Year: 1876

o


"And the robbers have fed" added
Morton, carelessly, as he threw his mail
bags after him.
Morton went to bed at o'clock, as
he was tired from his long ride. Polly
had work to do, having neglected II
while talking to her guest; 30 when she
| had seen him safe at rest she drew her
basket to little table where the candle
was and went to work upon some cloth
ing for her child, who was soundly sleep
ing in a corner ....


The old German clock upon the wall,
with its great weight and wind strings all
exposed, had struck 10 ere Polly rose
from her work. She had Just put the
basket beneath the table when the front
door opened, and two men entered.
They we're in their stockings, their shoes
having been left outside.


Hush % uttered the foremost in
truder.


Speak but one word above a whisper,
and you die in a 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 a
quickness of perception natural To her,
she knew the pistol would not be fired
if she held her peace, as that would make
more noise than she could make; and
| further, she recognized in the foremost a
notorious william 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 90 know him-and
positively, too, for one big scar on the
left cheek was mark enough.


"What do you want p asked 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"


lie is long since asleep. Would it
not do rs well to see him in the morning
We can find you room and lodging"


The fair hostess had said this for the
purpose of gaining time. She knew
very well that these men had come to
rob the carrier, and was equally sure
that they would murder him ii they
could, and would in all probability put
her out of the way as we'll They had
evidently learned of the valuable load
he carried, and meant to carry it in his
stead


" 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.


"Call him call p growlcd the william
with a 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 unerr.
ing bullet at the forest beast did not even
betray the thoughts of the woman's soul
nor did look tell her meaning. She wa
very pale, but did not tremble.


"This way, sirs," she whispered.


And as she spoke she turned toward,
a side door. She did not open it till
both the men were clos1 behind her.


Don't you hear him BREATHE"


"Yes,' returned both williams.


And they did hear breathing, but il
was of child close at hand.


As they thus answered her she threw
the door open-it open inward. The
men saw dark void, but they pressed
forward. In an instant Polly Burnap
lcapcd back, Gallus was in front. With
all her power, the noble woman threw
herself against the rear man, and the
next moment both the robbersl lay sprawl
ing 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, Polly
would have pulled it up Immediately /;
but it was spiked to IL place, and she
must let it remain. 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 fireplace, and caught the
trusty rifle, and, cooking it, she moved
towards 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 head
above the threshold.


The candle upon the table threw but a
dim light upon the spot, but 1t was suf-
| ticient.


She saw the robber raise pistol. She
had husband child-and had vet her
self 10 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 groan from the cellar bot
| tom.


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


"What is ~ he cried.


"1here9 therew gasped Polly, point
ing to the doorway, when 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 a heavy sound upon the
cellar floor. 81.
In the morning, just as the carrier was
| dressed, there was rap at the door, ac-
| companied by voice he knew full well.
He hastened to open the door, and gave
entrance to John Burnap. The hunter
had met a 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 husbands 5
BOSOM and when he had told them his
own story, Morton gave him the adven-
ture. Jacob was at first incredulous,
hut when he had seen the bodies was
satisfied.


polly, my jewel" he said, placing, hi.
arm around her neck, 81 am proud of
YOU. ! love You moro and more. TOR
every day | lind more TO love- And