The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-08-10
glance upoI Eis men, do ye prepare
for raid into the valley, for am de.
termined to have vengeance for my

Tor RAID into the valley, Tor am de.
termined to have vengeance for my
wrongs. " .- %
This threat was overheard by Polly,
who did not fail to recognize it's signif-
canoe. 1t meant that the bandit chief
tain was about to swoop down upon
the defenseless inhabitants of the val
ley to plumber, ravage and burn. But
upon whom would his vengeance fall2
In what direction would he strike? If |
she could only assure herself on these
important questions, it might be pos
sible to thwart his design. While she
was rejecting in this wise, the bandit
strobe into the cavern.
''I've come back without a parson,
as ye see, my pretty birds, - he said
with grim smile, ''but I'll keep my
promise yet. Ye must wait awhile,
however, as I have more important
affairs on hand. Then, turning to Rob-
lin, he added, "hold yerself in readi-
ness to start out within few hours I
intend to lead an excursion into the
plain, and yell have a charnce to show
the stuff ye're made of. -
"Against whom do you intend to
move?' asked Robin.
GIVE not decided yet,' was the an
swer "After I have rested I'll hold
council of my officers, and form plan.
But why do ye ask this question p
he asked suspiciously.
IT don't know, I'm sure was the
Indifferent answer, ''for I'm not at all
interested in the NATTER
Apparently satisfied with this reply.
Captain Smith withdrew from the cav
ern and sought a resting place in Sc
cluded crevice of the rocks.
$50 there is to be council of officers
to decide upon the plans for this raid,'
unused Polly after he had gone. "Well,
I'll make it point to be present at the
meeting and hear what the outlaws
have to say. Then will tell Edward
ALL and together we may be able to out
wit Them
With this idea in view she quietly
left the cavern and began carelessly
promenading the platform outside. She
observed with feeling Of satisfaction
that the outlaws were SO busily engaged
in making preparations for their excur-
sion that they accorded her but a pass
ing notice. Some were examining the
locks of their muskets, others were pre-
pairing cartridges, while others again
were grouped around grindstone
awaiting their turn to sharpen their
sabers. Richard Smith was sitting
apart from the rest cleaning a huge
horse pistol, and knowing that he would
be present at the council Polly deter
mined not to let him out of her view.
Several hours passed by, and she was
beginning to grow weary of waiting
when Claudius Smith appeared among
his outlaws and commanded the officers
to follow him. Then he led the way tC
the place he had fixed upon for the
council. AS this was in part Of the
rocks outside the camp, Polly feared
that she would not be able to reach il
unobserved. Watching her opportunity
however, she managed to steal away
unseen and by making a wide circui
to reach the place Of conference unmo
Tested.
Fortunately for her, the Tory officer
had chosen for their meeting place
kind Of basin surrounded on all sides b.
huge powders. This enabled her t.
creep within hearing and to watc]
them without her presence being sus
: pected CHANGING through an openin
\ between two powders, she observe
:, , that Claudius Smith was talking eager
ly to his officers, who were groupe
around him with an expression Of clos
= attention upon their evil faces.
= The cheeks of the bandit capital
: were flushed, and his eyes glittere
y cruelty, while the ferocity Of his cou1
tenance was heightened by a livid sea
which extended diagonally across
:, from his forehead to his chin. He W.
!. explaining the plan of his intende
u campaign, and this is what Polly hear
>. him say:
70 |I'm out for a rich haul this tim
- lads, and know just whar to make i
=: There's no use wearing ourselves OF
- on wild goose chase for plumber whe
~ enough may be got by one bold str0]
~ to enrich us all. Now, while I was
! jail at Kingston a fellow prisoner to
~ me of rich old miser who lives me-
% Shawangunk mountain. He said tt
old rascal had thousands Of poun
= concealed somewhere about his hous
= and it's my intention to seize him al
make him show me the hiding place.
- "But s'posing the old miser Won
tell?' asked Richard Smith. with
~ growl.
a. "I'll find means to make him bla
y my SON., his father answered grim]
81 reckon he'll come to terms qui
40 enough after I've stretched his neck
- bit.
80 This answer seemed to remove
~ doubts from his sons mind, for after
IL brief pause he inquired: "But what
~ this miser's name, dad? If we dol
~ ~ know that, we are likely to fail, aft
'o all, for there's many rebel farmer Ii
~ ing near Shawangunk mountain
'"O Polly bent forward eagerly to cat
.c the chieftain's answer.
~ For a moment the misers MAJ
." seemed to have escaped his memo1