Year: 1867

probably put her out of the way, too,
| They had evidently learned the valuable
| load he carried, aud meant to carry it in
his ste"d.


"Never mind his being asleep Show
us where he is at once, roughly replied
Gallus in answer to Polly's last remark


The mild eye that could aim an uner-
ring bullet at the forest beast did not
even 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 bedroom pantry She
did not open it till both the men were
close behind her.


"Don't you hear him breathe p
yes" returned both rascals. And
they did hear breathing, but it WAS Of
child close at hand. .w


AS they answered her, she threw the
door open-it opened inward. The men
saw dark void, but they pressed for
ward. In an instant Mrs. BurnsJ leaped
back. GaIus was upon his heels With
all her power the noble woman throw
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
egress was by perpendicular ladder.
Could this have been moved, she would
have drawn it up Immediately, butit was
spiked to its place, and she must let it
remain. To close the door would DO
useless, for she had not ready means to
fasten it. So she did what she had re-
solved upon from the first; she sprang
to the fireplace and caught the trusty
rifle, and cooking it she moved toward
the open door. She heard the curse Of
the robbers as soon as they reached the
ladder, and she soon knew that one of
them had found it.


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


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


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


What is it2" he cried.


There there gasped Polly, point.
ing to the doorway, where 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 robbsr dead,
who sank with heavy sound upon the
cellar floor GA a.rg .rGT.


"Are there any more ?" he asked,
cooking his pistol.


"And 60 you meant to save met" re-
marked the carrier, as Polly hesitated.


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


As soon as the noble woman had suf-
fioiently 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 coun-
tenance, 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 until
morning


In the morning just as the carrier was
dressed there was a rap on the door, ac-
companied by voice he knew full well.
He hastened to open the door and gave
entrance to Jacob Burnay. The hunter
had met a party of traders at Lewisburg,
and disposed OF all the skins to them,
thus finishing his journey six days earlier
than he had anticipated.


Polly was soon upon her husband
bosom, and when he had told them his
own story, Morton gave him the adven-
ture. Jacob was at first ncredulous, but
when he had seen the bodies, he was sat
isfed.


"Polly, my jewel" he said, placing
his arms around her neck, Il love you
more and more, for every day | find more
to love-" And then turning to Morton,
be added What do you think OF such
wife2'


"Ahr' returned the guest with deep
feeling, "if poor Liant Morton had such
wife, he would not be mail carrier.


When Morton left he was directed to
stop at the first settlement and state to
the officers what had happened, and he
promised to do so. He once more blessed
the brave woman who saved his life, and
then set out. Late in the afternoon tive
officers arrived at the cabin, and when
they we're shown the dead bodies, at once
proceeded to remove them. And ere
week had passed, the whole settlement
blessed the border heroine for the work