Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-12-02
!. Make no noise, I beg ol

The fellow was astonished and cowed
''We won't make no noise" he replied
sullenly. "if you give us everything
Quietly"
Adelaide drew back and let him take
her jewcls-not without a pang, fol
they were precious love gifts, remark
ing at the same time, that two moro
masked rufians stood at the half open
door. AS he took the jewel case and
watch from the table, and demanded
her purse, she asked him if he intended
to go into her fathers room She re-
eeived a surly affirmative, ahe- wasn't t
going to run a risk and leave half the
tin behind - She proposed instantly
that she should go herself, saying, Il
will bring you whatever you wish, and
you may guard me thither, and kill me
if play false to you" The fellow con
suited his comrades and after short
parley, they agreed to the proposal; and
with pistol pointed at her head, the
dauntless girl crossed the passage, and
entered the old rectors room. Very
gently she stole across the chamber and
removed his purse, watch keys and desk,
gave them up to the robbers who stood
at the door. The old man slept peace
fully and calmly, thus guarded by his
child, who softly shut the door, and de-
manded if the robbers were yet salts
fed
The leader replied that they should
be when they had got the show of plate
spread out below, but that they could mt
let her out of sight, and that she must
GO, with them. In compliance with this
mandate, she followed them down stairs
to the dining room, where a splendid
wedding breakfast had been laid to save
trouble and hurry on the morrow. To
her surprise, the fellows-eieht in mum
bcr when s,emblcd-seatedt themselves
and prepared TO make Il good meal. -
They ordered her to get them out wine,
and to cut her own wedding cake for
them; and then seated at the head of
the table, she was compelled. to preside
at this extraordinary revel.
They ate, drank, laughed and joked :;
and Adelaide, quick of ear and eye,
had thus time. to study in her quiet
way, the figures and voices of the whole
set.
When the repast was ended, and the
plate transferred to a sack, they pre-
pared 10 depart, whisperin. together,
and 9lancing at the young lIdy. For
the first time AdeIaide's courage gave
way, and she trembled; but it was no
a consultation against her, as il gro: ed.
The leader, approaching her, tod that
they did d'not wish to harm her-tliat she
was "a jolly wench. reg'lar game, and
they wou d Mt hurt her, but that she
must swear not to give an a 'arai till
nine or ten the next day, when they
should be off all safe. To this she WA
of course obliged to assent. aud then
they all insisted on shaking hands with
her She noticed during this parting
ceremony, that one of the ruffians had
only three fingers on the left hand
Alone in the despoiled room, AIDE
laide, faint and exhausted. awaited the
first CLEAN of daylight; then as the
rob bcrs did not return, she stole up to
her room, undressed, and fell. into. an
undisturbed slumber. The consterna-
ton of the family next morning may be
imagined, and Adelaide's story was still
more astounding than the fact of the
robbery itself. Police were sent for
from London, and they, guided by Ad-
elaide's lucid description Of her mid
night guests, actually succeeded in cap
turing every one of the gang, whom the
young lady had no difficulty in identi-
flying and swearing to-the "three fin
gered Jack" being the guiding clue to
the discovery. The stolen property
was nearly all recovered, and the old
rector always declared-aDd with truth
that he owed his life to the self pos.
session and judgment of his eldest
daughter. @
The only i'll effect of the great tria'
to her nerves, was a disposition on the
part of the young heroine to listen fol
midnightsounds,a and start uneasily from
troubled dreams; but time and chang
81 C .1,.iI cnn, nffnnIod itS