The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-10-02

make a maui up on IuckerSOn claim
that'll last us half our lives if all that
} fool told us was true"
AS soon as their way, bending
round bluff, took them out of sight,
Shorty was out and in few minutes
more was squirting his little broncho
= to it's best speed. By riding fast over
a short cut, with the hills between
himself and the robbers, he meant to
: reach Tuckerson's first.
who be you" asked Tuckerson's
girl as Shorty rode up to the door of
the little cabin about $ o'clock in the
afternoon. "Oh, l know You're
the little Teller down to Puts that
4 paw alwus used ter say I'd orter hev
fer a dorl."
Never mind that now. I've hur-
ried here to tell you of some danger
you're in"
Danger" said the girl. "G'way,
child. There amt no danger round
here-except it's dyin of loneliness. {"
You just listen to me-" said
Shorty, and told her all about the
coming strangers.
He disclosed his plan to her, too,
succeeded in convincing her that he
was man enough to carry it out and
finally induced her to promise to lie
i'll in the attic with her fathers
nall pailful of gold dust and his gun
Jeside her.
IF don't fix 'em down stairs, you
can if they try to get up the ladder"
said Shorty. You'll have the dust
and your weapon anyhow, and at
worst you'll be just as safe to Let me
| figger in the first act III let on
you've cleared out-I guess I can do
that without no lynn"
After the girl had put some esta-
bles and black bottle on the table,
she took her place In the rude attic,
which was foored with boards SO
loosely set that she would be able 70
see the promised proceedings below.
Shorty then went to bit of-lool1ing
glass, and standing before it muffled
his head in scarf that she had given
him. Next he took off his boots.
Finally he lay down on some hay in
box about four feet long, covered
himself with blankets and waited till
the crimson sunset faded into twi-
light Then he put a light in the
window and went comfortably to bed
again.
You're foolin me-" said the girl
in loud whisper.
They're little longer on the road
than 1 expected, said Shorty, '.but
they'll get here all the same. Best
not move anyhow"
''Oh, l hear something now" cried
the girl.
"Yes-that's them" said Shorty.
''Now, mind, not a move, not a laugh,
not whisper. You amt scared, are
your"
II guess would be if you wasn't
here, " she said.
The two thieves had hidden In the
cottonwoods till nightfall Now they
were yelling for help. Having called |
in vain for ten minutes, one of them
went to the cabin.
Say, my mates out here wild his
leg broke. Will ye come out an help
himW
No answer. He knocked.
''Tum in" said a childish voice.
Coming In, the ruffian saw q little
much mufled figure in a little bed
in a corner.
Hello, hubby" said he. where's
your folks1"
Pepper amt home" said the sup
posed infant, IAN Sally she's gone,
and I so 'fraid, DOL ooT'
well, no use you cryin. Shut
your mouth right off, " said the thief,
going to the door. Hi! Come in
here, Jimmy" he called. Thar
amt no one here buta4-year-old brat
in its bed"
Jim came in and gloated over the
food on the table.
Guess we en- work better with
grub in u.s." he said. I'VE deserve
t after our long ride. Seer"
They sat down and fell to, disre-
garding the "4-year-old" till their
munger was nearly satisfied.
Say, hubby, where does pepper
Keep his goldl" said Jim.
"Some in his teefs an some in tin
1ail," whimpered hubby"
"Now, we don't take no foolin," /,
aid one "W'en we git trough here,
you're goin to show us where that
;old is KEEP. Seer If you don't
,r-r-r-well eat you alive"
It'll show you, sir. Oh, wish !
ny pepper was homer
Your pepper sent us up. Wen !.
make it all right wild him."
They laughed and went on eating !
nd drinking till Jim CHANGED to =
ook over at the little bed. He gave
startled exclamation and threw 9
lis arm over his comrades shoulder. :
"Look ~ said he in whisper. do
'ou see what l see7" =
There standing by the box was-not =
child, but little man with a big
=.