chair, and
into which he had deposited the
silver spoons from the table. "Oh, |
see, you are all in league to rob me
of my gold and precious stonesW
and catching the hat up on the
muzzle of the gun she gave it a whirl
which sent the spoons glittering in
every direction; then, advancing up
on him, the thrust her hat and gun
into the face of the Mortified man.
With a volley of oaths he sprang
backwards, upsetting his chair and
falling over it.
"Oh, don't kill him, Cassie, don't
kill him !"
"We'll have merry time" gayly
dancing about him and prodding
him sharply with the gun, as he
tried to scramble to his feet.
Keep off with that gun, can't
youl" he yelled. Cant you hold
her, you screaming idiots?" and
half era wiling, half pushed, he gained
the kitchen door, which had stood
partly open since he had entered.
"Where are you going, my pretty
maid? Don't you try to get away"
shouted Cassie, as she lifted lightly
after him. The tramp stayed not to
answer her question, nor to obey
her command, but clearing the door
fled wildly away through the dusk.
Here's your hat; I'll fire it after
you she called, and sharp report
rang out on the quiet, evening air,
then all was still.
The three girls stood for moment
in the door, watching the dim out.
line fleeing across the meadow in
the direction Of the highway.
Hell think twice before inviting
himself to supper next time" quietly
remarked Cassie with a satisfied
smile.
ooh, Cassie, darling, you have
saved our lives" cried Florence
finging her arms around her sister
II don't know about that but
I've saved the spoons, anyway"
"There, there, baby, going to the
still afflicted boy; don't cry any
more. Sister Cassie was just max
ing dirty old tramp hop; she
didn't really shoot him, she was jus,
playing shooting"
"Oh, Cassie, you splendid, brave
girl How did you ever happen to
think to 60 crazy?" asked Rose, as
she looked over her shoulder from
the door she was barricading.
well, knew something had tt
be done, and that just popped into
my mind. l was doing 'Ophelia
the other day up in my room, so
was in practice; and didn't make {
sweetly pensive maniac? Now
hope you girls will never again make
disrespectful comments upon any
little private theatricals of mine. |
| had never cultivated my dramatic
talents, what would have become o
you, I'd like to know"
1t was some time before the tida
wave of excitement subsidized suf
ficiently for the girls to settle dowl
for the evening, or for the baby tt
go to sleep. Again and again they
thought they heard footsteps, and
although the door was locked ant
double-locked, they drew up into
battle line whenever the autumn
wind shook down shower of leaves
upon the roof.
lust as the clock was on the strok
of eight, pleasant sound came fit
fully to them. 1t was a softly
whistled tune, and the cheer.
cadence told of a mind free from un
pleasant doubts of welcome.
Surely that can't be Ned back al
ready; he wasn't to start HON
until nine" said Rose, going to tn
window and cautiously peeping iron
under the curtain.
Right are you there, sister Rose,
assented Cassie. ut surely can
be, especially as Ned could no NOR
whistle Marching through Georgia
than you could have done the march
ing. 1t sounds uncommonly llk
young Farmer Dunscomb's whistl
to me-"
"Well, whoever it is, l am deepl.
thankful that somebody besides
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