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r FIVE CENTS. puw uuini>t‘iuiuu. i MV Mil IE THUMPS, Hy.r.OTTIK E. GRAY. Copyrighted, U^S, l»y fi. 8. McClure. PART I.’ Tram;* were very numerous In our neighbor- hpod ;md tlieir depredations wero eorricJ to 8H< h an extent that they were’tacomlng a nui-. ^ sance to that section of country. Their opera* tiona wcrqeonfined principally to tho country during th# an minor months, ami as told Avcath* cr ajiprotkhwl they gathered in and about the ' ' cities aud-Ttllage*. My parents lived on and owned:» largo farm in a western state, and ono evening in harvest time father < ime in from the fields, whero ho iiad hem engaged with my brother and the hired man in cutting wheat, and said to Ih other: “I don't Know, what we are going to do about this tramp business." Thot*are four or five of them lurking about the ftryi at tho present time, fu tho woods, add I look for some calam ity to occur through them. Two of them came over into the field whero we wero at work and demanded that 1 should furnish them some thing to dp. They did not ask for work, hut simply demanded it »«their right; and when 1 told the in we luidfil the help, seeded for tec pmc'tit, they hcijpjr' vety xnua\e, wo that 1 was loin (idled Rlei-der them out of the field” "Wouldn't it h iv« been tatter," replied trip moti< r. “lo speak woro kindly to them / Votl know they are very revengeful, and may do in some injury.” "It is of no use to try to temporize with tramps"answered father. "IfI’d given an inch they'd have fakes an ell. So, it won't do to show them any nlty, for.thcy can all get work if they want it, hot they don’t. I think they usually make a pretense of wauling work in order roget ud to the premises, when they can spy about and sec what obaace there m ly bo for stealing. Why, one of ttumt hail tho audacity to tell me, wh»H L\4Xnlftlncd to him ’ that Cut self-hinder did all ffrocutting for us, that it would 1)0 a good.thing if every self- binder in tho country was burned up, and, fur Ids part, he was willing to help doit, too; then there would l>c a clmuce for jronost poor moo to obtain a livelihood. Hut I told Mu that all * konest poi>r,*nrfn Jiud'Aa ample an opportunity t /to-five, at gOoil wajfcs, as 'they had before tho •V Wader Was in von ted. |f ho really wanted to WOrk there waffa thmfol could tell him of, ©*r north, u4 the M^VA#ods’, whore they arc rd tj'itork putting up hay.* tphl the tramp IBLdMthi.* ' night aa Idle he wa? trying to hurt oot binder.’ j Thus spoke father. lie knew I waH'ap.ihle of doipg the orrat.d. I had been brought np on ' the farm and was inured to hard work. I had J I ran as I had never rti -Iiboiild liaA-o escaped if not unlnekily caught in a creeping viue and* .fthly/wi thn.Avn in a headlong to tho earth, where for a “■** r 4 uu.n cnt 1 lay stunned aud almiwt iiisonsUile from tbo a ioicnco of my fall. When I »eeov end si.fiicicutly to be able to sit up and nt:irq nriuml me one of the tramps was just com-' ingtJp. nd’tnn, amPiif running Htidi ami vaihe kiud of hor^e reaaoi often dTiAen the team attached t binder and had cut infcny acres of grain. Only the year bofore, while father lay ill of a mala rial fever and Charley was busy from morning to night with tho hired man cutting up forty acres of corn,! had driven tho tcapi attached lo the “.-sulky plow” until I had plowed forty- five acres of stubble ground. It seemed neces* rary that } .should do the work, and yet I u«*d to tyck. while riding around the great field on A "snlky plbtr.” that it would make oity ladles I bit tAvo lingers lo the bone, an’ 'twas all thfi.* stare to see me. la It any womlqr, then, that I rnp'n could do to per went him sliootiu’ ftt you t asyiuiuu." - , “Fo. yon’w hr.d fall, hev . hoAA" you did cut fer it, a raeo boss is nowknr Vide o’ i it' h riinnin’. Hut I’d advise you t rroi* c Ivi! hereafter. Dick he swan he’ll you if he gits a chanco to pay fer hitin’ -hii bit tAvo fingers lo the l uld spriug to hU *hhlo, pi tho sweat-pad of his odilnr aiv >,$•» 1,11'... i/Tiiforfr. 'He.v wahT, tuE i? ml n.lte, Jm o lhr..its as long uithoy were withiu ; c \ r,.ii moment Cliarllo, my brother, came !. In, followed by tbe hired man. and said: . "Father, J believe ono ofus had better watch ■f. to-nigit. There's at lesat half* down tramps B down in the woods hack 0 [ the bsrn, end I In. K Ileve they'll be up to somo kind of mischief ■ during the night, They may take » notion to E burn the self-binder, and that would leave us K In a nice predicament just now, with only part of the wheat cut” “Well, you and Jako go out with tho shot gun aud keep watch until midnight aud then call me,” answered father. It was thus srrangsd. Jako and my brother, after supper, leaded the shot-gun snd wool •clown towards tho wheat-fleid to koep a look- ■ cut for tramp*, while tho rest of the family ’ shortly sftoi wards retired. But