The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-10-31

into the bedroom where Cuthbert was
sleeping. There was brawny hand,
shiny and yillainous, grasping the win
dow sill
There was no time TO daily or meas
ure consideration on any delicate scale
Dot raised her pistol steadied herself,
took deliberate aim and banged away.
There was a ier.e ejaculation Of mingled
pain and profanity, and she heard some
one leap down into the back yard and
then scramble off.
She glanced at Cuthbert. A wide
open pair Of eyes like her own was look
ing ut her as she stood with the smoke
from the pistol curling in Il nitre.scented
cloud abou. her.
Then, as the baby hoy came TO a con
sciousness that the tense, defiant figure
with the pistol in It's hand was his
mamma, heredity asserted itself in a
smile that showed small, white teeth
and almost wrinklcd dimunitiyo nose.
Dot rushed 10 him and kissed him
frantically, wishing she could afford her.
self the luxury Of breaking down and
shedding helpful tears over her game
offspring, But she couldn't. She was
on duty until Jack returned and she
kept her "gun tight In her hand.
"Go 10 sleep, baby. mamma is here" I"
she said with an effort at playiulness.
"What yop doin'?" demanded Cuth-
bert, drowsly.
Excepting away cats--and things. lie
still and go TO sleep, baby, like q little
man. Mamma Is tired"
Was that stealthy step on the stairs?
She raised herself, trembling aud clutch
ed her ''gun" anew. The next moment
u man rushed into view in the sitting
room, paused, looked In where she was,
and was about to charge forward, when:
"li you stir a step will shoot !" cried
Dot.
She had promptly bought her battery
20 bear on him, and even stepped for
ward a pace or two, as II with instinct
to screen Cuthbcrt, keeping her blazing
eyes steadily on the mans face.
Don't shoot, maam," the fellow
said hurriedly. IL heard the pistol
shot, and thought yer was bein at.
tackled by some burghlar, nd broke in
the door 10 come and help ye. |
wouldn't hurt a baby, ma'am. All |
wanted at first was chunk o. bread
md thed, hearing the gun, couldn' I
help comm to n lady's assistance. Don't
pint that gun at me. II might 90 off,
md you'd bs sorry TO hurt u stranger
what had nothin' worse about him than
a empty stomach"
al tell You TO go downstairs and out
of this house. or | will fire and don't
care whether you are killed or not. Go,
anyhow
Dot felt steadier. II she could only
hold till Jack came back The man had
counted ON making rush ON her, but
had failed In that, She did't think he
was aamed, but she was ON the lookout
unwayeringly for the slightest move
ment OF his hand toward any weapon,
aud she was covering him well.
At that moment hei heart gave a
great bound. In his flannel nightgown,
Cuthhert had slipped by her, and, am.
bling straight up 10 the invader, beat
him ON his legs with his baby list.
Go awaylh he cried, GROSSLY.
Quick asa flash the man bent and
had him in his arms, holding him So
that the baby covered his head and
chest,
'Now, drop your gun, or IN brain
the kidW he exclaimed with savage
determination. "rhrow Il over there,
away from yer, Quick
She dared not fire. lie surely would
not kill the two II she obeyed him and
'ast away the pistol
But her temner WAS fully aroused,
)h, for one moment in which 10 get
Ihow AZ him without imperilmg the life
4 her life.