The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-06
Refuge In f,
the Mi11.>
BY Martin Moreland.

tossed abort Dy the Wnlrlng StOrTh'
the wind had risen since the morning
and the machinery groaned and Shrek
ed as the sails whirled round fast and
strong. Up went the great sacks of
wheat through the several doors till
they reached the grinding platform, and
the noise was almost drowned by the
bowling of the storm as 1t swept past
the old wooden structure.
Inside one could not hear oneself
speak, for the warm air was full of the
creaking and groaning of the mill and
the rattle of the chains as the sacks
went up one after the other, to de-
scend later full of flour ready for the
market.
AS the day passed and afternoon
waned the door of the mill opened and
a girl came out, with a hood tied over
her head. She stood in the tearing
wind, looking over the wide marshes.
through which ran a narrow road like
a white ribbon. Not u soul was in
sight. and she turned away with look
Of anxiety in her eyes. 1t was nearly
o'clock and the wild March day was
drawing in. Round and round raced
the sails in the fierce wind. drench-
ing rain came on. and the girl retreated
WltIlul tHe CTedhtlH ihii UNIV NV ~
shutting the wooden door behind her
with care.
1t was lonely spot. No other house
was within call or sight and Miriam
Scott was alone in the mill. Scott. the
miller had left early in the morning for
the distant town and had not yet re-
turned. His daughter. faniliarly
known in that part of the country as
-, nf hn
much of the working of the old mill as
the miller himself.
She sat down in the wooden chair,
near which was a table covered with
sewing which she was doing; as she
took up the needle the little clock on the
shelf struck H. and at the same moment
a loud knocking at the closed door
brought her to her feet
She unbarred the door and peered out
into the storm. 1t was getting dusk,
and she could only discern dark
cloalsed figure standing under the shell
ter of the mill-a man apparently tall
and stalwart.
Before she could speak he had turned
and darted past her into the mill.
shut the door-and bar it," he said
in breathless whisper, and she glanced
round at him, her hand on the great
wooden bar. AS she turned she saw Il
man with fear written on his hand
some face. He stood with the water
dripping from his cheek, breathing
quickly, as if hard pressed, and invol-
UNFAIRLY her fingers closed on the bar
and Drew it into it's place.
AS she did so her eyes met those of
the mau. who was looking at her with
cleaning eyes. He made, step for
ward.
Can hide?" he said. "Quick. girl
quick! You shall be rewarded, but
there is no time to lose! Is there any
place-ah! a SACK
A sack half filed with wheat ready
to be ground stood with it's mouth open
at his side. The girl nodded. and,
strung up to pitch of curious excite
ment, and hearing hurrying feet COM
ing nearer and nearer through the
storm, she lent a ready hand to the
fugitive without stopping to question
his right Of forcible entry into the mill.
Five minutes later there was no sign
of any man in the mill; only girl sit
ting at her sewing and sack which
rose slowly and swung round with a
sharp creaking of chains through the
hole in the lower ceiling up to the next
floor.
AS it hung motionless for an instant
before disappearing through the dark
aperture Il violent blow on the wooden
door shook the old walls to their foun-
dations.
"Open!" cread rough voice. and the
girl got up and unbarred the door. The
storm was raging furiously, and she
could only see three men standing out
sde. A cart and horse We're dimly WIS.,
ible at the corner where the road
turned UP to the mill.
Has anyone come here for shelter?'
asked the taller man hoarsely. His
voice was almost raised to shout.
Miriam shook her head.
sure, sirl?" he said, suspiciously.
"Then will you give us shelter for five
minutes before we go on our way?
The night Is awful and we have come
far
by all MEANS" said Miriam boldly;
'come in; my father will be home pres
emily, but you are welcome to what
shelter you want. It's no night to be
abroad"
"Nor to be chasing Il madman," said
one of the men roughly, as they shook
the rain from their coats and followed
Miriam into the mill. They looked
about them with inquisitive eyes, but
there was no place of hiding here, at
any rate. The creaking and groaning
of the machinery filled the place with
weird sounds, and Miriam began tc
busy herself with preparations for tea
The three men meanwhile stood togeth-
er by the fire and talked in law ac,
cents. She could catch a word here
and there. and her interest grew. They
spoke of aEmadman, of his escape from
their hands--of the evil fate which
would befall him could they once catci
I'm again--of reward which they
w,uld receive from the master they
Served. She turned from her prepara.
tions and went toward the ladder which
led to the rest Of the mill.
"She has done her days work." sat
one of the men, apparently the leader ol
the party.
Miriam nodded.
I'm going up to stop the sails" she
said, and disappeared up the ladder
She stopped for moment and listened
intently; the men were silent and Were
probably listening also. She remem'
bered the cart and horse which she ha6
dimly seen waiting at the corner; sht
remembered also the iron stanchions by
which man might swarm down from
the outside of the mill to the ground
II he were lucky enough to escape the
whirling sails. The mill was to stoI
working for the day now, and such ar
escape was quite possible for an active
man.
AS she opened the door leading on
on the narrow parapet which rar
round the top of the mill and seized the