The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-23

I would not deceive you, sir, upon any ac-

I would not deceive you, sir, upon any &C
count"
"You had better not" observed the
burglar grimly, cor it will be all the worse
for you." He produced key like that my
husband used, and approached the iron safe;
but as he did so, his guilty ear caught q
footstep upon the staircase. "Who's that?"
cried he.
"My husband, sir" returned 1; "but,
pray, don't hurt him, pray"
"Is he not gone to town, then ?" cried
the ruffian, with an oath OF disappointment.
"He is going at twelve O'clock" replied
i; che is indeed"
eff you tell him." said the burglar, hoarse-
ly; "if you breathe but one word of my
presence here, it will be the death-doom of
you BOTH" be had slipped into the alcove,
and drawn back the bed to its place, in an
instant. My husband entered Immediately
afterwards, and even while he was in the
room, I heard the awful threat repeated
once again through the thick curtain behind
me--"If you do but whisper it, woman. 1
will kill you where you lie. Will you swear
not to tell him 2" t
II WILL" said I, solemnly; II promise not
to open my lips about the matter"
Your Uncle Frank leaned over the pillow
to kiss me, and observed how terrified l
looked.
"You have been frightening yourself
about robbers again, I suppose, you silly
child"
"Not I, Frank" returned I, as cheerfully
as l could 81 have only little headache"
but l said with fingers, so that he could
plainly read it in the freight" For Gods
sake, hush! there IS man behind the bed~
head "'
"Your Uncle Frank was as bold as a
lion, and had nerves like iron, although he
was so tender hearted and kind. He only
answered; "Where is your salvolatile,
dearest 2" and went to the mantel-piece to
get it. 1 thought he could not have under
stood me, he spoke with such GOODNESS and
unconcern, until I saw his fingers reply as he
took up the bottle; 'AA right; don't be
afraid' And then was not afraid, Dick,
or at least not so much for knew that
should not be left one instant in that room
alone and felt that my Frank was a
match for any two men in such cause.
Only he has no weapon. He has life pre-
server," (pistol,) said with my finger.
"Your fire is getting rather low, Geergey,"
observed he as he took up the poker. All,
be had weapon then J "I must leave you
good blaze to comfort you before I 60"
He poked the fire, and left the poker in, but
without ever taking his eye off me and the
bed-bead. "I will just ring the bell, and
see whether Thomas has got the portma n
teau ready" Mary" continued he to the
maid that answered the bell, send Thomas
up" Then, when she had gone upon that
errand By Jove I never gave him that
key; where is it, Georgey? | have not a
minute to lose if it is in your dressing case
with the rest there, shall be an age in
looking for it. Might ask you to get out
of bed for an instant, and show me which it
ISL" He said with his fingers, "jump :"
and jumped you may be sure, Dickey,
quickly enough, and was inside the dressing
room, and with the door locked, in half q
second.
"Come in, Thomas" said your uncle !;
"come in :" for Thomas was modestly hesi-
tating at the chamber door; "there's some
blackguard got into.the house and behind my
bed there; if he makes the least resistance,
I'll kill him with this hot poker"
At these words the bed was pushed
slowly outwards, and the burglar, without
his craped mask, and with face as pale as
ashes, emerged from his hiding place. Your
Uncle Frank knew him at once as having
been bank messenger, who had been
turned out of his situation since the fire, up.
on suspicision of dishonesty.
30, sir, have pity on me-" cried he "1'm
an unlucky dog. If it had not been for a
sneeze, l should have had ten thousand
pounds in my pocket by this time!"
"Oh, you came after that did your" said
my husband coolly. swell, please to give
up that life preserver which you have in
your pocket, before we can have any more
conversation"
"And did your lady tell you that too?"
cried the villain, in accents of astonishment
as he delivered up the weapon to the man
servant "and yet stood by her yonder,
and never heard her utter a syllable" ~
81 never spoke word," cried through
the dressing room keyhole, for / did not
wish the man to think that I had broken
my oath; nor, to say the truth, was anxious
to make deadley enemy of him, in case he
should be ever at large again.
linen us judgment on me, exclaimed
the wretch; "and it's no good for me to
fight against it, ~
"lt's not the least good" replied your
Uncle Frank decisively, "and we will go to
the police Office at once"
$50 OFT the burglar went in their custo-
dy, leaving poor Aunt Georgey safe and
sound after all. And now, don't you think
there may be some use in learning everv>
thing, even so small a thing as the ? seta@
dumb alphabet. Dickev'" s cg
"Sometimes
tiousl~