Year: 1877




open 1t till both the men were clos
behind her.


"Don't you hear him breathe 7"


eyes," returned both villains.


And they did hear o breathing
but it was of q child close at hand


AS they thus answered her sh,
threw the door open--it opened in
ward. The men saw dark void
but they passed forward. In ar
instant Polly Burnap leapsd back
Gallus was in front. With all hel
power, the noble woman threw her
self 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 9
perpendicular ladder. Could thi:
have been moved, Polly would have
pulled it up Immediately; but il
was spiked to its place and she
must let it remain. To close the
door would be useless, for she had
no ready means to fasten it. Sc
she did what she had resolved upon
from the first-she sprang to the
fireplace and caught the trusty
rifle, and cooking it she moved to-
ward the open door. She heard
the curses of the villains as they
reached the ladder and she soon
knew that one of them had found
it.


"Back !" she cried, as she saw a
head above the Threshold.


The candle upon the table threw
but dim light upon the spot, but
it was sufficient.


She saw the robber raise a pistol.
She had O husbands child and
had set herself to save the carrier.
With these thoughts dashing
through her mind, she pulled the
trigger. A sharp report went ring
ing through the house, and its echo
was deep groan from the cellar
bottom.


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


"What is it :" he cried.


"There there !" gasped Polly,
pointing to the doorway, where a
savage looking face had just pre-
sented itself.


Liant Morton had been too much
used to danger to waste time In
conjecture, aud immediately shot
the villain dead, who fell with o
heavy sound upon the cellar door.


In the morning, just as the car
rier was dressed, there was q rap
on the door, accompanied by voice
be knew full well. He FASTENED to
open the door, and gave entrance
to Jacob Burnsp. The hunter had
met party of traders at Lewis
burg, and disposed of all his skins
to them, thus finishing his journey
six days earlier than he anticipated.


Polly was soon upon her hus-
bands bosom, and when he had
told them his own story, Morton
gave him the adventure. Jacob
was at first incredulous, but when
he had seen the bodies he was sat-
ished.


"Polly, my jewell" be said pla-
cling his arms around her neck,
II am proud Of you. ] love you
more and more every day I find
more to love-" And then turning
to Morton, he added: "What do
you think Of such wife :"


"Ah r. returned the guest, with
deep feeling, "if poor Liant Morton
had such wife he wouldn't be
mail carrier"


When Morton left he was di-
rected to stop at the first settle
ment and state to the officers what
had happened, and he promised to
do so. He once more blessed the
brave woman who had saved his
life, and then set out. Late In the
afternoon two officers arrived at
cabin, and when they were shown
the dead bodies, at once proceeded
TO remove them. And ere q week
bad passed the whole settlement
blessed the border heroine for the
work she had done.