Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-04-08
Bradley

| learned that my room was exactly
over the old lady's "settin" room, as
she called it. There was a sort Of reg
ister over it, through which the warmth
struggled agreeably enough. How
ever, should have closed it had not
a sense of the old lady's unprotected
situation impressed me, and so l re-
tired to bed and dreamland, where l
wandered lazily until awakened by
voices beneath.
Evidently the first word had reused
me, for as I sat up in bed, wide awake
in an instant, heard the old lady say
in matter-of-fact tone
"Good-evenin. Set up to the stove
and warm We.
Peeping through the register I saw
a ragged, unkempt man creep toward
the stove, blinking uneasily. He had
come up the cellar stairs, not through
the outside door, which sufficiently ey-
idenced his predatory intentions.
However, had the old lady's visitors
always made their entrances through
the cellar she could not have been more
at ease than she appeared now as she
hustled about, setting him chair, put
ting wood into the stove, and other
wise mystifying her midnight caller by
her careless, friendly manner.
Admirable as was her acting, l knew
that she had not dared to retire and
while regretting that had not sus-
pected her intentions, it now seemed
wisest to remain where | was unless
she should need my assistance, as she
probably would very soon, l reasoned.
Cooking my pistol and otherwise pre-
pairing myself for the emergency, sat
down on the floor, where could watch
the couple without myself being seen.
cts turrible cold out for fall
night, amt it?"
Eyes, it is, said the man.
"Wall, Jest set here by the stove
while l set the teapot forard and git
YOU somethin kinder warmin'. Meb-
be you're hungry, too, she added.
"Mebbe l be
"Wall, then, I'll set onto the table
to eat she said, moving
about the room with pleasant, bust
ling movement which must have filled
the burglar with wonder, as it did me,
"There now she remarked at length,
"set right up and make yourself to
home. Mebbe you'd like to wash,
though I'll git you some warm water
outer the teakittle.
"'Twould seem good. I hain't
washed for week, he replied.
Il wanter know Ben travlin' and
haint had no chance, most like.
Here's the soft soap, and there's cake
o hard I keep for comp'ny."
I'll use the comp'ny soap, said
the man with a sardonic laugh.
And then he sat down to the table.
He must have eaten ravenously, for
where I sat I could see his elbows
working rapidly, while his hostess re-
marked Voluntarily
Poor cretur How hungry you
be !"
Its the first square meal I've had
for six weeks" he said with his mouth
full.
Il wanter know And rising, his
hostess brought from the pantry
plate of cold meat and set it before
him.
But at last the meal was ended, and
the couple sat down by the stove on
opposite sides, she with her knitting,
and he lingering uneasily his old hat.
Say" he broke forth at last in the
midst of some friendly inquiry re-
garding the state of the roads. "Quit
your fooIin You know what I've
come for It's that money you've got
hid in your bed
"How do you know I've got any
there" she asked, without quaver in
her voice.
Il see you pack it away just before
your husband left. Then crept into
the cellar when YOU went to see him
off, and here be come for it. I've ben
hid there six hours. Come, hustle
round, old lady, and fetch it out, or l
shall have to git it myself.
Il know better
"Know better p
yes. I know you amt no sech
kind of man as to steal from an old
woman like me. You are too much of
a man"
Il be, be I? Wall, I guess not,
You won't never miss it, ard it would
be the making of me- "
How long you s'pose me and
Josiah's ben gittin' that together to
lift the MORTGAGE"