The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-24
THE EVENING STOR r
Hunting Party.


much of the farm work as we were
able to do.
Mother never kept any money IN
the bank. In the first place, there was
no bank nearer than ten miles, and, in
the second, she wouldn't have known
how to keep a bank account.
One day, one of our horses having
died. mother went to town to buy an
other. At the time one farm hand waz
at work for US, man we had engaged
a few days before. Mother had been
gone but about half an hour when ne
came into the house and told me she
had asked him to keep a sharp look
ont for me, as I was only a girl, alone,
and without protection. He was so
kindly spoken that at first I believed
him. This emboldened him to say that
there were tramps lurking about and
I would do well to put any money
there might be in the house in safe
place. Then I began to suspect that
he said this to md out whether there
was any money in the house, SO I told
him that all the money had been paid
out except what mother had taken with
her to pay for the horse she intended
to -buy. Then he threw of all pre-
tense and ransacked the house. Not
finding what he was after, he came into
/ the kitchen, where 1 was washing
dishes, and taking up a knife threat
ened to kill me if I didn't tell where
the money was kept.
Our sex are always dreading such
trials as I was passing through, but
when they come we surprise ourselves
| by standing up under them with unex=
! pected GOODNESS. I couldn't see how it
was his interest to kill me, since the
secret (fOr him) would die with me. I
kept my mind bent on the problem of
| how to outWit him. but to outwit a
man in farm house, with no tele-
graph or telephone or any one within
calling distance, is not an easy matter,
and 1 made no Roadway.
The only thing I could do was to tell
him that there wasn't any money in
/ the house, or, If there was, that 1
didn't know where it was kept. I rec
| commended him to look in different
! places, the celler, the cupboard and
! the upstairs closets. He ransacked
every place I suggested, but found
nothing.
He was not likely to find the place
where the money was hidden. Our
house was very old and had been built
| with an old fashioned big fireplace
in the kitchen. Up the chimney
which was large enough to admit q
human body mother had taken out a
brick and broken off half of it. This
left room for any money she had be-
back in its place it looked like the
other bricks.
Wei, at last the man grew so fierce
that I was afraid he might mur6 al
me, and I told him where the money
was He at once strobe in the chimney
and began to hunt. I told him the
! money was higher. and he pulled tins
kitchen table on to the hearth. In his
search he supported himself by brac-
ing his knees and back. / showed tbs
table farther in, so that it covered the
mouth of the chimney. Then for the
first time it occurred to me that I had
him in a trap. There was a heavy
cupboard in the kitchen, and I moved
it against the table. Just then 7 heard
an exclamation of delight and knew
he had found the money.
His next move was to order me t
take away the table but I had another
matter to attend to. Knowing tina
When he found he couldn't come doWT
he would go up, L ran to mothers bed
room, where since fathers death she
had kept his rifle, loaded, standing a
the head of her bed, and, selling it
ran outside and was just in time Il
I take aim at the mans head, which
was above the top of the chimney,
1 shall never forget the expression
of his face when he saw me, a mere
chit of a girl, pointing a rife at him
cooked and ready to fire He knew
) enough of country girls to understand
that most of them could shoot pretty
put a bullet through his head
See here, little girl. you've caugh
me fair. Now if you'll let me out o
= this I'll go about nv business.
! didn't like the probability of having
: to watch him all day, and if I coule
J have trusted him I would have let hin
I go. AS it was. I told him to get below
1 the top of the chimney or I would shoo
: him. He offered to throw down tins
money if I would let him off, but re
a fused to do so. I made him believe tina
J would carry out my threat, and ht
z disappeared down the chimney. He
: called to me that he would burn tht
/, money, but even this didn't move me
: Well all this happened in the early
morning, and till 10 o'clock I fell
Y obliged to keep on a strain lest he out
wit me and get the upper hand again
Then when all was quiet I heard thu
sound of horses hOofs and a gentleman
a in a red coat came riding up to thu
3 house.
: Did you see a hunting party go b1
e here ?" he asked.
1 @Haven't had time to notice. I've go
: a hunting party Of my own
He looked surprised and then foi
q the first time noticed my gun. tolt
! him my story. and when he learned
that I had man cornered In the chin
ney he burst into a laugh. I, relieved
| from the terrible strain had been en-
during, burst into tears.
f Then the gentleman took my riff
and stood guard, while I took his hors
] and rode away for assistance. Tn
game 7 had bagged alive was KEEP
K after that in the Denitentiary.
:. LENA NJ. BROOKS.
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POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
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