The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-08-03


"No--no--a trampi"
"Whewl" and Cassie gave 1ow
whistle. "And s'pose you're scared
ooh, Cassie, / feel ss if were chok-
ing Do hurry down; he may be
killing poor little Florence and the baby
what shall we do? The baby has
told him we are all alone. What can
We do-try to think"
Cassie sat swinging the button hosi5
in her hand md thinking very hard
and fast.
"Does he know I'm here?'
"Yes, I've told him"
"Then it would he no use for me to
pretend to he Ned;" thinking aloud.
"I'm afraid not"
Another silence dcdicatedt to thought.
"Rose."
eyes"
'Im going to he crazy. I'm going
TO chase him off the farm"
ooh, Cassie, you can't. He's a great
big impudent wretch. What folly 20
talk about chasing him of the farm
''It's our only chance"
"Don't count on Inc. / can't help
you. / couldn't help chase flyl"
"You cen scream, s'pose?"
ooh, yes, l can do that"
"Well, you do the screaming and
I'll 90 the chasing. Rush down stairs
and scream and scream--and bang the
door to, and just shrek: She's out
she's out-she's coming down stairs !!
And you will see what perfectly beau-
tiful luuatic l will belts good
thing l have this old dress oa-and
only one shoe. Now make u rush
and scream"
Roses over strained nerves were her
best allies, and rs she flew down the
stairs, il was the easiest thing in the
world FOR her to give one piercing
shrek after another. They resounded
from the narrow stairway through the
kitchen, and for the moment seemed
to paralyze its inmates. As she burst
in upon them, Florence was transfixed
midway of the table and the stove,
with the platter of ham in her hands
the baby had climbed upon chair
and the tramp had arisen with a be-
wildered air from the table. As her
skirts cleared the door, she turned and
dashed it shut and flung herself against
il, shrieking: "ohe's out-she's out of
her room |"
TO the mystided Florence there c.fme
- avio. X
fright had overthrown her sisters
reason, and with q wall fhe rushed to-
ward her crying: "She's crazyl oh,
she's crazy !"
"Who's crazy?" yelled the tramp.
The baby now wildly terrified set up
loud weeping, while from the stair
way came succession of blows and
angry demands that the door be opened.
A moment more it was forced ajar, and
head crowned with mass of tossed
hair was thrust out, and quickly fol-
lowed by hand in which was ciutched
gun.
shes got the gun--oh, Florence,
run to the baby" cried Rose.
who's that" demanded the ap-
partition, making n rush toward the
tramp.
Here, keep o0-leave mo alone,
lacking away and warding Off an ex-
pected blow.
She stood before him, tall, strong
and agile.
IL won't leave you alone. What do
YOU mean locking me into that room
I'm no more crazy than you are.
" hat : this?' NJ she stumbled over the
hat which the tramp had put beside
the chair and into which he had de-
posted the silver spoons from the
table. "Oh, | see, "Hu are all in
league to rob me O. my gold and
precious stones I" and catching it mp
on the muzzlo of the gun she gave il II
whirl which sent the spoons glittering
in every direction, then advancing
upon him she thrust the hat and gun
into the face of the Mortified man.
With volley OF oaths he sprang back
ward, upsetting his chair and falling
over il.
"Oh, don't kill him, Cassie, doa't
kill him"
"We'll have n merry time" gayly
dancing about him aud proddiag him
sharply with the gun, rs he tried to
scramble to his feet.
keep oil with that gun, can't you !"
he yelled. Cant you hold her, you
screaming idiots?' and half crawling,
half pushed, he gained the kitchen
door which had stood partly open
since he entered.
"Where are you going, my pretty
maid? Don't you try to get away, "
shouted Cassie ms she fitted lightly
after him. The tramp stayed not to
answer her question nor to obey her
command, but clearing the door fled
wildly through the dusk.
Here's your hat-I'll fire 1T after
you she called, and II sharp report
rang ont on the quiet evening air, then
all was still.
The three girls stood for a moment
in the door watching the dim outline
fleeing across the meadow in the di-
rection of the highway.
''He'll think twice before inviting
| himself to simmer another tim ami