The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-08-10

began brief Whispered cOnsultaIioA
with his officers. Robin vas about to
draw near to listen to the discussion
when it was rudely interrupted by the
furjous barking Of dog. The faithful
animal had been sleeping on the porch
of the dwelling and, awakened by the
approach of the Tories. now came
bounding into the road making the
welkin ring with deep mouthed warn
ings.
s'Blars1 the curl' exclaime. the Tory
chieftain. with an oath. Then, turning
quickly to his men, he bawled out
hoarsely: Surround the house, lads.
and let no one escape. BE quick!
The bandits Immediately put spurs
to their horses and in few seconds
had formed complete Gordon around
| the dwelling. Robin had taken his sta
ton before the front door with an idea
Of taking an active part in the proposed
attack, but while he was gazing fierce
ly up at the windows, gloating in an
ticipation Of his approaching revenge.
an incident occurred which completely
swept away every evil purpose from his
heart
He saw one Of the shutters on the
second story open cautiously and heard
familiar voice call out in frightened
tones:
"What would you have, friends?''
It was the voice of Zadie, not as he
remembered it of yore, when it was
musical with the happiness it express
ed, but plaintive, subdued and indescrib
ably mournful. It touched him deep
ly. A flood of tender recollections over
whelmed him, and he resolved then and
there to protect his old sweetheart from
harm.
While this sudden revolution was
taking place in his heart Claudius
Smith approached the window and call
ed up to the girl in tones Of mock po-
likeness:
> "Good evening, Mrs Shurker! Par
don me for disturbing yer rest, but I
, would like to have few words with
y yer husband. -
= Zadie left the window and withdrew
into the apartment, and short time
i afterward the shutter was flung wide
- open and an old man leaned out of the
n opening
g "Well. what do ye want of me?' he
. asked. in a quavering voice.
\ The outlaw threw off his mask Of civil
l. ity at once.
"What DO I want with ye?" he
whined, mimicking the old man S ire
;, BILE. Then, suddenly changing his tone
;, to deep roar, he shouted, ''Open the
door, ye old rascal. and let me and my
brave lads in
! The old man disappeared from the
!, window like fash, slamming the shut
ter to behind him, and the next instant
a rafting Of bolts could be heard as
:, they were hastily driven into their sock
- cts.
10 'Ho, ho'' cried Claudius stamping
his foot with rage. $50 it's to be an as
Is sault?' Then, turning toward his men
ID with gesture Of command, he bawled:
advance, my lads! Batter down the
o door! Smash in the windows! Make
~ holes in the wallst Tear the house to
pieces But get at the old varlet and
w. drag him out Of his hole
as In obedience to his commands the
81 Tories sprang from their horses and
~ rushed toward the building like pack
of hungry wolves. Some hurled them
selves against the door. others endeav-
ored to force open the shutters, while
one or two, more venturesome than the
rest, climbed the pillars of the veranda
30 and attempted to enter the house
le through the windows of the second
-: story.
~ Among those who chose the latter
~ way Of gaining access to the interior
o~1 &o,. II he
10 Tory chief was bawling his commands
l,o he had fixed upon plan of action. II
IN was to get into the house before the
~ outlaws, call upon the inmates to fol
" low him into the attic, barricade the
W. stairs leading thither and resist to the
10 last gasp.
:uS Reaching the roof of the veranda be-
fore the others, he ran quickly from
u window to window, picking at the shut
tiers with his saber. It was in vain
49, They were all firmly bolted on the in
side and could not be budged from tnei
20 fastenings.
~ He cast glance upward.
leu A row of dormer windows projected
20 from the sloping roof, and he observed
leu that one of them was open. If he coul,
lat o-1,- .o,oh +ho -oof ia oo-,13 o.s;1,
~ only reach Tie IOOA uo COulu edSll.
~ make his way into the building through
ln., that passage. But the roof was too hig]
Az. AZ up to be gained.
-, In the meantime the men who ha
VA climbed with him upon the veranda ha
,o,. descended to the ground again, and h
w. was alone He was on the point of imi
~ tating their example when his glanc
va CHANGED to fall upon the crescent shape
I'D holes which had been cut through tn
aI shutters for ventilating purposes. Their
H. rb, were two Of these perforations-one i
or the lower and the other in the uppe
" panel Of each shutter. By inserting hi
a. hand and feet in these apertures it wa
VIZ VIC possible for an active man to raise him
ie self to the roof.
e1 , It was a hazardous feat to attempt
4eu but Robin determined to undertake il