about II o'clock I tve were all nrousod by sliouta and reports of - guns amt revolvers. Hastily dressing I de- accmlcd snd found father before me, nundinal ■ on the front porch, while Charlie and Jake, the hired men, stood in front of the house ! bolding s ragged but large and powerful nun. J ‘Tiling a stout rape, father.” said Charlie. “We're got one of ’em, and I guess he’s the leader of the gang; anyway wo caught him piling up bnndlea of wheat around the binder . and only waited loug enongh to see that he was shout to npply the mttch to thorn, whon we pounced down on him. He set up s yell, _ and sis others cimo outjof ths woods. Wo only kept them off by firing at them and took taro or three shots In return from revolver*, but didn't get hit.” I K* , “Now, what In the world are wo going to do |. with him?" grumbled fhthcr, as, assisted by lb ’ Jake, be firmly bonnd tho tramp with aclotliss line. "I can't spare aminute to take this fel low to town sml deliver hint up to the proper authorities and I don’t want to let such a dangerous character go, either, 'causa he's guilty of incendiarism—or attempted tneon- v dlarism, which Is Just as bad—and ho ought to be-tried und convicted.’ Such au example might serve to warn others.” “We tan pnt him In the smokehouse for the mt of thenight,” said Charlie. The emokehouse waa a brick structure, seven bv nine, used us a receptacle for ashes, and at certain seasons of the year as a con venience for smoking hams. It was a strong - place, with a stout lock upon the door; there- • fore it srsa decided to pnt tbo tramp within Its walls until morning. The tramp safely dis posed of for the night, father said: "Now, beys, you can be off to bod. and I'll look ont for tho tramps until morning.” Nothing fhrther occurred, however, until the mn came np the next morning, when father hared several tramps away from the vicinity fthe barn. The subject of the capturedtrampwas taken np at breakfast, and Cither was in a great worry as to what to do with him. Ho did net like to take the time necessary to take him to the village, six miles stray; neither did he wish to spare Charlie or the hired man. There was a good tiro day*’ irork yet to bo don* to finish cutting the wheat, And it ought to be cut and (tacked before the weather changed. "Why couldn’t Sia take him orer to tbe vil lage r exclaimed Charlie. "Hitch old Dan to the spring wagon, dump Mr. Tramp on be hind, f ecu rely bound, ana give 8»s a note to hand to tbo sheriff, explaining matters, aud the thing U done.” Father studied over tbe peopomPoo a mo ment and then turned to me: *Do yon think you could do it, Lottie? I I toM father that 1 did notioliah thetadc rety well, hut thought I could do It. "A big girl like yon”—I was sixteen—'“can certainly attend to ao small a matter as this,” I said my brother. Charlie could be very pitron-1 A-lf m.YM If competent to transport a tramp t » tho village, providing ho avm firmly bound? I was not afraid t<jL take this-great, ragged piant <*f h niaii to the \ ill.-up*, but quailed when I thought of tlio figure I should present if 1 nut l'neiul<or U n-erson the W»r. Finally, however, it avxs arranged that I should take tho tramp to the village and de liver him oA’er to the sheriff, to*bo held by hlni. until iuthcr got time to go aud outer u retailor complaint, and I hastily prepared for tho jour ney. J5y the time I was ready Charley, assisted by the hired mar, hud tho liorso and wagon at tho door, with the unwilling pns-engcr safely on* sconccd in the hgek pert of the vehicle. Bat before I took my 6cat in tho Avagon Charley beckoned mp to one tidoaud said; "We have tied lii.s hands and iWt Mr.ur.dy, atxd I donotthinlche will gins you any trouhlo, lut it he should, just threaten him with this,” I and hr placid a revolver in my hands. I “Why, < 'barley. I shouldn't liko to shoot him *»< n if hr got away.''’ I exclaimed. ‘•$i>, of course not,” he replied; "but you may need th.*-s in order to scuro them. Tramps are usually cowards, an..’ AV.*. K cSr ol»strop-r- ous just aim it at him aud I'll warrai.-* he'll 1 quiet iIoaati. I might as well toll yiiu, thougih . that If you shcraird need lt,youAvill find it lomlid wi:d reedy for Lusincsa.” I 8ccrotcu tho rcA'olvcr in my cloak pocket and then mounted to tho front scat, which had a lack and wa.* raised above tluyvagon-box •hy springs. With a hasffRMleu l chirruped do tho lio«c and rattled off iIoavii tho road, hearing father'* lust injunction ot "Don’t let old Dau tam nway with vow*’ as I pxupd out of earshot. As 1 climbed Into the wjgou I had had for ihrlhnt tiim a fair look -it tho prison- ci’s lace, but was uot reassured by tho look. a\ niorc yillainoliscijiifiti nancc it would ho hard to find anywhere, A scowl.rested ou it. hut I thought 1 could detoct u gleam of csultation also. Perhaps ho thought to frighten me Avith ' threats, after I tr.d gone part„ef the way, and thus secure his relmj^ but I AVH.s'firml^pdgter- miurd that Jio fihoiil«fnv^*ket a way'fro lit m*\ Aftor laltllng aloa^Of perhaps h ilf n HMlc tho ro&<} took n *■ harp turpUo the I?l i and ci v <i red a atrip of Woods. Tturned shutting my h(4ke from view, aiAl i( soowliow mod is if I*Wh8 cut ofl' from my frflli.is." 