Year: 1867

ARKANSAS WAS 30 ueuB6ly pOpulhJeu az
now, and when all the mails from Little
Rock to the eastern border we're carried
on horseback, there lived q few miles
above Horse Head, o stout pioneer
named Jacob Burnay. His wife Polly,
and one child, nine years old, made W
his family. His chief business was hunt
ING, aHd his aserfisg rife never failed to
supply his board and something over
His nearest neighbor was fifteen miles
of, so he was little troubled with prying
visitors.


1t was early in the spring that Jacob
started down the river with boat load
of furs and skins. He left Polly in
charge of the premises, and he left with
her, too, a light rifle and brace of pis'
tolls. She knew how to use the rifle, for
never was she happier than when her
husband patted her on the shoulder and
said, "Nobly done, Polly, my dear
could not have made better shot my
self" And he had occasion to say this
with truth too.


Jacob Burnay had been gone four days,
when toward evening horseman rode
up to the hunter door. He was small
muscular man about forty years of age,
and seemed Injured to all hardships. As
he sprang from his saddle Polly made
her appearance.


"Ah, Polly, once more here, the new
conner said, as he drew well filed pair
of saddle bags from the back of his
fatigued beast.


"Yes, and I'm glad to see you. Jacob
has been gone four days, and times are
getting heavy"


Jacob gomez Where 2"


"Down the river with load Of furs "


20, yes. Well, you shall have the
company Of Liant Morton for one night
at least 80 for the next twelve hours
you'll be safe


"Gh- feel safe enough" returned
the woman quickly, " only little lone
some.


Thus speaking, Morton threw his sad
die bags into the cabin and led his horse
around to low shed, where he made the
animal fast and fed him.


Liant Morton had been mail carrier
upon that route for many years, and not
once had he passed to and fro without
spending a night at Burnays Polly
Burnay, just in the bloom of womanhood,
knew his gentle, generous, noble char
acter, so she felt perfectly free and at
home in his presence.


''Is il known on the route that your
load is valuable 2" asked Polly.


~ think not-though it may be. Still
am well armed and fancy it would be a
tough job for any one to tackle old Nor
ton"


"a man was robbed on the creek few


HAnd the robbers have Aed,' added
Morton, carelessly, as he drew his mail
bags after him.


Morton went to bed at nine clock, as
he was tired from his long ride. Polly
had work to do, having neglected it while
talking to her guest, so when she had
seen him safe at rest in bed, she drew
her basket to a little table where the
candle was, and went to work upon some
clothing for her child, who was soundly
sleeping in the corner.


The old German clock upon the wall,
with its great weight and wind strings
all exposed, had struck ten ere Polly
arose from her work. She just pushed
her basket beneath the table, when the
front door opened and two men entered.
They we're in their stockings, their shoes
being left outside the door.


Hush r. uttered the foremost intruder.


Speak but one word above whisper,
and you die in moment


Polly recovered from her quick terror
and looked up. She saw two ugly, stout
wicked looking men, one Of whom held
q cooked pistol toward her. With a
quiekness OF perception natural TO her,
she knew the pistol could not be fired, If
she held her peace, as that would make
more noise than she could make, and
further-she recognized in the foremost
a notorious rutisn who bore the name OF
Dick Gallus.


She bad never seen him before, but the
minute description her husband had
given OF the man led her to know him
and positively, too, for one big scar on
the leit cheek was mark enough.


What do you ask, gentlemen
asked Polly, without betraying the least
fear.


We have come 10 see the mail car
rier," one replied in a hoarse Whisper
where is he1 Don't speak too loud.


He is long since asleep. Would a
not DO as well 10 see him IN the morning 7
We can End you q room and lodging


The fair hostess had said this FOR the
purpose Of gaining time. She knew very
well that these men bad come 20 rob the
carrier, and was equally sure that they