Middletown transcript., 1894-04-28

| Cnalr near Dy SAL gTtdl, IuSScu, pui
mau, with black hair and beard, wh
had buckled about his waist pair G
huge, Misunderstanding pistols.
"Are you dead shore your pap too
that money with him?" the man wa
heard to say.
Eyes, sir;' the child replied in
weak piping voice.
"Wal, it would "a been an accom-
mediation to me if he'd left 1t here, bu
since he didn't, it can't be helped,
reckon. All can do is to wait till h
comes back"
There was a momentary pause, afte
which the man went on:
"How long yo' reckon your pap III b.
gomez" he asked.
'Not long now, l guess" the chilt
replied. ''IIs WIS just goin' TO gi
me some medicine and come righ
back"
The man made no answer and a lone
silsnce followed. After a while thu
child looked tin idly up into the rough
bearded face and speaking in eagel
though trembling tones, said:
please, mister, you won't take all
of pa's money, will your"
II reckon l will." the man answered
unfeelingly. That's jest what come
here for, an l calc'ls III not leave d
dollar that l can git my fingers on
Taint my way o. doin' business.
If you take it all we can't go away
from here" the child said sadly, ''ar
the doctor says if we doi't 60 pa an
me will both die, cause pa got con
sumption an I've got the fever"
"That amt anything to me-" the
man replied with cold indifference.
The child put its thin hand over il
face and something like sob Came
| from it. 1t was almost minnie be
fore it looked up 1T the man again.
both eyes full nf Tears, and lips iremb
ling with suppressed emotion.
81 do want To go back Ia our old
home 80 bad" plaintively; "cause
was always well there and it was 81
pleasant. Every night l dream about
it, an see the the big shady bluegrass
| pasture, and the red clover meadow
an the clear spring branch that runs
through the orchard and mder the big
elm trees, where l used to have a
swing. dream it all over every night
an I'm so happy till wake up an
find its just dream"
The child's words and tone were pa.
thetic, but they had no effect on the
man to whom they were addressed,
He appeared obliyioqs to it all.
':It is so lonely out here on the
the praire with nobody put pa an me-
the little voice went on, "an' Amt
never happy like 1 used to back to my
old home. used to cry every day
till pa sold the claim an got the money
so we could 60 away, cause ] didn'l
want to die an be buried out here
where there amt nothinA but prairie
an where the crickets in the grass
make me feel so lonesome with theil
cries. 1t amt nice, like it is back at
the old home, where the brids sing an
where there are some flowers an trees
an little branches of clear water"
The child paused for moment and
looked anxiously into the face of naI
who sat immovable. Then pleadingly
it continued:
''You won't take all Of pas money
will you? 1t won't take much to take
US back home an if you knew how
much l wanted to go, aud how L grieve
to think of dying here, you'd let u
have that much. You will let us keel
a little, won't your"
sit ain't likely that | will, ;" the aal
replied with an oath. 1T don't max,
any difference to me whether you g
back to your home or whether you di,
here. It's money want, and | aim
apt to let chance to get it slip through
my fingers on account Of any pitifu
ssories.',
| At that moment there came tn
sound of horses feet beating on th
hard earth. The man in the cabil
arose and PLACED his hand on hi
pistol.
1T is pa,n the little girl said fear
fully,
| The man waited with his eyes axe,
OH the door. The horseman rode up
dismounted and apprt ached the cabin
There was the click of pistol at th
window, and the man in the cabi
looked around to see a head thrus
| through the broken sash and a pistt
leveled at his breast. The head and tn
pistol were Joe's.
"Throw up your hands!'' he sait
and the man could only obey, for h
was in Joe's power.
i "Jim." said joe, g. in an relieve til
chap Of his guns while | hold hiI
quiet. He's made a mistake in SUI
posin' that that three hundred dollar
was intended fer him.
Jim acted on Joe,s instructions an
a moment later the man was drive
from the house and allowed to depar
The settler had entered, and walche
the proceedings in silent wonder. A
last he managed to ask:
s.what does this Mean?''''
Joe and Jim exchanged look, br
both hesitated to speak. The child
voice broke the silence.
"The man had come to steal th
money, it said; land he wss waitiI
for you to come back when these me
came and drove him away"
i There was momentary pause, the