Middletown transcript., 1897-03-06
SIT amt a Joke. IS jtP

| IOuS lHaH d lOkos lOOud-ulBub.
Turning to old Rnan's head, the doc
tor set spurs to him aud trotted rapidly
away. Evidently the night call was a
concerted plan--a plan to leave his
home unprotected-aud his mind
turned, with keen d,strust, 80 Milo
York and his tale of distress.
''God keep Dolly aud the little one
safe until get home agaihp' he NUT
tered, between his closed lips, Faster,
Roam, fastsr!" with touch of the
whip, which was scarcely needed. so
thoroughly did the good horse enter in
to the spirit of his rider. You know
not how much may depend upon your
speed tonight"
Meanwhile Mrs. Eield, who had just
fell into restless slumber, after lock-
ing the door behind her husband, was
unwontedly startled again by low,
continuous sound like the rasping of
some hard instrument. She sat up in
bed and listened moment. Under
her window the sound of subdued
voices audible, even above the attic
and roar Of the storm.
"BurglarsT' she gasped to herself.
"And my husband is gone and-Oh'
Milo York is at the bottom Of thisl
How wrong it was of me to give him
shelter in the barnp'
Springing to her feet she threw on a
dressing-gown, and hurried to the cup
board, where her few simple treasures
were kept, besides the square morocco
case containing Aunt Dorothy's SER
vice of solid, old fashioned silver. She
turned the key and was just dropping
it into her pocket, when rude grasp
fell on her arm.
"No, you don'tp' muttered a gruff
voice. sGive that hereE'
Mrs. Fields heart turned chill as
death as she found herself face to face
with tall, ruffisnly man, whose face
was half hidden by sort of visor or
make of black leather, while another
man was busily engaged in ransack ing
the bureau:opposite.
"Give it here," be said sayagely,
"or" grasping the throat of the sleep
ing baby. who had awakened with
cry of infant terror. "I'lI wiring the
brat's neck as if it were a chickens. !"
Mrs. Field gave sbriek of alright,
but at The same second astunning blow
from spade handle felled the man OPP
posite, like a log, to the floor, and a.
strong hand, twisting itself, yicelke,
in the neckerchief of the nearest william
compelled him to loose his hold of the
child.
"You will, will you." thundered
Milo York. s'Nnt if / know it. /
guessl''
Suddenly closing with the burglar,
there ensued desperate struggle for
minute or two, during which Mrs.
Fields blood seemed turning to ice
within her veins. 1t was brief, how
ever, Milo flung his opponent heavily
10 the ground, and, tearing one of the
sheets from the bed, he twisted it
around him, knotting it here and there,
until the coWardly burg lar lay helpless
and pinioned at his feet.
"I'd oughter cut your throas,' said
Milo, ''a-6ghing babies and women,
you mean skunk, you'll But 1 won't I'll
leave you to the law, and if that don't
grip you tight enough, amt no good
guesserl"
With equal rapidity, he tied the
hands and feet of the other man, who
still lay insensible on the floor.
'Is-is he dead?" gasped poor Mrs.
Field, scarcely daring to look in that
direction.
"No-he amt got his deserts" Milo
answered, wiping the sweat from ht
brow. "He'll live to be hanged yet,
ma'am, never fear."
At this moment th sound of old
Roan's gallop on the half frozen road
struck like welcome music on Mrs.
Fields ears.
my husbandp' she cried hysteri-
cally. "My husbandl"
Milo York went down and unfas-
tened the door-the burglars had ef-
fected their entrance through the par
lor window-and Doctor Field found
himself face to face with the tramp.
"YorkI" he exclaimed.
"Yes, sir, 'York'n nodded Milo.
"And If it hadn't been for York, your
wife and the little IN would have been
in bad fix"
''Oh, husband" shrieked Mrs. Field
flinging herself into his arms, ''Milo
York has saved our livssl'
81 amt altogether sartain about
that" added Milo, ''but I guess I've
saved your money and valuables.
"But how came you hereP" ques-
toned the doctor.
s. was sleeping out in the barn; she
told me could. She gave me blanket
and food and drink when was most
ready to drop. God bless herl I heerd
their footstep just after you had gone
out, and | suspicioned as all wasn't
right. So just got up and crept af-
ter them, and here they is" with q nod
toward the two captives on the floor.
Sand if you'll lend a hand, doctor !,
we'll hist 'em out into the hall, where
they won't interfere with, folks, and
then I'll gb over to the village for the
constable and the haudcuffs.' :
"How can reward you for this Mi
loP'' said Doctor Field, in tones stifled
by deep emotion.
ST don't want no reward" said