The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-04-01
Set up 10 the stove


the stove, blinking uneasily. He had
come up the cellar stairs. not through
the outside door, which sufficiently
evidenced his predatory intentions.
However, hadthe 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 a chair,
putting wood into the stove, and other
wise mystifying her midnight caller by
her careless, friendly manner.
Admirable as was her acting, ! knew
that she had not dared to retire; and
while regretting that l had not sus-
| pected her intentions, it o seemed
| wisest to remain where l was unless
she should need ny assistance, as she
probably would very soon, reasoned.
Cooking my pistol and otherwi pre-.
pairing myself for the emergency, l sat
down on the floor, where l could watch
the couple without myself being seen.
: ''lt's turrible cold out for a fall
night, amt It?"
Yes, it is" said the man.
"Wall, Jest set here by the stove
while l set the teapot for'ard and git
you somethin' kinder warmin'. Mebbe
you're hungry, too" she added.
"Mebbe l be-"
"Wall then, I'll set onto the table
somethin' TO eat" she said, moving
about the with n pleasant, bust.
ling movement which must have filled
the burglar with wonder. as it did me.
"Thera now" she remarked at length,
"set right up aud make yourself to
home. Mebbc you'd like to wash,
though. I'll git you some warm water
outer the teakittle."
"'Iwould seem good. l hain't
washed for IA week." he replied.
81 wanter know! Ben travlin' and
hain't had no chance, most like.
Here's the soft soap, and there's a.cake
o hard / keep for comply"
an use the comply soap" said
the man with a sardonic laugh.
And then he sat down to the table.
He must have eaten ravenously, for
where | sat 1 could zee his elbows
working rapidly, while his hostess
remarked Voluntarily
Poor cre.ur! How hungry you
be! A"
ats the first square meal I've had
for six weeks" he said with his mouth
full.
81 wan.ec know" And rising, his
hostess brought from the pantry a
plate of cold meat and set 1t 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 uneasiIy his old hat.
"Sav!" he broke forth at last in the
midst of some friendly inquiry re.
gnrding the state of the roads. ''Quit
your foolin'. 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 q quaver in
her voice.
II see you pack it away just before
your husband left. Then l crept into
the cellar when you vent to see him
off, and here / be cone for it. I've ben
hid there six hours. Come, hustle
round, old lady, and fetch it out, or ]
shall have to git it myself"
81 know better"
"Know better?"
"Yes. l know you amt no sech
kind of n man us to steal from M old
woman like me. You are too much OF
a man."
81 be. be I? Wall, / guess not
You won't never miss it, and it would
be the making of me-"
GLOW long you sp'cse me and
Josiah's hen gittin' that together to
lift the MORTGAGE"
~ don't know. Amt your place
paid for?"
$40, and we've ben twenty years Il
scrapin' together two hundred and
thirty.three dollars and one cent.
You seq Josiah's lame and can't carr
much, and | amt so smart as | was
OuCC, anu we nhl 10 i've. Inc IlmCs
got hard jest the wrong time for MS.
We used to have enough, and so we
used to take a child from the poor
house every five years and fetch him
up. Four of 'cm we got started, and
all smart children, every one, and
dreadful good to me and Josiah
"Why don't they help you?"
They're jest beginnin' to do for
themselves, and we don't want 'em to.
James is in Chiny. Eben's workin' hi:
way through college, Philaster'.
clerkin' down to the Corner, ant
Horace's jest married and come IL
debt for a little place of his own
Can't you get no work."
"No, l can't. I've tried for weeks,
and tramped miles; but nobody wants
a tramp when there's them they know
ready to work.
"Thnt's 30. ! see how it's. l wisl
| could do for you, but l don't see how
can. l s'pose l might lend you oul
sick money"
";ick money!"
eyes. We've always kept laid away
fifty dollnrs To bnry ia with. which