The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-07-16
A TINID.
GIRL
By John Y. LARNED


creature ever knew. Whenever there
was sign Of danger she would COL
lapse. In a thunderstorm she would
go upstairs, get ON bed and tremble
Like leaf till 1t was all over. II any
one talked of robbers she would listen
with wide open eyes and soon get into
shiver. SO much terror did she
show at imaginary dangers that every
body said II anything really happened
she would go all to pieces. Something
did happen one day. and this is what
1t was and how Miranda acted:
Miranda was very good looking girl.
and ! would have fancied her If she
had had more grit I'm a practical
sort of fellow, and it never seemed to
me that wanted wife who. II I left
her alone for an hour and peddler or
q tramp came along, wonld be scared
to death. ! would always be worrying
about her till l got back to her Still
I always had a liking for Miranda,
and the principal part Of 1t was that
felt very sure she had decided
Hiking for me.
But. as was saying. this is what
happened: One day all the Jones fam
fly was invited to go over to spend
the day with Deacon Wirts' folks MI
randa had a headache or something
and thought she wouldn't 60. The
rest Of them went of in the wagon
after the morning chores were done
How they dared leave her all alone in
farmhouse with no neighbor nearer
than mile don't know. Miranda
told me they were going. and I kind
Of thought she fancied l might happen
along while they were gone. and l
might do little courting
The family hadn't been gone very
long before a man came down the road
and when he got to the house turned
In at the well for drink of water. As
he was pulling up the bucket and
drinking out Of the gourd he kept a
lookout on the house. II must have
looked pretty quiet and as If there
wasn't anybody there When he got
through drinking he went to the house,
opened the door and walked in.
The only way to get the rest of the
story was from Miranda herself, 80
there's no use In telling whether she
acted brave or cowardly. She said she
wanted to run across the fields, but
she didn't dare do 80 because she was
afraid the man would kill her while
she was running. The truth is, when
her grandmother died she had left Mi
randa $500 the old lady had saved dur
ing period of many years. 1t was In
quarters, dimes, nickels and cents, and
in the same woolen stocking the grand
mother had kept 1t. Miranda, in seek
ing safe place for II, had hit on the
big chimney. She had climbed up In
it, found loose brick, taken it out,
put in the stocking and covered it with
a part Of the brick. protecting it from
fire and coAcealing the place where she
kept it.
/ remembered what Miranda had said
about the folks going away, though l
hadn't said I'd go over. After dinner,
the weather being fine and the driv-
ing good, | allowed I'd harness up my
mare. run over and ask her to go for
drive. It's four miles from our farm
to theirs, and | logged along, thinking
Of the drive | was going to have and
wondering what Miranda was doing
there all by herself. When got pref
ty near the house l saw her sitting
on the stepping platform in front of
the house. moment after / first saw
her she got up and raised a gun she
held In her hands and pointed 1t as
though she was going to shoot bird
or the top of the chimney.
"Well, I'll be dod rotted," said to
myself, IF that isn't the queerest sight
l ever saw Miranda daring to use a
gunr
drove right up to her, and az did
30 / glanced at the chimney top to see
the bird she was trying to get a shot
at when / was fiabbergasted at seeing
q mans head pop up above the bricks.
Then Miranda, seeing me, dropped the
gun and fell in faint.
1t didn't require more than a few
/
randa had man up the chimney.
Who he was or how she got him there
didn't concern me just then. Leaving
her on the grass to come to herself
when she got ready, | picked up the
gun. Then / called to the man to
show himself. He did 30, and / ask
ed for an explanation
THAT GAL" he said, has got the
devil in her might as well confess
that, finding her alone, told her II
she didn't tell me where the family
kept their money ia kill her. She said
they kept II up the chimney. l went
up after 1t. and she barricaded the fire.
place with heavy furniture so
couldn't get out that way, and when
climbed up to get out this way she
was watching me with a gun I'm
glad you've come along. Pm nearly
dead in this cramped place. I've been
here nearly three hours"