'I do not care,” I exclaimed sniteftilly. "I'll kill some of yon, depend upon It, before ^I’nl' done with you.” Thc.tVaiu]*s now came straggling In froifi all quarters of tho woods, one of them lending old Dan ittsched to the wagon, I would have given Avorb then, und I think I coiih whole gang suftlcieutly to lia\-o m ulo cape. "Now,-boys,” said tho leader, himself f n a log, "Ave’ll her a co they calls It. What’shell b*‘ dour und wagging, and with tht-* g:il? speak to omrt, but jest give in yc and as leader of this 'ere i ron matter. You must.know that two fellers back; nt the farm gobbled on ter mo :>s i Avas about to illumine the hovings with tlmi thar sclf% biuder,AAhlch takes tho bread otit’u poor mod's mouths. Wal, they hound me and chucked mo inter a osh house fer safe keopin’ till this ' ir.ornin', and then they nut me in that thar av:i;ging sit'll aaiiii guiii’ to hev tint thar gal drive me inter town and give mo inter tho kc&piu' of the sheriff of this ’cro county. Non', wbaUbct bo done;" ‘‘I nfevc.” said tho rnfilan Dick.who was fingcra. AA’hlch I lind hitt e shoot that AA#ld cat," ind me with o.mc of his sound fingers, ‘'an make’em give; us a ransom for th|» lion and AA-argln, orebr wi\’U jed burp thcwaigui and kill ti c boss.” m ♦ ’ "I thfctk the gi»1 iljjfinJg tmB"blfgest ran- rom.” said another, » "It’s tot* * resky to shoot tbo gal, J> , said tho leader; “besides wc'ro not murderers, butgexn*^ Jn redudHj circumstancAi wlio has- dotermim d dbat tbe world owes’em a livin’, oml Am intend to liavo it Avltffout work, too.^It’s well enough to burp K burn or ujiindcr, or even 'a house occnslonally, ft we kin niako a gooil tfling by it, lmt this murdc•r^n , we mnsn’t’go into ’thout ivs 'sfrctr.oly nwreraary, ns Ip were, to advance tl;i- A\cll-b« in' oft lii*. 'ere brujluTly I'rifernit v.’’ Tbo chief looked around uvci^ Ills motley creWfAji he eoRclnd(<Mffo iO»o^o extraordinary . ’* ’riu^nohnswcvcontinueil; ^•ntlMDsh o’ this .ing hi? iv M fallon being klProb-* - . r^e reason, Sun had $Hu>Uid,t4b' Mpnk.-t aa'iwi tbe direct oiuBoef HLi ■iiiiuldfH. un«t lisil-eA*er afterAVards shown er- tiimc/cAv at tlw sight of robe, blanket, of even cloth, if shaken in bin light. My plan.vj!' foreie*! in an instant—aa imm hake 'Nve*y.tlv4 divest ed myself of mv long b m.f bands concealeil beneath thr’.st a pin through’Mio necktie, 'prosched, led by Pigtloy, and when 'Sfcejrr' en o>ite nv I spuing forward, and in an n*>’!n]it had'^finned tho necktie firmly t-> ,tL«* to r <'s cidlnr. Tlien 1 wavisl and shook fi'V * ? phl liwold Dsn’s file* The result .ac^ ivci n more <tfirtling than I hod counted ^ljfpi nrjfor. 'Aithe wild snort of fetteidM horse , digging l’igsloy n-oon**U of fouhl loHfo the brldbs' having mm .*pV;?wlltitT on the ground, whin’ old I) m ** vd et jhc top of his s-,»oo4.;; o that feT?" ih^tigHy ev- ho pfrknl bimself up. c »*i- ’ lent contact with bettor let me^hool thut Avild- lainied Dick, os ho aimed mv ha murderous gle-.m in ’ cxclalmedT the leader, round tho boss, oiiy- smi»t biiiA^with that fuumtrcd Pigsley. "I thought to try to mount .-him. imd git lgedbcr tnind and thought the niju'sfe to death when she ac.iirfc > nity I look at it.’’ Is tmspired old Dan soon instead of going honrakopt :l41io viiDgUi which, at the k. lie soon reached, white Avith ’bly exuattstrd cmditlon Ash* entered thc»inniu hnd’lLcAss.'c-horail fdiLfrom exhaust tiwd.rihVirrwiBiia Win. . A at should <H tout, liroad* through tjie i lhoAved hh tow’d. tfXcIHming:’ "Whaft’s nil this row about, and. vaho.su fiorio I hut?* . *t wu«>!u riff Brown who h]M>ke. aud us ho xid ,Ayi.mining the horse hi, quick cyo of tnc' .white kilU Iiwav utUcluxl of tbo horso coi'dif. .... . ho examined it n nmineut ai d unite bark from their unsuccessful chaso after jild Dan tbe lender raid: ."Boys, we’d letter,J skip out of this. I’m ufmldthnt hesagitling away and rnuniu’ off ] %ill rouse the country jiereabouts, so’twill be t<’0 hot fonts.” "And I think tbe quicker we git tho l>otter, p added Pivsliy. * •. f ■ “Wo’a’o got to take this gal 'long with ns,” rail! the leader, "leastways fora few miles, so't she can’t blab anything alxmt us 'fore wre git ofl' and kwo a fair start.” “Better Jet me shoot her,” growled tho ruf fian Dick, avIio seemed in looks and notions to lx? a hardened criminal. But tho lender dared not consent to that measure, and I felt the easier for his prei?ncfc; for I was convinced that Dick Avould take dr light in murdering mo to pay for the lute I had given him. , - nie tramps started in a body soon i words, tarping me closi Jy quartered, w'tW 1 ! reftH^bad no opportunity to run away from them. The lender calculated to keep in tha talt of woods, lor the^pirepmn* ofTnor. 