Year: 1867

his last visit, and the visitor gave her all
the news of the eastern valley. Liant
Morton had been mail carrier upon that
route for several years, and not once had
be passed to and fro without spending
night ut Jacob Burnap's. In fact he
was about the only regular visitor at
the hunters cabin, and although the in
tervals between his visits were long,
yet he seemed fixture to the place
Polly Burnap, just in the bloom Of wo-
manhood knew his gentle, generous, no.
BILE character, 50 she felt perfectly free
and at home in his presence. alasn&


SIS it known on the route that your
load is valuable ?' asked Polly. 80


81 think not-though it may be-
Still I am well armed, and fancy it
would be tough job for any of them to
tackle old Morton" si9 bic


GA man was robbed on the creek
few days ago.


"And the robbers have fed added
Morton .s,relessly, and he threw his
mail bags after him.


Morton went to bed at nine o'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 the bed
she drew her basket to little table
where the candle was and went to work
upon some clothing for her child, who
was soundly sleeping in one eornor.


The old German clock upon the wall,
with its great weight and twine strings
all exposed, had struck ten ere Polly
arose from her work. She had just
pushed the basket beneath the table
when the front door opened and two men
entered. They were in their stockings,
their shoes having been left outside.
"Hah !" 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 stout,
wicked, ugly looking men, one of whom
held cooked pistol toward her. With
quickness of perception natural to her,
she knew the pistol would not be fred
if she held her peace, as that would
make more noise than she could make,
and further-she recognized in the fore
most a notorious villain, who bore the
name of Dick Gallus.


She had 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 left cheek was mark enough.


"What do you ask, gentlemen p ask
ed Polly, without betraying the least
fear.


"We have come to see the mail car
rier," one replied in hoarse whisper;
"where is he Don't speak too loud"


s.He is long since asleep. Would it
not do as well to see him in the morn
ing2 We can find you bed and lodg-
ing"


The fair hostess had said this for the
purpose of gaining time. She knew
very well that those men had come to
rob the carrier, and was equally sure
that they would murder him if they
could, and would in all probability put
her out of the way as well. They had
evidently learned of the valuable load
he carried, and intended to carry it in
his stead. e.ea ~rs. s.sss -.


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


.'But can call him, good sirs," rea-
soned the woman calmly, though there
was alarm in her soul.


&C Hon 1o1 he
villain with fierce oath. "You call
him, and you will be called to another
world. Quick show us the way


The mild eye that could aim an un-
erring bullet at the forrest beast did
not even betray the thought of the wo-
mans soul, nor did q look tell her mean
ing. She was very pale but did not
tremble.


This way, sirs,'' she whispered.


And as she spoke turned towards the
door of the little bedroom 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 a dark void, but they pressed
forward. In an instant Polly Burnap
leaped back. With all her power she
threw herself against the rear man and
the next moment both the robbers lay
sprawling at the bottom of the cellar.


This had been the door opening to
the deep excavation, and the only means
of egrcss was by a perpendicular ladder.
Could this have been moved, Polly would
have pulled it up Immediately, but it
was spiked to it's place and she must let
it remain. To close the door would be
useless, for she had no ready means to
fasten it. So she did what she had re-
solved upon from the first; she sprang |
to the fire place and sought the trusty |
rife and cOckinO IL sha movad towards