Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-11-22
celia! the ideal" exclaimed Mrs

"Til tell you' cried viii. "Why
not so home on that toboggani We
finish just behind your house you know.
III take you dCwl and walk bacS. J
don't mind, for am not tired Bit"
Ella jumped ct the idea and NJ. and
Mrs. Waldron finally drove off, leavinl
their daughter behind.
Somehow when Ella and VIII again
stood at the top of the moonlit hill FOL
their last essay, they did not appear ts
be in any hurry to move, and SO when
Mr.. and Mrs. Waldron arrived at tneir
house, there was no daughter II meet
them at the door, though Mrs. Waldron
Immediately exclaimed az tle fac, that
every window seemed to have a light
behind the shades.
When they had let themselves IN w;.l
the latch key, there was the hall hgh
sblaze aud noisy with the over pressure
"Ella" called Mrs. Wa!droa.
No answer.
Bridget"
No sound came bsc't.
"What can this meant exclaimed
Mrs. Waldron, making start for the
Kitchen stairs, below which the servant
Ihouid have been waiting u2.
Mr.. Waldron, with IN anxious 10 ol
on his face, followed more slowly.
When he reached the head of the stairs
he heard Mrs. Waldron below utter a
piercing scream, and he sbrang dowp
INTO the kitchen three steps at time.
When the distant sleighbells ami
shouts had finally diei away the solemn
itillness warned Ella tina. it WAS too late
20 daily longer on the a.It)p.
She seated herself on the toboggan
tucked in everything securely, aud then
viii behind gave the necessary push, a
great snowy spray rising up in their
wake and sparkling in the moonligh'
ike shower of tiny brilliants.
There is no motion just like that OF
the toboggan with its electric speed, its
direful roar, and the sense Of plunging
forward into space, which is a part of 1t.
There is just enough of that sinking
sensation of fear in the progress to give
.he sport most fascinating excitement.
They were almost down, almost be-
hind the Waldron house when their
hearts suddenly stood still with thrill
Of genuine fear.
A figure, black against the snow, was
speeding across their path toward th'
woods.
A cry sprang from Wills throat, the
figure stopped, looked, sprang away, aud
forward into the air flew the two tobog.
raps O if shot from, q napuno
Will found himself face downward,
with his arms plunged deep into the
snow. He scrambled out quickly and
ran to where Ella was wildly founderina
on her back not far away.
He quickly assisted her to rise.
'.Are you hurti" he asked breath
lesslv.
"No, think not. I'm trembling so,
though, can hardly stand. What hap
pened"
81 don't know; it was so sriden
couldn't see."
''It seemed to me as if some great
black rock rose up before us-loos
Lherel What is that"
Will tTned and looked up the hill,
aud saw a shadowy mass lying close
20 the spot where they had been upset.
1T doesn't look like the man," he
aid. "He seems to have been scared
of. Let US see what it is.
First recovering their toooggan,
which was smashed along one side, they
climbed the few PAGES necessary to reach
what seemed to be the object with which
hey had collided.
''It's bag" said Will, after orie
examination; "a potato sack.
"'That man, whoever he was, must
nave dropped it, and we bumped agains'
t.n
"And where's he gone to, III like tt
SnowT"
perhaps he thought We were killed
aud was atrlid he'd be hanged for ou
MURDER"
"Well, he ought to have had the sense
20 find out before he ran away. think
I'll give shout to let him know we're
all right as to our lungs any way. Then
perhaps he'll come ba'l for his bag.
wonder what's in it. It's pretty heavy
and all full of knobs-a lot of sof
:hings like clothes, too"
Will had been feeling over the OUTSIDE
of the bag, but now he rose, and turn
ing towards the woods, he gave a ring
ing halloo.
There was no answer, but, while they
were waiting the s)und of clicking
gate made them turn, and what did the!
see but Mr.. WaldrOn running toward
them from his hack ward
ELLA, go right into the house aud
help your mother; and VIII, if you can,
wish you'd run over to DR.. Somerbyi
while 1 go down to the Constable's."
"What's the matterl" Ella and VIII
ashed in unison.
1.-THE house has been ransacked by
burglar. We found Bridget locked in
the cellar and she is fainting every three
Your mother is nearly dis
racted and we must-what is that?"
Mr.. Waldrou' ) excited eye had faller
upon the bag lying behind VIII.
"Well, if Pm not mistaken, TINT is
the pluuder from your house, or part of
it." responded Will, whose quick iu-
teilec. had pieced several things to
gether IN a second.
"Wbat do you meant How do you
know" Mr.. Waldron was excessively
startled, it was plain.
"We nearly ran over man who was
crossing the snow, and we frightened
HIM So that ne dropped this bag, and US
vent shooting over it. He was coming |
rom the direction of the house and"
"Here, help me drag it back. We
will see if you are right. Run ahead,
Ella, and help quiet Bridget"
Between the two the bag was dragged !
o the house, just as Bridget was coming
% out of her fifth fainting fit.
The announcement of their surprise al
he contents of the bag seemed to revive
her miraculously, and she tottered over
20 the proup that waited patiently |