The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-03-17

Thing secure they went back upstairs.
You must sleep in my room to-
. night, Sarah" the mistress said.
Sarah dragged in her bedding and
made pallet on the floor, aud then,
after the custom of women, they ex-
amined the closets, looked under the
bed and piled the chairs against the
locked door. The rain was still fall
ing heavily and the night black as ink.
The mistress and maid went to bed,
and, although worried. went to sleep.
/ After midnight Mamie found herself
awake, and bright light shining in
the room. She started up and saw
that it was the moonlight. The storm
had cleared away at last. She got up,
! unable to compose herself immediate
ly. aud went TO the window. Thu
moon was shining brightly. AS she
stood looking at the peaceful scene
before her she saw away down the
road, for it was as bright a. day, sew
eral horsemen. 1t was such an un-
usual Sight at this hour that she stood
watching them as they came nearer.
To her surprise they turned Up the
lane lealing toward her house, and
on reaching the gate came into the
yard. She was almost paralyzed with
fear. The truth flashed across her.
They must have learned that she was
alone-that she had this money, and
they had come to get it. For a mo-
ment she was paralyzed. She remem-
bered Harry's last words: "You must
guard it with your life if necessary.
She ran to the sleeping Sarah and
wakened her. She got down Harry's
rife. The sleeping girl was soon
thoroughly awake, and she explained
to her their condition.
'It's the tramp hats done it,
'The tramp? No. Sarah, the key,
the key of the attic"
She few up the stairs, unlocked the
paddock and opened the trap. The
man spraag up at the sound
"Come, come with me-" His own
senses alert, and hearing the noise of
the horses below and steps about the
house, he followed her without a
word. At the foot of the stairs she
STOPPED.
81 have large sum of money in
the house, and those mon have come
to get it, thinking that l am alone.
If they kill mo that money lpust be
guarded
''What have you? pistols, shot
guns?" he whispered, taking in the
whole situation.
''Here is my husbands rifle. 1t is
loaded.
"Hist! Where are they going to
break in?" Tha stepa came boldly on
the piazza to the front door.
''Get behind me. will fire at the
first man who enters. How many
barrels are there?"
...Six, all loaded"
Very we'll. Keep this cane in your
hand for me in case | need it."
There was no storming OF shutters.
They heard the key applied
door softly x--41 ers1Bs 1j,s1s and msn
followed by two others c1Hndently en-
tered. The first figure walked dir Ct
ly to the stairs. He had taken but
step when three shots came in rapid
succession. There was o heavy thud;
this man dropped, and the other two
turned and fled. Sarah ran to the
window, and two horses galIoped down
the lane.
Don't faint. madam; there is work
yet to do" said the tramp.
Mamie canght hold of tho rail for
support, and then went into the room.
"5et a candle, Sarah"
They lighted candle and gave it
to the tramp, who went down stairs,
the two women following with restora-
tives. The man had fallen backward,
and lay with his face up and head
toward the door.
"Aha!'' said the tramp, euriously,
the light up and peering into
the dead mans face, s'he's fixed. Shot
through the head"
Mamie advanced and gazed at the
white face, across which thin, thread
like stream of blood was trickling.
She fell back with a wild shrek.
1t was her husbands dead body
which lay before her.-San Francisco
Areonaut.