The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-08-05


"After he had gone she said: NO
need to tell anybody that we hssa the
boys are alone here even for one night.
I'd feel as safe as usual if 1 was sure
no one knew it. And nodded
''For some time past there had
been a good deal of excitement in our
neighborhood over the work of an
armed band of desperadoes, who at
tackled isolated houses, robbed them
and even, in some cases, killed the oc-
cupants and fired the buildings.
"The mountainous regions of the
state were the strongholds of such
bands long after the more accessible
portion had been brought under sway
of law and order.
'Tn our neighborhood, however, we
had an added terror. So much
knowledge of the location of valuables,
the temporarily unprotected state of
houses and the habits of the families
had been shown in these attacks that
it was suspected that some person or
persons living in our midst belonged
to the gangs and gave information.
"Our house would not have been
considered ordinarily liable to attack.
1t was big, square, old colonial
mansion, such as you would just now
think very handsome. 1t stood upon
the high road, and was regular stop
ping place for travellers or drovers
with cattle coming over the mountains
to Harrisburg
''The afternoon was we'll along, and
we had begun preparations for supper,
when we had another visitor. This
t,ne it was a man whom none of us
liked, a 'er-do-well fellow, who
had peddled tin and bought up
eggs and butter and chickens
through the country for some months
past. Il stopped to tell ye, he called,
refining up his horse in front of the
house, that Sulky crick is on rise,
an if the boys amt back from Hol
listers mill they won't be able to git
hum tonight.
''Barbara and / had both run out at
his call. The mans light, shifty eyes
searched the whole place and avoided
the two forlorn figures on the porch
'Thats all right. I'll tell father.
Thank you for stopping to let us
know, so we won't be anxious" said
Barbara, bravely; but was dissolving
in tears behind her shoulder.
'Sh'd have thought your ma an
pad hev wanted to be in Harrisburg
Saba day to see Jonas ordained,
hon,rJa1 tho man
60 'They did want to, answered Bar
bara. Come, Maggie, and with her
arm around me, she drew me into the
house, but not before had observed
what l thought was CLEAN of amuse-
ment or triumph in the mans watery
eyes.
%, Barbara, / sobbed, "even
Zeph and little Gale can't get home.
They can't cross Sulky Well be all
alone. Let's lock up the house and
hide in the woodsp
Now, Maggie, coaxed Barbara, as
we sat disconsolately on the kitchen
settle. I've thought it all over. It's
likely we're scared for nothing. Prob
ably nobody knows we're here alone,
nor wants to harm us. We can't get
word to anyone, and we can't stay in
the woods on cold night like this.
Anyhow, we're safer where we are
Let's eat some supper and pop some
corn and be as cheerful as we can.'
"But there was very little supper
eaten and no corn popped that night.
l started and cried out at every sound
from without the house, and Barbara
grew very pale and anxious. Finally,
about ten O'Clock, we crept upstairs
and to bed.
Enlightened as we were, 1 think we
both slept, for the next thing | knew
was Barbara touching me and saying:
Don't scream, Maggie; listen. Out
side, in the dark, there was the sound
of horses being ridden cautiously up
to the gate. Then upon the steps and
porch there came the tread of men
and lowered voices.
"The people, whoever they were,
evidently thought they were in little
danger, even if they were not heard.
but they appeared to be not absolutely
certain and observing some caution.
They're robbers, whispered Bar
bara; they think father and the boys
are gone, but they're not sure.
Lets hide breathed through
my chattering teeth.
No, no, counselled Barbie. I've
got plan. They're getting in; listen,
Maggie, they're forcing the side hall
window. Do just as | tell, you, Mag
gie.'
s9was almost wild with fear, but I
managed to understand what it was
Barbara wanted of me and promised
to do my best.
cone man had evidently come in
through the win ndow we had heard
them force. He was apparently sent
in to reconnoiter, while the others
waited outside. We could hear his
stealthy step slowly ascending the
stair. Suddenly, as he reached the
top aud paused, so still that we could
hear his suppressed breathing, Bar
bara brought her bare feet down on