1 effec tual concealment, until he reached the t'lirtlu era? limit of .the forest, Avhhh would take thonp ct hast ten miles from our horn and th -H, under covet of night, they could strike across the open counlry without danger of being ol served. . - ^ Dur progusS Avas necessarily Hoav and It .*{ o'clock Ih the n#crnoon wo wero yet several ntilegjfrnm the lower end of tho Aroods, when Hie trempg were startled by a sharp command to halt. . . * The astonished villains came to a' stop, and discovered Iavo horsemen a few rods in ud- vame, covering them with thcl ‘'There’s oujy two uu ’em,” lender. "I'Uck anil Bill, you’re i volvcr; better shiK)t th^so fcllern, ’i i lu ,8 ed—no doubt about that, The two luillans tatli Arid, but without c Qui t, aud tho^iext tpoiucnt Dick lay oa tj^ uiouml, shot tlifOtlxb the. nlmiiblrr by Hho-lta TlroAvn, whlt^hC Icuilt r of tbo gang u.Uo tell from tl»o fire of the .Mherf/r* compauion. THE FLORIDA TOWNS. Tba tiring sitecdil^broughl borMUien to tho scO^fTwlifH iuK for u«, and Ihd gpst of lo^n icetmd. r ffwa^uund tliatjHto tr»i Iv imnuh il, hn^tbo 1< ourjyliiirt. ‘JX*. . AfifA* scciitfTtMt It houiulftbo hbcrfn ap| Itt to Supply a Town With Milk-Only K«om- Vv hick C»« Drlvo a Floridian to Work- )mo Thlinra WSIeh Aro Safd to Pay- •aylnea From tho Philosopher. It takes a good while fi get straightened out. TI novelties In their tvaya we live, 1a but little largi C’artersville Is n hundred fine ct can’t find any coav hodjr uses comb ns fresh cow’h milk fi a new settlement to re Florida towns are (’artcravllle, whero than H.tndford, but hi and sett It coavs in C8rtersville, hut iavs at all doAvn hen*. Kv Wc AA'auted f boy, but it find i the to i had I W6re securely s and said: ’Well, ratal, is your name Lottie, and did yea '’k p .' tbe snino time dt.iw’ing my W it in the country. It is not tacatwe they can’t raiso cowa hero hut Lccmiso they h^Aent begun. A druggi.st here lias sent off fottcii and soya Uo is going to supply the (own wjth milk. Merchants room hero ami there.are much flntJr stores auiUrtoeks than Is <tar Georgia for these fiebplo arc rich mulfirst cliss goods. Most ‘lies' do well of course, for tbcoo j>cojile are moving around. There arc lgts of darkies hero hut they don’t cure for niiytlilng’. They havin’tgot tohy^Vood nor blankets and they •tan fish and Whenever they want to do a Sday’a work they cau get a dollar uml n 1,^1 f or two dollars for It. Tho dmke^is not going to work ahoad of hi* wants. Nothing but necessity drives them to the use of Weir muscle. A \cry common rook woman gets from U*u to fiftccu dollars a month. 1 know a family tlmt pays/t msa t w< nty dollars anil a eook'aixteeu and a uurso twi 1a e, and they arc just average negroes -and the. wusbijigjs all done outside. The wash lug for one poison is a dollar a we*ik. A heathen Chinee arrived yestordey And says ho av'iII re form all this laundry hnsfnrss If the Mellcsii man will 1st hint stay. Florida lives «m cauhihI fbeda. If you jrnnt taiythiug outsidg it ousts you dear, I priced chickens tod ay ^ and dollar a pair. Kgga Are forty center ud. veceiv i all venr well,” how ahill I stand tl , I exclaimed, "hat „J the stare* of people whom I meet when they discover I have a man tied up in the back of the wagon? I can doit, buthow will It look?” , a t , . _ "Tut, tut, Lottie; never mind the looks. I will write a note for yon to give to 8bcriff Brown,'explaining matters snd asking him to relieve yon of your charge, and then come or send out here and attend to the rest of them, and If anybody expresses surprise at yoor load, just explain that it fa a tramp we canght last hands were tigi his ankles firmly ,bolt upright, nud vvu'd ta'ttcr UU ^ lie wugqjif fija.jyiT wuffie ..... lashed behind Ills bock and mnd toecther, was standing 'tatfttt oneo that he wan meditating a jump from the wagon. Stopping the horse, 1 presented Tbo revolver my brother had givcu mo, aud said in a per fectly steady snd firm voice: "Bit down imrne- fcdintcly, or 1 shall shoot you!” Jt was, perhaps my cool manner more than the menacing revolver that caused the tramp to re*time his scat, but his words did not reas sure me, for, os he sank down upon tho boards, Avith a dark scowl on his faco, her ex claimed: "It’s your turn now, miss, but mine will como pretty soon!” What did he mean? Did ho In'end to spring on mo when my attention should bo taken up in guiding the liorso over somo Intricate por tion of tho mircy ground, or did ho look for fiicuds to appear and release him? This la it was a contingency tint none of tin had thought of. Charlie and Jako had both said there were half a dozen tramps tho day before in there very woods. What if I should meet tht hi, with, perhaps, their leader tied hand and foot in tho tack of my wagon! Tho thought made mo tremble, but I whipped up old Dan and determined to get through the woods os soon as possible, and out into the open country beyond.