Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27

cried the man, standing over the boy
threateningiy. "Mind You, my bloom.
ing little nipper. that's the way to get
into trouble, 80 don't you 90 for to try
1t on. Mate, hurry up and see to the
| ancient one In his chair"
Paul coulu not move, for the mans
foot was at his neck, but he could look,
and his quick eye at once noticed that
the boots Of the men and their trousers
were the same as those OF the soldiers
who had bought the cattle, but theil
faces were blacked! Paul was aston.
ished more than at first frightened,
because the kindness Of the officer
and some others Of the soldiers who
had spoken to him had made him feel
almost grateful to them. Grandfather
Reuter- sat in his chair glaring. and the
other man stepped up to him, drew q
pistol. presented 1t full at the old Beers
face and said harshly:
"If you want to see tomorrow morn.
ing, old cock, tell me and my mate
where that wealth Of yours is slowed
and tell 1t quickw
Dom Hendrick gasped and choked,
and his eyes burned, but he said moth.
ing.
Bring the nipper here, Jack" said
the man, and his mate" pulled Paul
to his feet, placed him beside his grand.
father and pointed ano ther pistol at the
boys head. Now indeed the old Boef
shook, and he turned sorrowful look
on Paul, for, II he were sometimes
harsh. still Paul was the hope of his
old age.
"What wealth." he forced himself to
ask.
mo CANNON. now. cause we're
pressed for time" said one Of the Eng
lish soldiers. 1--WE know all about 1t.
How do you suppose that Kaffir es.
capped today2 Cause me and my mate
had him between us, and he promised
II we gave him q chance to run he'd
put us In the way Of good thing. he
told us that you stow your gold cause
you're afraid of banks these rough
times. We're men Of honor and let
him run for II. Now, d'you see, the
niger couldn't tell US Just where. but
It's here. Spit 1t out, hand over or 60
to glory, you and the boy! That's the
long of II and the short of 1t. What
d'you say"
The old man looked defiantly at them.
"The money is here, II you can find
It." he said. 1T Is not mine; 1t Is not
the boys. II It's owner, my son, were
here. he'd dash your brains out against
the wall, as I would do or this boy
would IL he were older or l youngerl
verdamter Englander! Do you think
Boer can be afraid of threatsP"
"Crimesr said the soldier coolly.
you're bully old swaggerer, amt
you? But we've no time to waste.
Come, I'll give you a one, two, three
and fire. Will you tellT
Nor cried the old man. paul, II
you are not coward, say nop'
And Paul said, "Now
zone, two cried the soldier, now
growing angry.
"Now said the old man grimly. God
will deal with you for this murder"
"No" said Paul, white, but with o
sudden brightness in his eyes.
Last chance, old pighead! Th"-
eyes, I'll tell" cried poor Paul, un'
able to stand the strain. Dom Hen.
drick turned on him reproachful eye,
and with pale face and trembling legs
the Boer boy was led out and took his
guards straight to the old well.
'Tt is hidden in the stonewOrk down
the side. Two men can reach it-one
standing In the water and the other
on the first's shoulders. The water Is
only foot deep"
"Chaww cried the soldier. "This is
deuce of place. How much is thereT
about $780," said Paul, shaking.
And late duck on the pond suddenly
cackled, Coward, coward, coward"
"Get lantern" said one of the men,
and Paul got lantern, and then at
their command he showed them how
to 60 down, by inches and cracks In
the old stone walls. He showed them
stone which could swing in Its place,
leaving crevice big enough for big
bag Of money. He went down himself
and explained that he was not tall
enough to reach the stone. He behav.
ed like an arrant sneak and cOwaId In:
deed, but what could be expected from
a little boy Of 13 with pistol ut his
head? Then the men whispered to.
gether apparently satisfied with Paurs
story, and one of them said: "You are
q rank, blooming sneak to give away
your own father, but / believe you're
telling the truth, you're so scared.
Anyhow, Us we've both got to go down,
I'll have to bind you. There's too
many guns about the house." So they
bound him, arms and legs, with a.
belt. and then Paul shed tears and i'm.
plored them to let him run back to the
house to his grandfather, but they
bound him with their belts and laid
him down by the well, which they at
once began to descend.
All alone In the dark, never did boy
wriggle so flercely to get free, never
sweat more with terror lest he should
be unable to, for he had not thought
after telling them the secret that the
soldiers would be mean enough to bind
him. At last at last, he got one hand
loose and then another, and he did not
mind his legs. He crawled to the edge
and by the faint light could just make
out one soldier standing In the water
and the other on his shoulders, strug
Cling with the stone. Paul gasped and
struggled and pushed and heayed at
the coping Of the we'll until he had q
great loose rock poised over the rob
bers' heads, and then he cheered and
laughed and yelled until Dom Hendrick
81 s i!