Year: 1875

mind to arm myself, let the firm
cali me what it wished. I lived il
Montauk, then a few miles from
Dalton, and on Sunday night thu
last Of January, when I returned
from a visit home, I brought along
an old sabre, which my grand sire
had used against Scraton, at San
| der's creek. That Sabbath night
as / we'll remember, I did notretire
until near midnight, for I sat .ul
polishing the old blade. At last
when the light shining upon il
blinded me, I put it in the sheath
and stood it against the head OF
the lounge and went to sleep, FEEL
ing that could overcome dozen
of the 6ercest robbers that ever
made woman or child tremble at
the mention of their deeds.


The following morning usbered
in the last mooth of winter, and I
forgot to stow away the old arm
out Of sight of the firm. When
Devices, the junior partner, step
ped behind the counter, my pre-
parations for defence met his gaze.


well, John!' he cried seizing the
revolutionary relic, what in the
world are you going to do with
this?'


i intend to defend the safe and
myself against robbers I answer
ed, blushing.


I believe you're crazy, John,
he said. i would like to SEQ you
WELD this clumsy old thing.
Take it home, or sell it as trash.
Day and I will have a hearty
laugh at your expense


I do not care for your laugh,
Mr.. Dewees,' I answered, and as
for the sabre, it shall: remain
here


DO as you please, John; and if
you say so I shall purchase dozen
cemetery lots in which you can
inter your dead. But boy, look
at the doors; suppose a robber
should pick the locks, the strong
bolts would remain, and ten men
could never remove them


True I replied, 'but breaking
bolts is not the work Of an expert
enced robber. He would cut
hole through the door, insert his
hand, and push back the bolts


No use to talk to you, john
said he, turning to rearrange some
boxes on the shelves; but if q rob-
Der should attempt to enter, I'll
increase your wages


The. old weapon was replaced, ,
aud when Day entered, the firm
had a hearty laugh at my:fears.


When night came I built a rous-
ing fire, and sought my couch be-
meath the counter. Outside it was
very cold, and the snow was falling
in binding fakes. I assure you
I felt comfortable under the addi-
tional cover!ets, Mrs. Day had
sent mo that morning. Before
I retired unsheathed the sabre,
so that in case Of emergency it
would make no unnecessary
noise.


1t must have been near midnight
when l awoke. The storm was
still raging, and the room retained
but a small. degree of heat from
the stove. [ was about to replen-
ish the fire, for we did rot want
our large stock of ink to. freeze,
when l heard a noise as though
o rat was gnawing for dear life.
I listened and soon discovered
the noise was at the front and
double door.


I rose and cautiously struck a
light, and douned my pants and
stockings. The lamp I turned
low, and grasping the old sabre,
approached the door.


Sure enough, the noise was on
the outside, and I knew a man
was cutting a hole below the
strong, large iron bar. The work
accomplished, he could insert his
hand noiselessly, remove the bar,
and push the door open. With
bated breath and wildly beating
heart, I listened to the saving
the sabre was poised above my
head alongside Of the door. Plain
or and palmer grew the noise,
and at last circular piece Of the
door was pushed in and J. saw two
fingers grasp and draw it out.


I waited for the insertion OF
the hand, I had determined to
sever it with the sabre. l had