* As I turned a bend in tbe road some ono dedged into tho bushes before me, and a mo ment later I saw several heads peering out from the spot and felt that I was going to meet with trouble. Driving on slowly aud grasping the revolver with one hand I awaited the de nouement with all the composure I could aimmou. PART II. When the Avagou came opnositc the bushes where I lisd seen the heads peering oat, I gavo Dnn a smart cut with the whip, intending to run the gauntlet, ox it were, and reach the open country beyond, before any ono csuld stop me; bnt I was not quick enough. Threo ill-favored men sprang out into the road di rectly In front of the horse, ono of Arhom grasped him by tho bridle, while the others climbed in at tbe back of the wagon and com menced to undo tho fastenings of my prisoner. "Stop that!” I exclaimed, sternly, "or I’ll shoot you down. Oct down from this wagon!” "Come now, mbs, none o’that!” growled a course voice close to me, and before I could turn around iny revolver was wrenched from my hands hy a burly wretch who hid quietly climbed in at tbo front while I was turning to tbe rear of the wagon. "Look ont for her. Dick! She's a rcg’lar eat. She’s ben threat'nin’ to shoot roe,” cxcltlmcd the prisoner, who had been released by his comrades snd now stood up in the wsgon. "Wall, it's a rum go, Cap, that a big rustler like yon should bo toted off in this way by a chit of a girl; haw, haw, ho!” and tho fellow, who had taken my revolver and still held me firmly by the wrist, laughed load and long. “Stash yer noise, Dick!” growled tho late prisoner, who seemed to be tbe leader of tho •Mr "***r Hnn’t know whom yo may rouse out Let's get ont't this road comes along. Bill, Jest load the nag inter tho cover of the btuhe*. out o’ sight o' this highway, and then we’lt talk.” The Eill addressed was a burly rulQin who had old Dsn by the bridle, and obedient to the command, he led the horse out of the beaten track, at least a hundred yards, Into the dense undergrowth that lined both sides of the road at this point "Now, mbs, you’ll please git out o’ that wag- gin’,” raid the leader, who had so recently been my | r boner. I firmly declined to do so, when the ruffian, who still stood beside me holding inv wrist with a tight grip, graeped me around the waist, and without any apparent exertion, lowered me to the ground. As he did so one of bit greet ugly red bands received a bite from me that caused him to release bis hold and yell with pain and rage Bat as soon as I fe'.t myself free I darted off through the bashes at the top of my apecd. "Afterher! quick!” shouted the leader; "shell alarm tbe whole country If she escapes, and well have to ‘mosey’ to one!.” I could beer tbe twigs snap as the whole gang scattered In pursuit. [T^Iiom uml burn ....tl*.* ftirnS'.ftirronk-fffn’: Mt wo' wo . 6 q«ick»y,*Jtr tf this gal filn’ttsck ttt tho farm house before dark, they’lljusplclon" somethin’ and start out to find her.” A red haired, freckled man, clothed in rags, arose sml said: "I’vo got n good plan that I think ’ll work if yer all gi t the grit to help carry it through. About asrk t hoy’ll begin to miss this gal at t lie house, then they’ll some on’ ’em go off to wards the village huntin’of heriip. We’ll ho hid In the edge of the woods nearest the home, nnil if enough of the men folks go in search of the gal to irtoko it safe, we’ll Josfc, raid tlio house,git all tho’vallyabloi 1 lyin’ around handy, replenish our stock of pro vis* back from lookin’ aftpr tlio gal we’ll be ml away a-rrekin fer new worlds to conquer.” Tills speech was received with very unatil- rooiis applause, and the chief said: "I liko that plan o’ yours. l'Igsley, ’ccpt ono p’lnt; s’poscn there’s too many loft at the honso lor us to tackle, then wot?” "I’ll tell you bow to git around that obsta cle,” tnsAvered tho red-haired Pigsley. "I’ll urt os a kind o’ decoy, and jest before thoy dart IT)’pear to’em at a safe distance, anil holler that we’ve got the gal hack in the woods ’bout four roilds, ami thut we’re intendin’ to bang her to onc’t, for to pay fer shuttin’ you up and’busing you. Then I’ll cat into the vcods and line the rest of you; an’ soon’s the n«n folks hev all run off, a ssrchlti’ fer the pal, why we’ll hurry to tbe houso and clean it out.” The leader meditated a few moments over IMpslcy’s proposal and then said: •T reckon Pigsley’s got the best plan, for It holds out fndoosments of nluuder and grub, loth of which we are mighty short of at the pri rent moment; and in order to contmncr on os gentlemen of leisure, scornin’ to live by tbe sweat of our noblo brows, which is to say, that as Pifsley’s perpoeal • promises grub snd boodle both, I mono that we adopt his