Middletown transcript., 1895-02-23

A. aunt Jane. Sh'
t0W had a daughter
ten years old, and the two lived alone
In the house on the bill half mile from
the centre of the village. The village
OF ROseville was quiet, sleepy place
and men went to bed with the doors
unlocked and women left the washing
out on the line without worrying over
results. Aunt James house was forty
rods from any other, but it never oc.
cured to any one that a maraudeI
might visit her. The kitchen dool
was never locked, and unless there
were indications of a storm half the
windows were lett open all night in
warm weather.
One September day Aunt James
daughter went away on visit to rel
ativea few miles distant, and when
night came the widow went to bed as
usual and had no anxitties to keep her
awake. 1t was II O'Clock, and she
was sleeping soundly, her bedroom br-
ing off the sitting room, when The
sound of human voice aroused her.
She opened her eyes to see man wi h
lighted candle in his hand standing
III he open door.
Madam" began the man as he
bowed and scraped, II am very soir,
to disturb you, but circumstances
oblige. am hungry aud would eai ;
but, being a stranger in the house and
very poor cook, shall have t. ask
you to get up and prep are a meal"
Aunt Jane opened her mouth t.
scream, but the man checked her with
agesture and continued:
"Don'L be foolishl No one can h.
you if you scream ever So laii-',
and Oh the ether hand, | am ntrv''',
irasible man and have bad TEN pr
when aroused. l will close the dpun
and give you ten NJ nutes in which t
dress. Don't attempt to escape by he
open window or do any other foolish
thing"
Aunt James nerve had never been
put to such a test before. She was
badly upset, of course, but she proved
TO be level headed woman. She real
lied that she was defenseless, and that
her wisest plan was to prOpitiate the
intruder, and at the end of the ten
minutes given her she opened the door
and found the man seated in the rock
ing chair with his big muddy feet
cooked up on stand. He had put
down the curtains and lighted the
lamp, and as che sized him up she
found him to be man of about thirty
five, very poorly dressed, but with an
an intelligent face and bearing which
did not belong to tramp. He lowered
his feet, stood up and bowed, and in
very respectful tones be said:
"You will please excuse my calling
at such late hour, and walking in on
you unann0unced, but man is Great
ure of circumstances. Be seated for a
moment, madam, while make an ex-
PLANTATION.
Aunt Jane sat down in a dazed and
wondering way. and after clearing his
throat her visitor went Oh:
"To begin at the beginning, l had
an overweening ambition to be rich.
thought to accomplish my object by
making my own currency instead of
depending on that made by Uncle Sam.
In other words, l began to turn out
the queer. You do not catch my
meaning, madam. / was called coun-
terfeiter, and had scarcely got to
work before Uncle Sans minions
pounced upon ne, aid found myself
in limbo. From limbo went to prison
for seven years. 1t MAS decided to curl
my ambition, you see,'
Aunt Jane bowed to signify that she
understood, and smiling pleasantly the
man observed:
"The intentions of the Judge were
good, but after serving a year of my
time escaped from the jug. The
term Jug applies, to the Albany Peni.
tentiary, madam. 1t was only two
nights ago that sawed through the
the last bar and made my appearance
before fhe public, and it is needless to
add that l have been travelling at q
rapid pace ever since and avoiding the
public as much as possible. Do l make
myself clear madam"
"Yes, sir" sad Aurt Jane. "You
were sent to Jail for counterfeiting
and you are now an escaped convict
"Exactly madam. In my travels
cane across several scarecrows placed
in the fields by farmers, and thus ex'
changed my zebra suit for the articles
l have on. am penniless and hungr!
and am no doubt pursued by the off.
GERS. shall strain every nerve to keel
ahead of the game, which means tt
preserve my liberty. l think l hav'
made the situation clear to you. Ifnot
please ask any question yop wish."
isWhat do you want here2" asked
Aunt Jane,
aFirst something TO eat and extr'
food to carry away with me; secondl.
to exchange these scarecrow rags TO
som.thing better; thirdly, some casi
to help me increase my distance from
Albany as quickly as possible. Wher'
is the rest Of the fanilyp