Year: 1876

rier, one replied, in a hoarss whisper


where is he?


He is long since asleep. Would il


not do as well to see him in the morn
, ing2 We can find you a 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 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.


Gall him! call' growled the vii


lain, with fierce oath. You call


him. and you will be called to another


world. Quick show lis the way
The mild eye that could aim an un-


erring bullet at the forest beast did


not even betray the thoughts of the
| woman's soul, nor did look tell her


mea hing. She was very pale, but did
not tremble.


This way, sirs, she whispered.
And as she spoke she turned towards
side door. She did not open it till
both the men were close behind her.
"Don't you hear him breathe p
Yes, returned both Williams.


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


As they thus answered her she
threw the door open-it opened in
ward. The men saw a 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 at the
cellar bottom.


This had been the door opening to
the deep excavation and the only
means of egress was by perpendicu |
lar 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 resolved upon |
from the first-she sprang to the fire.
place and caught the trusty rife, and
cooking it, she moved toward ths open
door. She heard the curses of the |
villains az they reached the latter, and
she soon knew that one of them had
found it.


Back 7 she cried. as she saw a head
above the threshold.


The candle upon the table threw out
dir, 1iohk urnn Aho apnt Ir1t II
sufficient.


She saw the robber raise q pistol
She had 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 ringing through the
house, and its echo was a deep groan
from the cellar bottom.


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


What is it ! he cried.


There there! gasped Polly, point
ing to the doorway, where savage |
looking face had just presented itself. |


Liant Morton had been too much |
used to danger to waste time in con-
lecture, and Immediately shot the vii |
lian dead, who fell with a heavy sound |
upon the cellar floor.


In the morning, just as the carrier
was dressed, there was a rap at the |
door, accompanied by a voice he knew
full well. He hastened to open the
door, and gave entrance to Jacob Bur-
nap. The hunter had met a party of |
traders at Lewisburg, and disposed of
all his skins to them, thus finished his
journey six days earlier that he had
anticipated.


Polly was soon on her husbands
bosom and when he had told them his
own story, Morton gave him the ad-
venture. Jacob was at first incredu-
lous, but when he had seen the bodies
he was satisfied.


Polly, my jewel, he said, placing
his arm around her neck, [ am proud
of you. love you more and more, for
every day find more to love- And
then turning to Morton hs added.
What do you think of such wife 2?


'Ah!' returned the guest, with deep
feeling, IF poor Liant Morton had such
q wife he wouldn't be a mail carrier.


When Morton left he was directed
to stop at the first settlement and state
to the officers what had happened, and
he promised to do so. He once more
blessed the brave woman who saved
his life, and then set out. Late in the
afternoon two officers arrived at the
cabin, and when they were shown the |
dead bodies, at one proceeded to re-
move them. And ere a week had |
passed the whole settlement blessed |
the border heroine for the work she |