resoioution, which It is carried yonanimonsly. But after it is dono we’ve got to skip lively snd git off at lesst twenty miles by sun-up, and before tryin’ anotherjob.” "Wall, we’ll call that there plan o* mine set tled on, will we?” asked Pigsley. "Yes,” answered the leader, "and I think vre’d better keep the bom and wsggln lifil putty close till night, so’t no one will find t hi m. P’raps you’d better tako tho horn out’n the shafts ’n lead him off funler in tho brush, ’< ausc he might whinney and ’tract attenshun, Icing to near the highway.” I rat quietly on the log, ten feet away from the nearest tramp, bnt I saw no chance for es cape, as I was furtively watched by every member of the gang. My thoughts, however, were lmiy. ** evL me that I could barely sit upright. One of my hands had l>ecn toying idly with a piece of leadnencH I had found In my cloak- pocket. Suddenly an Idea occurred to me, and, quit tly unfastening a little white silk bow from the neck of my dress, I drew forth the pencil, stealthily watching the tramps mean- av bile to sec that my motions were unobserved. Then, on the outside of tbe taw, the bard silk causing tbe pencil marks to stand out in bold iclUf, I wrote tbefollowing: Hurround the north woods. Tramps and robbers ore holding me prisoner. Lote no time 1 Lotus. Now that I had written my note, in what manner could I possibly get it to my friends? If tbe tramps would move from the place I could leave It niuned to a log or banging on a bur h; but it might stay there a year before any one found it, and I almost despaired when I thought of this. One of the tramps had unhitched old Dan frem the wagon and was about to lead him off deeper Into the woods. He would pass very close to me, and a forlorn chance to send off mv note recurred to my mind like a flash* of inspiration. Old Dan hod been a ;ood farm bone with but one fault, cosily frightened, and then C tbe conwqucuce .In,, to . ninnrar. fc«- recUUy ml be frightened at tbe light of» hufhito role, Mxnkct or ib»wl, if tha erticle ... {.anted In bis light, ud taller bad ex plained tbe freak in tbe bone bp raying tbit when Dm m 1 mere colt be bed been terri bly frightened by a nd bluket in tke bind, I, evident that some Jxdy or gML ir of tramp* held * prUonor in Yiiinortt wood., and that I, enough. Every ono tlrnt'. goto liorso fallow mo at once." Anil tbo .hcria'iturtcdofl'onUionin to got hi* own Lone. There was grout excitement nil through tho little vlllngo, and in lee, than fifteen minute. Trim tbo timo when old Dan entered tbe main street slwut fifty mounted snd Mined men wero lesving it for tbe north woods. It wu enough forthi in to bnowthut some neighbor’s wife* daughter or relativo wss In tho power of ti.mpe, end with true western eesl they wero going to reeeuo her or know the roeeon why! Bearedy half an hour later tho hoiscmen drew rein at tlio edge of the woods nearest tlio Vl “Nvjr, boya,” exclaimed Sheriff llrown, "scatter. We can’t quite surround this belt of timber, as tbe note nggeata, seeing ita nhout twelve miles long by two miles wide, but wo ton Spread out and ebargo through it, aud if tin re's an v traoipa hero we can Aud them. It Isn’t nt all likely any of them am mounted! Fo if we find any, why, run them down und bold them.” It was a tcrrfblo time to mo surrounded by tliofotnmps in tho woods, with no way of es cape that I could see, and not knowing whnt moment 1 might be shot by that horrid wretch they called Dick, who ever and anou ceat a at irked glance in my direction and clutched ti e revolver In hla band aa if bo would doarly like to nae it. Tha aberiff deputised two of tho horsemen to ride down tho road directly through the wood, to our boose, which was situated on tho other aide, to ascertain if anything wan wrong there, whllo tbo rent of the iiarty wareordrrod to spread out over half n mile of ground and move .lowly forward, rarefhlly Impacting the ground they pawed over. The two horsemen on receiving tbo above Olden from tha abariff, galloped off down the read, through tho wood., and in duo time reined up In front of our home. (Thin waa all related to me afterwards, of course, ao that I l, rauto familiar with every incident that I waa r Ot an eyewltnesa to myaelf.) .... Aa tbe horsemen drew np In front of tho goto, ono of them, with more aeal than caution, I lilted out to my father, who, with Charlie ai.d tho hired man, bail Just come in from the wheat Held for dinner; “I rav, air, ia yonr wife—er p’raps It’s your daughter—I dunnu which—that te to aay, are nil vour folks at homo sail? ’Oarna, you aoe, we’ve got a note which aaya that soma one- name’s Lottie—is a prisoner out hero in theto wor ds; took prisoner by tramps; and it’s real eu’rui how we found It ont, too.’’ “Merciful heavens,’’ exclaimed tather “hovs, to the wotds, quick!’’ And, old man oa he was, father started on a amart run for the timler, seising »pitchfork for a weapon aa he raeacil by the barn. Aa for Charlie, my mother raid afterward that he acted |*rfeetly wild. Dashing Into tbe honse he fnstnntly came flying back armed with the shotgun, and, aa he pawed the aston ished horsemen at tbe gate, he yelled out: “What are vou .tending idle for when my sister is in inch mortal danger, perhapa even now Icing murdered by trampsT “Why—why—we come to tel! you about it I’m liiirometl if I knowed it was your aister or any relation at all until tbo old gentleman cut and run; hut now! begin to believe we’re on tbe right track. Well, I’m beat If he hasn’t gone. Ion, like a race horse,” raid the dlseoui- flted horseman, turning to hla companion. Charley did not wait to hear the explana tion, end before the alow-spokau and somewhat loquacious meaaengar bad uttered halfadoaen words be sras nearly to the barn, elosely fol lowed by the hired man, who picked np an ax as be nn. Mother, who stood In the doorwny and heard all of the conversation, has related the convolution ao often that I know it all by bcait. . . ,, “Well, let’s ha getting away from here,” mid the man’s more silent companion. “You have about driven thin family ereir. It appeara” “Tht y do appaar to be mightily ahook urn that’s a tact,” nnponded tha flnt, “bat who r d a thought a little thing Ilka that would hare nraet you ao?" be asked, as they wheeled their hone, and rode back In tka direction of tbe We moat now return to the tramps. Asthsy err J’i-ti.. |h JfTStUBfPjtsA fill. Nrn.'ely til the members umts ping eld nflend/ora wli.un I liavo been bribing fur At.h Ioj.fg time. That one I shot only recently esra[ied from I lie penltenliary, and there Is a reward of ♦SOO up for hi. recapture, which you shall have, my ltttlo girl, aa noon ns 1 return the man to prison and recolvo the myney.” ] protested that I did not capture tlio tramps —they, on tho other hand, raptured me; but the short If raid I gave the Information that led to their rapture, and btr had the netktlo to prove it, and fttrllieniiuro that bo was going to keep it ns neprlosity In Its tray, and that I was fairly entitled to the reward. Thero la litllo morn to bo told. In tho courso of a couple of houra tho whoio troop of flfly horsemen were assembled at our house, to- grtber with talker and Charlie, besldoa nuita a number of neighbors who had heard of tho affair. Tho trampa ail proved to lie old offenders, t.nd were in dim time sentenced to different trims in tho penitentiary. Diuk, tlio one who ro wished lu shoot me, waa returned t» tho i riion from which lie had escaped. In due time I received I lie WOO reward. I never saw ■ oy of tlio convicted vagabonds afterward; oml thin foregoing was my first and, I sin- <. illy hope, my lost adventure with tramps. Tim Conslltutlim'. Ohrlstlnus Dinner. Today Tux Corwrin'iiox will have Its Christmas dinner. U'c have purposely postponed It. TiraCoavrmi* s ir.fl tamliy Is ro big that it could not possibly find nrrommodailon while oilier folks wero feoding. Not even the Kimball house could make room fur li ishilotho holiday fcsllvllles wore at'lhclrholfM. V c hero llicrvforo pin bed our dale midway be- Iwieu the Christmas and tlio Now Year, ami in- vbed oureo workera on Tun Constititiox to Join us lu a bumper of artesian sraler and anaind our ferial hcaid talk over tbe past and plan fur the future. Over too persons wKIlc present. Tills Includes the busy workers who throng our building from press room lo stereotyper’s attic, and nur regular < orrcrpondclile. More Him one hundred and lucidy of our snciU ere employed In Atlanta. The other, come from New York, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, Nashville, New OrlcMs, Memphis, Montgomery, Jacksonville, Columbia If.lelgh, Chattanooga and hundred, of otlrer towns or cities. Wc do not aim at any display. We simply WMt to see tho men directly engaged In maklni Tnx CoWRTCTlon together once—that we may know them better, that they may know us hettcr-and that out of mutual eoufldcnes and dlscuadonwo may evolve a better and a greater CousTirvnon. Wc hare made an interesting programme fur the day. We have postponed tbo working of our Christmas edition of the Weggnr Cosmic- noli, raised to sixteen pages, for that Issue, and thin espial to 100,000 copies of Tun Daitr Constitution, that they may sco how wo can print, cut, paste, ibid, addrees and mall over Arc tons of white paper In one day. W. shall show litem this goodly town and make them acquainted with the dignitaries of city and state. Andatalghl we shall'gather them about us In ths treat dining hall or the Kimball house, there to challenge tbe wee sms’ houra In su(h viands as tho chsf of that famous tuMteiry cm devise, and such topics as the wli of those asramhlad cm suggest. On Wednesday our goads will depart fbr their homes, end with the New Year will be each man at bis port, reedy to dobb part towards making Tnx Convrmmon for IMS ail that it should bo sal mote than It has ever baen. “Oar Ctrl.