The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-10-11

VIII please let me have dot letterT
what the devil do you take us for,
old Pretzelsr' said Hondo, with sud.
den and surprising severity. "You
amt presumin' to insinuate that we
gents amt possessed of sufficient DO.
likeness for to take an interest in the
miss health, are your Now, you 60
on, and you read that scratchin' cut
loud and In plain United States lam
guage to this here company of educat-
ed society"
Hondo twirled his six shooter by It's
trigger guard and stood towering above
the little German, who at once began
to read the letter, translating the sirn-
pie words into English. The gang Of
rovers stood In absolute silence. listen
ing intently.
How old is that kidY' asked Hon
do when the letter was done
Eleven" said Fritz.
"And where is she at?'
"At dose rock quarries-workins
Ach. mein Gott-little Lena, she speak
Of drowning. do not know If she viii
do it, but If she shall schwear l viii
dot Peter Hildesmuller shoot NIT
gun"
"You butchers" said Hondo Bill, his
voice swelling with fine contempt,
make me plenty tired. hirin out your
kids to work when they ought to be
playin' dolls In the sand Here boysy'
Hondo Bill parleyed aside briefly
with his band. and then they seized
Fritz and conveyed him Off the road to
one side. Here they bound him fast
to tree with couple of lariats. His
team they tied to another tree near
by.
I'VE amt going to hurt you bad"
said Hondo reassuringly. "'Twon't
hurt you to be tied up for awhile"
For more than two hours Fritz sat
against his tree, tightly but not pain
fully bound. Then from the reaction
after his exciting adventure he sank
into slumber. How long he slept he
knew not, but he was at last awak-
ened by rough shake. Hands were
untying his ropes. He was lifted to
his feet, dazed. confused In mind and
weary of body. Rubbing his eyes, he
looked and saw that he was again In
the midst Of the same band of ter
rible bandits. They showed him up to
the seat Of his wagon and placed the
lines in his hands.
Hit it out for home, Dutch" said
Hondo Bill's voice commandingly.
The little mules sprang ahead, glad
to be moving again. Fritz urged them
along, himself dizzy and muddled over
his fearful adventure.
According to schedule time, he
should have reached Fredericksburg
at daylight. AS 1t was, he drove down
the long street Of the town at II
o'clock a. m. He had to pass Peter
Hildesmuller's house on his way to the
postofice. He stopped his team at the
gate and called. But Frau Hildesmuller
was watching for him. Out rushed
the whole family of Hildesmullers.
Frau Hildesmuller, fat and flushed,
inquired II he had letter from Lena.
and then Fritz raised his voice and
told the tale Of his adventure. He told
the contents Of the letter that the rob-
Der had made him read. and then Frau
Hildesmuller broke into wild weeping.
Her little Lena drown herself! Why
had they sent her from homer What
could be done? Perhaps it would be
too late by the time they could send
for her now. Peter Hildesmuller drop
ped his meerschaum on the walk. and
1t shivered to pieces.
Woman" he roared at his wife.
why did you let that child go awayf
1t is your fault If she comes home to
us no morew
Every one knew that it was Peter
Hildesmuller's fault, so they paid no
attention to his words.
A moment afterward a strange. faint
voice was heard to call "Mammaw
Frau HildesmuIler at first thought it
was Lena's spirit calling. and then she
rushed to the rear of Fritz's covered
wagon and, with loud shrek Of Joy,
caught up Lena herself. covering her
pale little face with kisses and smoth-
ering her with hugs. Lena's eyes were
heavy with the deep slumber of ex-
haustion. but she smiled and lay close
to the one she had longed to see
There among the mail sacks. covered
in nest Of strange blankets and COM
forters, she had lain asleep until wax
ened by the voices around her.
Fritz stared at her with eyes that
bulged behind his spectacles.
"Gott In himmelr' be shouted. "How
did you get in that wagon? Am 60
ing crazy as well as to be murdered
and hanged by robbers this day?"
'You brought her to us. Fritz" cried
Frau Hildesmuller. "How can we ever
thank you enough?"
Tell mamma how you came in
Fritz's wagon" said Frau Hides
muller.
II don't know" said Lena, "but
know how got away from the hotel.
The prince brought me-"
by the emperor's CROWN shouted
Fritz. I'VE are all going crazy"
81 always knew he would come"
said Lena. sitting down on her bundle
Of bedclothes on the sidewalk Last
night he came with his armed knights
and captured the ogre's castle. They