The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-09

Finding himself unable to force
the deer. Casiiei passed round the
mill. seeking some means of en-
trance. Dolly followed from one
grated window to another, deter
mined to keep him in sight if possi-
BILE.
I'll burn the MILL" he cried.
Perhaps that'll bring ye to rea-
son."
But this proposition was greeted
by Billings with such a yell of con-
sternation that Dolly had little fear
of it's being put into execution. But
even If. maddened by defeat. and
enraged by Billings refusal to trust
him with the money, the scoundrel
had actually carried out his cruel
suggestion, the stout hearted girl
would have met her fate bravely,
defending her fathers property with
her life rather than permit it to fall
into the hands of these villains. She
saw that her own death was certain
If the assailant gained admission.
and she knew that her father would
be robbed. It was to risk all against
nothing. and she consequently held
fast to her resolve to stay as she
was while lie remained. or until as
sistance COLD reach her.
The building offered no openings
to the baf11ed ruffian except the sim
gle oak door, which was beyond his
power to force. Yes. there was one,
and that was suggested by his con.
federate at the attic window.
1.-The water gatel The water
gate!" cried Biliingsl "Ye can get
in through the wheell'
Dolly heard the words, and her
heart sank. It was true. BY climb
ing down into the sluice. and under
the shaft of the great wheel, the
man could enter the mill through
the machinery. With yell of ie-
light the villain proceeded to adopt
the suggestion, and with fast beat
ing heart the girl watched him un-
til he had disappeared in the sluioe.
TWAS then that q horrible thought
occurred to her, but in it seemed to
lay her only chance for life. She ran
into the gristroom and seized the
lever which controlled the water
gate. At ordinary times her strength
would have been insufficient to raise
it, but now her imminent peril gave
her the sinews of giant. Slowly
the heavy bar was raised. She heard
the rush Of water as the gate swung
open. The great water wheel began
to turn slowly; the cogs and gear
ing to groan; the large burs to re-
volve. In a moment the mill was in
full operation.
The poor wretch outside had suc-
Ceeded in gaining the wheel before
| it began to move, and now clung to
one of the arms, thoroughly and
desperately frightened. Thrown
head downward at every revolu-
tion, and nearly drowned by the
water which poured over him, he
screamed and begged to be released
from his rotary prison. The wheel
| went round and round, and with it
went the unfortunate Cashel; but
Dolly did not wait to listen to the
oaths and imprecations with which
he filed the air. With all speed she
tore open the door and ran toward
the village. As she passed around
the curve in the road her eyes fell
upon two men walking toward her.
With bounding heart she recognized
them as Wareham and her father.
10 tell her exciting story was Ghe
! work of moment, and then the
strength which had sustained her
I through all suddenly left her, and
she fell fainting almost before they
could catch her in their arms.
The half drowned Cashel was re-
leased from his uncomfortable posi-
tion, and the two robbers were de-
livered into the hands of the author
tiles. WarehRm had found nothing
the matter with his horse. the er-
rand on which he had been sent be-
ing cunning device of Billings to
get him away from the vicinity.
Suspeoting something wrong, he
, had returned to the mill as soon aB
! possible, bringing the miller back
/ with him. As for Dolly, she became
the heroine OF the region for miles
. around. Her courageous exploit
/ passed into local history, and, though
Z. the events here chronicled occurred
| many years age, end Dolly long
since became Mrs. Richard Ware
ham, she is best remembered among
her old neighbors as Dolly Morse,
the Maid Of the Mill.-London Tit.
, Bits.
american Stoves esxporsec.