Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-01-10

glars going Is rob US. seel That's the
end Of ladder sticking out. Now, my
college heroinel your chances to dis
tinguish yourself has come-snd mine.
It's lucky we stayed up late. Slip on
something quick, and we'll nip their de-
sign in the bud. I've got pistol and
you know how to shoot, If don't"
It was my brothers revolver l re-
ferred to. During my absence he used
the room, and that loaded weapon was
| in its case in bureau drawer.
showed it to Kate, and she grasped
it fear,essly. "It's fortunate, Luce,
(she spoke low and without q tremor)
.'thss I'm tomboy enough to like fire.
arms. They call me crack shot down
South when I'm homo. But where'syour
gun"
"rm more afraid of gun than q bur
glsr. Stopl Yes, there's a Ratchet in
the closet. I'll take that. and did.
snow, then, Kate" quickly whis.
pered, "Tm in command, for know the
house. See the fellows are taking the
ladder around. They'll evidently try
the back window OF the fireplace hall.
Wen sneak down and lay for them, one
Of US on either side of the window.
While they are forcing an entrance vol
shoot and I'll chop-but not till order.
Remember if we don't capture, or at
least, wound them so they dou't leave
tracks, no one will believe US. Instead,
we'll be laughed at. Your nerves ara
steady, Katel You don't want to yell
for help, do you2'
LEAD onl I'll followl" smiled Kate,
with look that showed q true college
girls courage.
"All right, then," coolly answered i
Attention, company Shoulder arns!
Forward, march"
Hatchet and pistol in hands we noise. ..
lessly made our way past the old clock,
whose "tick took tick took" in the dark
ness aud stiffness sounded like ego back,
go back" past the aucleut knight III
armor, whose grim, ghostly form seemed
bigger and iercer in the expiring glow
of our log fire, till we reached the rear
window of the hall. Its solid shutters
were tightly bolted, and in order to
shoot when the time came we softly
raised the shade and sash. Soon oar
strained ears heard the ladder go up and
the shutter tried. I
In the almost pitch darkness of the
ghostly hall we took our positions, Kate
to the right and l at the left Of the win
dow, aud waited, wondering how the
burglars intelded to breal in. 1t SCENE
an age before We heard slight soIn of
boring by some tool the robbers were
using. Then it stopped and fer a while
We thought the atte npt had been givGl
up to find another and easier entrance.
The suspense was more dreadful than
when we knew what the villains were
doiny. While enduring that awful
terror, something | couldn't see touched
my dress. In spite of myself [ almost
screamed. But, happily, it only was the
cat and l whispered 50 to Kate for fear
it might give her the shock 1 had re-
ce.ved.
a faint noise of saving on the shut.
tiers luckily came then to dissipste our
panic and restore our nerves for action.
Scarcely perceptlbIe was the sound as
we listened with loudly-beating hearts
and without knowing exactly what it
porteuded.
Sudden.- the moonlight shone through
a small square opening in the shutter on
my side and huge, black hand in
serted itself ami fumbled around to find
and uniastea the bolt.
Quickly | raised my hatchet to chop
then more daring aud less horrible
plan Of action came TO me.
Dropping my weapon instantly,
grabbed the burg lars hand with both Of
mine and bracing one knee against tue
w!ndowsill pulled that demon paw IN
farther and held it.
Ha! hadn't pulled stroke oar in our
college crew for nothing. Nowmy gym
nsstic !essons-hauling myself h md owe.
hand up ropes ard swinging on trapez
bGrs-served me well.
Fa.4lg those Jarse, hard fingers tr;e
ike snakes to wind ABOUT mine ald hurt
them. Eainly that strong, rough, muir
derous hand sought to tear itself from
my college learned grip. Tne more it
tried the tighter held.
"Shoot, Kate! Shoot-right through
the shutter! Quick-belore [ wea1en, "
| yelled.
"Baugw went a bullet. "B4ug!
Bang!' two more. l felt the muscles
relapse N the hand I clutchei. Nine
did, too. Then let go, heari fall
aud shouts outside-and Cthey told lie
tainted.
Kate and l both lay in heaps on the
i0or when father and my brother rushed
to our sid.
One burglar was captured alive after
smart chase in the moonlightei snow.
The other-was found where ne fell.
But they never told that to Kate till the |
;oroner'5 inquest and then they had to.
Detroit Free Press.