The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1894-09-18

headed fellow maneuvers, l wonder
what he's looping around here for,
anyhow" said Josh, as he bestowed
his money in his wallet.
| II don't know" replied Gill; "out
if he puts his freckled face in here, ne
will never curl those red locks OF MS
again." and the young man sportlveiy
pointed a bright new revolver at the
door.
Eyes, we're good for dozen like
him." said Josh, as he drew a mate to
ellis pistol from his pocket. ''Ihank
fortune, mother and the girls don
, know what a strait we'er prepared for.
The sight of these pistols would scare
them into fits" and Josh crept into
his bed, and Gill was soon sound asleep
in his.
"There, it is twelve O'Clock" )" NUT
tered Josh, as a ne:ghborlng clock
struck the hour, ''apd l haven't had a
wink of sleep yet. and no livelihood OF
getting any either. There! what IS
that? Some one is certainly saving a
hole in the door," and Josh raised
himself on his elbow, and listened to
the well-defined sound which had dis
turbed him, while great drops of sweat
oozed from his forehead.
"We shall be murdered Gill and l!
Oh, don't wish I had been at the
North Pole before I came to this m
fernal city! If could only wake Gill
without that red-headed vllllan-l
know it's him-heauug me-"
Then Josh bethought him Of his
means for self-defense, and crept
cautiously and noiselessly out Of bed.
How his limbs trembled! He had
scarcely strength to stand. Seating
himself on the edge of his bed, he
CROPPED for his clothes, and began to
dress.
He knew he was doing dastardly
thing in not waking his brother, but
for his life he dared not utter whisper,
and his legs he was sure would refuse
their office did he attempt to move.
At length, after what seemed full
hour of mental agony, Josh became
aware that some one was treadlng
stealthily over the carpet. 1t was
pitchy dark, but intuitively the young
man felt that the footsteps were ap-
preaching.
Selling his revolver in his trembling
fingers, he hastily discharged it not
once merely, but several times IN quick
succession. There was only a slight
groan, and Josh Was on the point of
firing again, when the room rang With
the report of weapon not his own.
Again and again the report shook the
window, and caused to shake and trem-
BILE every fiber in Josh's body.
At length, forgetful alike OF his
money, which he had placed under his
pillow, and of his brother, who for
aught he could tell might be dead or
dying, Josh rushed for the door, ex.
pecting every moment to feel the steel
of the burglar assassin against his
throat.
He found the door still locked and
bolted. The intruder must have en-
tered by the window. How Josh wish
ed for the strength of Samson to enable
him with single stroke Of his arm to
carry away the obstruction. How
could he, trembling in every joint as
he was, and expecting every moment to
be seized in the stout arms of the red
headed villain, ever get the door un-
fastened! But it was accomplished at
last, and then, suddenly recovering his
wonte3. strength, he darted away, bare
headed and bare-footed, as he was,
down the three flights Of stairs, ana
out on the street, shouting "Murder"
as he ran, and followed by half score
of inmates of the house.
He soon outstripped his pursuers,
and ran till he reached the depot like
one gone wild, determined that the first
train should take him homeward.
His money was gone, and Gill was
in all probability killed. He must re-
turn to his parents with the sad intell-
igence, and then come back for the
body of his hapless brother.
He leaned against the oak panellng
of the ticket Office, determined to be
the first to secure a ticket. He had
stood thus but few minutes when he
felt his knees knock together, and the
breath came thick and fast from be-
tween his ashy lips, for the form of his
murdered brother had entered the
room.
His face was pale and haggard, his
eyes wild and preternaturally bright,
and there was wound on his cheek
from which the blood had flown CO.
piouslv. Josh was filled with superstiti-
Gus awe, and who would not be when
the evidence OF things supernatural ex-
listed before his very eyes?
"He has come to punish me for leav-
ING him to such fate, and deserve
it, thought Josh, as he placed his
hands over his eyes and shut out the
vision.
But ghosts are not wont to converse
with NOR tails, and Josh's hands came
down, and the paleness lett his cheeks
as he heard the words:
so you got away, too, Josh. 1t
seems to good to be real. I felt that the
fellows revolver, or worse still, chance
shot from my own had killed you. l
don't see how you could get away, and
l not know it.
Josh opened his eyes very wide at
this, and selling Gill by the hand he
dragged him at break-neck pace back
to the hotel. They were closely followed
by a couple of grim policemen, but the
brothers knew little of the duty Of
those functionaries, and cared less.