The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1915-01-14
A IIMID
GIRL
By JOHN Y. LARNED

N1CuLulC CfcI hucW. w AcACfCl LuCA
was sign of danger she would col
lapse. In thunderstorm she woult
go upstairs, get on a bed and trembl'
like a leaf till it was all over. II an.
one talked of robbers she would lister
with wide open eyes and soon get into
Il shiver So much terror did she
show at imaginary dangers that every
body said if 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 a wife who, If left
her alone for an hour and peddler or
tramp came along, would be scared
to death. | would always be worrying
about her till got back to her. Still
| always had a liking for Miranda,
and the principal part of it was that
felt very sure she had decided
liking for me.
But, as | was saying, this is what
happened One day all the Jones fam
lily was invited to go over to spend
the day with Deacon Wirts' folks. Mi
randa had headache or something
and thought she wouldn't 60 The
rest of them went off in the wagon
after the morning chores we're done
and were to be back about o'clock.
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 / kind
Of thought she fancied | might happen
along while they were gone, and
might do little counting.
The family hadn't been gone very
long before 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
lookout on the house. 1t must have
looked pretty quiet and as If there
wasn't anybody there. When be 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, SO
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 so 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 wooden stocking the grand
mother had kept it. Miranda, in seek
ing safe place for it. 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 concealing the place where she
kept It.
| remembered what Miranda had said
about the folks going away, though !
hadn't said I'd go over After dinner,
he weather being fine and the driv-
ng good, | allowed I'd harness up my
mare. run over and ask her to go for
drive It's four miles from our farm
o theirs, and | logged along. thinking
# the drive was going to have and !
wondering what Miranda was doing
here all By herself When ! got pref ;
y near the house 1 saw her sitting
n the stepping platform in front of
be house moment after ! first saw
er she got up and raised a gun she
ED In her hands and pointed 1t as ,
nough she was going to shoot bird S
T the top of the chimney.
well. ri be dod rotted," l said to 6
lyseIf. IF that isn't the queerest sight !
ever saw Miranda daring to use
unr
| drove right up to her, and as did
) glanced at the chimney top to see
1e bird she was trying to get shot
when / was fabbergasted at seeing
mans head pop up above the bricks.
hen Miranda, seeing me, dropped the
IN and fell in faint.
II didn't require more than few
.conds to take in the situation. Mi
INDIA had man up the chimney
Tho be was or how she got him there
dnt concern me just then. Leaving
or on the grass to come to herself
hen she got ready, | picked up the
III. Then | called to the man to
low himself He did SO. and ] ask
! for an explanation
That gal" he said, has got the
,viI in her. ! might as well confess
at. finding her alone, | told her If
e didn't tell me where the family
,pt their money I'd kill her. She said
ey kept it up the chimney. | went
, after it, and she barricaded the fire.
are With heavy furniture SO
uldn't get out that way, and when 1
mbed up TO get out this way she
as watching me with a gun. I'm
nd you've come along. Pm nearly
nd 10 this cramped place. I've been
re nearly three hours
Well. that's the end of the story. l
q the man to come down the wasn't
ned,. Miranda came to herself, and.
stead Of taking a pleasure drive,
owe the man u the county seat and
med him over / married Miranda.
thought after what she'd done
GIT depend upon no one getting any