Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-11-13

| was sOou ICdUN 10 ~, Wien 1 Itlltul-
bered the money. l thought of the
hobocs. Someway l was sure if II
was lost dad would have to stand for
it, an the blame besides. Why! they
might even think he took 1t. 1t made
me sick all over. Lust shook. Twas
afraid to leave it for fear they'd get
it. | was afraid to carry it for fear
they'd get me. | worked myself up
in an awful way, even seem dad
taken to jail, an Matt wavin' his
hand good-by at me. Matt says |
fought to have known him better, but
| was young. an hadn't much gump-
ton.
We'll, | made up my mind to
risk takin' the money. but hardly
knew how to carry it. couldn't put
/ it all in the front Of ny dress, an /
didn't want to put any of it there, for
If they caught me-that's the place
wimen always hide things, even
squaws. Then l just remembered |
had on new undershirt Ma made
it for me out of some old bed tickin'.
1t was double half way up long the
bottom. knew the strength ofma's
SEWN.
1t was gettin' late. If you've
ever seen night drop in the Rockies,
in the fall or winter. YOU know how
il puts out The daylight, all a, once.
an before You know it you're in the
dark. So l had to hurry. ! didn't
want to have a light for fear Of some
one peehin' in. | pinned up the
heavy paper used a, a shade, an got
my work basket kept 1t there. as
/ often had time TO sew on my iXin',.
That, what dad called them.
Il Just trembled in shiyors when
| took ont the money, but Ia made
up my mind; | was goin' to take 1t
home an leave it with dad. | cut a
little slit in the top of the double
part Of my skirt an put the money
all in. Then sewed up the hole an
divided the skirt so the money hung
even, not all in one place. Then
put some big safety pins in at the top,
round my belt TO hold the weight, an
felt so glad Id got it fixed. | locked
up the safe an the office. put on my
things, an was ready
Il wa. awful glad to lock the sta
ton house door. As | looked down
the track l thought saw the hoboes.
Why. the track seemed alive with
them, an if l didn't just fly up our
trail until had to stop rest. Then
! noticed it was pitch dark. I'd come
quite a long ways, an was 80 tired |
stood leanin up against big rock to
rest. l quoted down and thought
what a fool | was to be so 'fraid |
knew I'd worried too much about the
money. When Matt had his next lay
off, I'd tell him about it, Thinkin'
Of Matt comforted me.
Il was ready to start when heard
a faint, strange sound. 1 knew the
sounds in the woods, but that gave
me the feelin' you have when YOU
SILVER, an they tell you, Some ones
walkin' on your grave | kept still, .
an my ears seemed big as jack rab-
bits. | fattened myself close to the F.
rock and listened heard a step
the trail was slippery. Some one .
stumbled. \ pine cone ratified pas .
me. Every dollar in my skirt seemed .
alive an movin'. | dropped on my .
knees an had the most Of them under
me. | was just clear Of the trail. .
some one passed SO close hi, foot .
touched my knee, then stopped and .
called softly.
lie was answered from the top Of .
the rcck, just above my head. Hello, /
Did you see herr The question .
sounded like a gun fired at my heart. |
| know it stunned me into kecpin' /
still.
No, said a voice near me, Dan
will, for he's higher up the trail. / |
don't believe she's got the stuff, any |
way; we'll find it in the Office safe. !
Let's 60 back there an wait fur Dan,
then well be sure o. it,
she must a-run pretty fast |
said the man above me, as he ,cram- |
bled down.
Matt MacTrue's hoboes fright
ened her laughed the other. L
heard him tell her to hurry home
"Oh. / had seen a face in the pines.
\ face | knew, an if I'd seen plain
I'd had no fear of, for | knew the |