Year: 1865

"Call him call p growled the villain
with fierce OATH You call him, and you
will be called 70 another world. Quick
show us the way


The mild eye that could aim an uner
ring bullet at the forest beast, did not e.
ven betray the thoughts of the woman 8
soul, nor did look tell her meaning
She was very pale but did not tremble.


"This way, sirs," she whispered.


And as she spoke she turned towards
the door of the little bed room pantry
She did not open it till both the men
were close behind her.


Don't you hear him breathe ?"


eyes returned both villains" And
they did hear breathing but it was of the
child close at hand.


AS they thus answered her, she threw
the door open-it opened inward. The
men saw dark void, but they pressed
forward. In an instant Polly Burnap
leaped back Gallus upon his heels
With all her power the noble woman
threw herself against the rear man and
the next moment both the robbers lay
sprawling on the cellar bottom.


This had been the door opening to the
deep excavation, and the only means of
gress was by perpendicular ladder
Could this have been moved, Polly would
have pulled it up Immediately, but it was
spiked to its place, and she must let it re-
main. To close the door would be useless,
for she had not ready means to fasten it.
So she did what she had resolved upon
from the first she sprang to the fire place
and caught the trusty rifle, and having
cooked it she moved toward the open
door. She heard the curses of the vii
lains as they reached the ladder, and she
soon knew that one of them hed found it.


Back she cried, as she saw head a
bove the threshold The candle upon
the table threw but dim light upon the
spot, but it was sufficient


She saw the robber raise pistol She
had husband child-and had set
herself to save the carrier. With these
thoughts dashing through her mind she
pulled the trigger. A sharp report went
ringing through the house, and its echo
was deep groau from the cellar bottom


Ere the second robber could show him
self Morton came rushing into the room
with pistol in each hand


"What is it ?" he cried.


"There ! There !" gasped Polly, point
ing to the door way, where a savage look
ing face had just presented itself


Liant Morton had been too much used
to danger to waste time in conjecture, and
Immediately shot the villain dead, who
fell with heavy sound upon the cellar.


''Are there any more ?" he asked, cock.
ing his pistol.


"And so you meant to save me ?" re-
marked the carrier, as Polly hesited.


eyes, yes-I did, Yes that was it."


And as soon as the noble woman had
sufficiently recovered, she told him the
whole story.


Morton expressed his thoughts as best
he could ; but after all, the moisture of
his light eye, the changing of his counte-
nance, and very lack of language told her
more than words could have done.


After due deliberation it was decided
that the bodies should remain there un-
til morning. So the cellar door was shut
the front door bolted, and they prepared
to retire but for the rest of the night
Morton made his bed upon the floor ol
the large room.


In the morning just as the carrier was
dressed there was rap on door accompa
MED by voice he new full well. He
fastened to open the door and gave en-
trance to Jacob Burnap. The hunter haC
met party of traders at Lewisburg, anC
disposed of all his skins to them, thu:
finishing his journey six days earlier thar
he had anticipated.


Polly was soon upon her husbands bo
som, and when he had told her his owl
story, Morton gave him the adventure
Jacob was at first incredulous, but wher
he had seen the bodies he was satisfied.


"Polly, my jewell" he said, placing hi
arm around her neck, am proud of you
| love you more and more, for every day
| find more to love. And then turning
to Morton he added:


"What do you think of such wife Z
"Ah," returned the guest, with deeE
feeling, "if poor Liant Morton had such
wife he wouldn't be mail carrier.
When Morton left he was directed t
f stop at the first settlement and state t
the officers what had happened, and h
promised to do so. He once more bless
! ed the brave woman who saved his life
and then set out. Late in the afternoon
, two officers arrived at the cabin, ant
when they were shown the bodies, at one
proceeded to remove them And ere
, week had passed, whole settlements bless
ed the Border Heroine for the work sh'
had done