- Getting Than. Frem the Genera, Neb., Republican. The ladles an getting to the front In Nebraska. Out of the S.W0 school teachers In Ihejslate, 4,000 of them are women and thirteen of the county super intendents are women. It should be M easy mat ter fora girl to choose between supporting he naif In our loving Mate and marrying either a dmnkard or a lopwarod la-dadah duds of tbs monkey .poctas and then go monkeying around aosw one', kitchen or that of her own to nutain tho worthlera Ufc that It dbgraced by Ita aboda In H. losy lystem. Wc say hurrah for BC.tna.ks! Come weal, young ladlra, and help our touatry to grow up In tbq way it r tlio fulun aa for tlio increase in - the prlco of Hie land after a young grovo has been planted. They plant anil sell out nnil plant ngoln. Moot everything la formic, but not Hu beautiful liomea that tlio wealthy lutvo estib- llrhcd on the lakes. These Florida newspapers are crowded with lands fbr aale. New towns spring up sa fast they are hard run for names for them. Ileal estate agents are busy. Major Marks la tbo pioneer, the eld reliable land ■nan, Mil does things en a hlg acale. He went to Europe and hai got turds uml etuinta Interested In Florida nnd you eon run against one on tho sidewalk ond not know it. Moot of them are young and MK'iuhlc, and our hey. don't aay “Mo Lord" nor “YourHrare," but hollo Jack or good morning Johnny Dull. Mqjor Marks believe, in adver tising. On 111. return from England he called at the efllco of tho World In Now York and hargnlnml for ono day's Kano of that great paper, nnd said ho fronted every rnluuin In It devoted to Florida. They arkod him ten thousand dollars, and ho said ho would giro it and now ho ia awesaing the towns and railroads that want tu coma into tho pool, and I hear that Orlando raised one tlieurand dollars in a day. Well, that is Imal* ncm and it pays. There are countless numbers at the north who are tired of Ihalr climate snd •re looking this way. They make right good democrats when they get kero and are Joining the nollil smith. Hanford is a wooden town. There is ouly ono brick building in It an thrno brick were brought here on » seliooncr from up north. But brick can Ihi miulo hero and that ia aiinthor unoccupied field of industry. Insurance ia high, very high, about six per cent notwith standing they have a good system of water, works. I was suprlaed to dud lire wood w ex pensive. I paid one dollar fur one-eighth of it cord, hut it waa sawed up ahort for stove wood. Tlio surrounding landa are full of scrubby pines but the owners mako tho timber sell tha land, and so wood la high. Dutaftergll,living is not expensive, fur a family can ilo without chickens and eggs nn week daya, and it taken but littlo wood to do them. Vegetables aro rhrap and beef and venison are reaunalde and Ash coat iiotblmrhardly. Tlio people are bright and chcerftil and .coin os happy aa they do anywhere. The ladies meet on tbe sblewilkn nnd atop »t the gates and chat merrily and have a «, xl social time, and the landladies aro Juat aa good aa tbelr go cels. There L no rtiff- nea. here. An old friend whocalled on us waa telling a lady bow to raise her boy, aud waa hinting that her boy needed[more raising than he was getting, and advised a little more of Solomon's prescription, and bo told her how bo was raising his •X, mine or youra. Now, tako that, Mr. Km Well, that ia Juat so. I have itched all« raise other people's children, and 1 i stood it pretty weft for awhile, and then tired up and .alii: “Well, air, yon are not tha first man l’voMen who knew'exactly how to relic other lieopla’a children. YoqJuitw.lt a few yeara and see which ia the boat Hoy, • ..— Kmtrty. ■' over to _ reckon other people wanted to raise mine. What will rxiieone child will notrafa* another, and If there lo My perfect rule to go by wo have not found it out at ray honse. Now, the older I grow tbo more I wonder at tbe bene (cent wisdom of Provldjnce in scat tering tbe good things of this life nil over the habitable world; not all in ono place, but a, little here and a little Ihere, and all adapted lo tbe place and Hie people. There is no Eldora do, no paradise, on tiie one hand, and on tlio other no cllroe so miserable but what Ims anmo blessings attached. We think this Florida rand is awful, and forget bow diaagreeahle U oar north aeorgia mnd. We have applea and peaches, and here are orange, and lemons and pineapples and ban anas. They have no winter here; ami we have the biasing hearthstone and the old back log aa a set off. They can catch mom flab here in half a day than we out in a week, bnt we have more tan in trying. They havo lovely lakes and the salt seS breeze, and wo reckon It Ubest for folks to be esratant wilts their lot, etpeeially If It Is their tat to live itt north Oeoigia where I do. Diu. Arp.