Year: 1876

ShO hOlu uSE podCo, dS bldb WOllu ulhh6
more noise than she could make; and
further, she recognized in the foremost
notorious villain who bore the name of
Dick Gallus.


She had never seen him bef fore, 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 want2" asked Polly,
without betraying the least fear.


eve have come to see the mail car
rier," one replied, in hoarse whisper;
"where is he ?"


"He is long since asleep. Would it
not do as well to see him in the morn
ing9 We can find you room and lodg-
ing"


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 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 meant to carry it in his
stead.


"Never mind his being asleep. Show
us where he is at once" roughly re-
piled 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 !" growled the 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 uner-
ring bullet at the forest beast did not
even betray the thoughts of the woman's
soul, nor did look tell her mean
ing. She was very pale, but did not
tremble.


"This way, sirs," she whispered.


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


Don't yon hear him breathe ?"


eyes" returned both villains.


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


AS they thus answered her she threw
the door open-it opened inward. The
men saw dark void, but they pressed
forward. In an instant Polly Burnap
leaped back. Gallus was in front.
With all her power, the noble woman
threw 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 a perpendicular ladder.
Gould this have been moved, Polly
would have pulled it up Immediately;
but it was spiked to its 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 frst-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 dim light upon the spot, but it was
sufficient.


She saw the robber raise a pistol.
She had a husband--a child-and had
set herself to 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 bottom.


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


"What is it ' he cried.


"There there l'' grsped Polly, point
ing to the doorway, where a savage
looking 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 heavy sound upon the
cellar floor.


u


In the morning, just as the carrier was
dressed, there was rap on the door,
accompanied by voice he knew full