Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-01-20

into The house.
Jennie was singing softly as she
sewea at window Mrs. Jameson
was not IN. having gone to visit sick
neighbor.
| Without word the old man passed
into bis chamber and there secreted the
money, frowning as he did so.
| It'll send that fellow packin' soon !,
whether | find him stealin' or not" he
muttered 1t amt none too com fort.
| able 4 feelin' to know you've got to lock
up exery dollar you get and not tell any
body where you put it,"
H4ate bis supper that evening in al
lehed Jennie and Dick chattering in
cesssstly ard Mrs Jameson told about
exus aele and pain that racked the
~. 40 NJ Dad boon ~ visit.
I But the miller could only wonder
whether or not that frank, manly face
and those CHEEKY tones of his employe
belonged to knave and scoundrel.
"An' Jennie and him seemed to uu-
derstand one another far too WE'LL" he
soliloquized. II used to like the lad
but I'd as lief see my girl care for old
blind Jack, the fiddler, as this fine gen
tleman. AS Greene says, he's too fancy
about himself to be honest. I've heard
the greater the rascal the more genteel,
an | guess I'll load the rife"
He did load his rife and placed it near
his bed, telling his wife that be "warn't
going to lose any more money, but the
first one thar comes for dishonest pur.
poses will lose his life."
Mrs. Jameson was very nervous, con-
corning the proximity Of the rife she
begged her husband to put it further
away, declaring he might touch it in bis
sleep IAN make the thing go off," and
probably kill her.
81 never move in my sleep, so you
needn't be scared" he told her. 'if |
touch the gun you can be sure it will go
of, but I'll not touch it in my sleep.
sleep like an honest man, | do"
So he went to bed and thought more
of his daughter than of the money under
the carpet. However, he did think of
his money sometimes and, in fact. his
thoughts ran from Jennie, as the
thoughts of the money-lender ran from
his ducats to his daughter
At last he slept, but not too soundly;
dreams visited him, and unpleasant ones
they were. Vision after vision came
and faded, and his wife was alarmed be-
yond measure to see his unconscious
hands go out again and again, perilously
near sometimes to the loaded rife.
1t was midnight before she slept Mt
all, but then her sleep was profound -
1t was broken at last by the strangest
and most thrilling of sounds, no less
startling than heavy fall and loud,
harsh reverberating report, as though
a canton had been fired through the
door.
No woman is ever too frightened to
scream, and Mrs. Jameson's shreks
we're loud and shrill as she covered
among the bedclotbes. and scrambling
in the darkness and muttered words abe
could not undcrs tand did not tend to
calm her
There was rush of feet in the hall
without stout shoulder sent the door
inward with crash, and Dick Levoe,
who bad made this uncerem onious en-
trance, stood there, with light high
above his head, his keen eyes scanning
the apartment swiftly.
II took him a moment TO comprehend,
and then he laughed with imneasurable
amusement.
The miller, clad but lightly, was
sprawling on the floor, a dazed wonder
in his face, tho old rife, which he had
struck as he fell, lying harmless beside
him and now unloaded window was
open, and through it came fine sheet
Of rain the old man was soaking wet
and raindrops glistencd on his hair and
scanty garments; his bare feet were
muddy, and altogether he presented
anything but an agreeable or presenta-
BILE appearance.
"What has happened p asked Dick
as soon as his mirth could be suppressed,
as he aided the miller to bis feet.
Ell don't know" stammcred Jane
son.
His wife, hearing, voices, cautiously
peeped out from under the coverlet.
"Robbers !" she cried shrilly. They
have been here again. Have they shot
you. Harvey
mo. wife, I'm not shot," said Har-
vey, 'an' don't think there's been any
robbers round. Fact is I've been sleep
walking" 900
"What !"
ave been walkin' in my sleep, sure
as you live," groaned the miller. "Pm
oil wet, 80 must have gone out Of
doors, an the Lord only knows where
have been or what I've been doin'
was dreamin' of that fifty doIars"---
He broke off and hurried to the spo
in which he had hidden the money. II
was not there.
You're rather old for such capers
J Harvey bis wife was saying.
But he didn't hear her Very blank
! " be turned to Dick, who had now re
treated TO the threshold where Jennie
was standing, white and startled, but
, ravsbingly pretty.
Lad the miller said solemnly. II
: believe I've robbed myself. I've bearc
t Of such things, and now | believe Pv'
, just done that, an hain't got notion
where ! put the money
"Is it gomez"
"Yes."
"rhen you bad best put on dry clothes
sir, while go out and try to follow tn
} tracks you have probably left in tn
' garden. Your feet are 70 muddy Ia
: sure you must have been there. ~
, report in a few moments "
> A whispered sentence to Jennie at tn
b door, and Dick was of TO don his boot
c and laugh at the remembrance Of tn
miller's plight
y With a lantern he wen. out into III