The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-12-01
CHAPTER XXI.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

ChU0aI In LIE ASA'
They walked home in silence.
samanthy was too busy with her ef-
forts to keep the cool night-air from
her tooth to be willing to attempt q
conversation.
"Hev to go in the back way" she
mumbled, when they reached the
house. ''Mr. Porter's got the key to
the front-door paddock, an I took the
one b'longin' to the back one"
In this way it happened, that they
did not go around to the side of the
house fronting the barn; therefore
they were not seen by any one who
might have been there at that time.
"Now, tell me what I can do for
you, said Mamie, as soon as they were
in the house.
Samanthy had dropped into a chair
and was swaying to and fro with her
hands at her jaw, groaning dismally.
"Hops-git bag O. hops-an' pour
b'ilin' hot water on 'em," she directed,
spasmodically! "On top shelf-but'ry.
Dear sus me! Wish Mr.. Porter was
here-'d hev him yank it out with the
bullet-mol's. Oh, my goodness!"
Mamie went into the pantry, and
was preparing to climb on an old bar
rel, in order to get at the top shelf
where the herbs for winter use were
stored away, when she heard sound
that seemed like the creaking of door
on wooden hinges.
She stopped down and peered out
of the window on the side toward the
barn, from which direction the sound
had seemed to come.
A cry of surprise escaped her. The
barn door was open!
"Samanthy!" she called in low,
excited whisper. "Samanthy!"
"What's wanted?" asked Samanthy,
from the kitchen.
"Come here" said Mamie. "Be
quickr' :,
Whats up now?" demanded sa-
manthy, coming to the pantry-door.
"Can'tyou find the hops? They're"
"The barn doors open. I do believe
somebody's after Uncle Ezra's horses"
said Mamie. "Look and see-I'm not
mistaken"
"Good Lord!" cried Samanthy, run
ping to the window. " IT is 30, true's
you're alive! Nancy Boone, it's hoss-
thieves, ye can d'pend on it! They
thought we was all off to meetin', n
fbou'1 hev clear sailin'p
':Oh, what'll we do?" cried Mamie.
:'Do you think it would scare 'em if we
screamed?"
"Ill scare 'em," said Samanthy,
grimly and resolutely. "Jest keep as
still as de'th, an hist that winder
about two inches. Be spry about it,
too"
Mamie knew that any plan of &C
ton Samanthy might decide on would
be wiser and more effective than any
she might propose, so without stop
ping to ask questions, she raised the
window, as directed, while Samanthy
was in the kitchen.
She came back with Mr.. Porter's
old musket.
"Oh!' almost shrieked Mamie.
"You aren't going to shoot them are
you?"
IT be eff I can!" replied Samanthy.
'I don't expect to hit nothin' 'cept
the side O. the barn, but ef I don't
'twon't be my fault. If don't hit,
mohbe TIL scare 'en"
She thrust the muzzle of the gun
through the opening, and waited.
Presently she fancied that she saw
something moving back in the shadow
with which the barn seemed to be filled.
1t was impossible to make out whether
it was a man or not, but it was safe to
conclude that it must be, for the door
would not have been open had human
agency not been exerted on it.
"Hol yer breath!" whispered sa'
manthy, bracing her feet and shutting
her eyes. '.I'm a-goin' to pHl the
trigger"
ITO be contirusd.1