Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-04-02

sne .ose anu went INTO the little entry.
The rapping was repeated
WHO'S there 7" she asked.
!" For Heavens sake let me in / am
| freezing to death !" was the reply.
WHO are you? and how came you in
this lonely place on such night as this i''
=" am traveller from below; | lost my
way and am dying with the cold. For pi-
TVS sake let me in, or shall perish"
Milly hesitated. She was alone. and it
was three miles to the nearest neighbour
What should she do. She paused in per-
plexity.
40, save me-save me am dying l''
were the words that met her hearing
There was heavy fall against the sill, and
then low means. Her woman nature could
stand it no more; true to the instincts of
| her being, she unbarred the door and threw
it open. A closely muffied figure reeed
by her into the room, and shutting the
door she followed. On reaching the FIRE
pace, the stranger threw off biz disguise,
and stood erect and strong, without sign
of Inconvenience from the elects Of the
weather. Milly retreated from him in
amazement; but recovering herself, and
putting the pest face on the matter, she
TREMENDOUSLY addressed the man:
am sorry, sir, you are so cold. It is
bitter night to be abroad. Will you not
sit by the fire ?" And she pushed chair
| forward.
The man made no response but STOPPING
over ran his fingers through the blaze
Then he turned and stared ut her with
look which made her blood run cold. A
bright thought came into her mind. She
would pretend there were others in the
house, for she already felt afraid of the
man, and regretted having admitted him.
Would you like to see some of the men
folks, sir :" she inquired. "If so, / will
call them from their beds"
The man laughed hoarsely. and replied {:
Mil!y Dean, for that, believe, is your
| name, you cannot deceive me- You are all
alone in this house. l took particular care
to ascertain that before / came. So you
may as well make yourself easy on that
score and do as l bid you"
Do as you bid me-" exclaimed Milly,
in terror "what doy GU want of me 2"
want the twelve hundred dollars in
| gold your husband received for his produce
two days ago. You probably know where
it is"
Milly srrang into the entry and would
have fed, but the stranger caught her by
the wrist aud dragged her roughly back.
| You cannot escape me, young woman."
he said. You will find it most conven-
! lent to make a clean breast of il at once
1t will be better for you"
| Milly strOve to release her arm. The
| rough treatment she received aroused her
temper, and indignation overcame all other
feelings.
Let me go. you scoundrel, let me 90,
or will call for help" she cried.
Call, you fco'," said the brutal fellow,
"and much good may it do you Keep
yourself still and tell me where the money
| is."
~ will not" che exclaimed.
" You will not" he then replied eve
shall sea"
He released her wrist so violently that
she reeled half across the room. Then he
seized the sleeping infant from the cradle.
and held it at arms length almost into the
blazing FIRE, SO that the terrified mother
expected to see its light garments catch the
fame.
Now, then, where's the money? Sneak
| out quick or hear your baby shrek with
| pain. | will burn it to death before your
eyes if you dc net tell me where the money
! is"
Monster, give me my child" shrieked
Milly, endeavOring to reach the little one.
Let me have my baby"
| But every effort was frustrated for again
and again the strong hand of the robber
thrust her back
See, its clothes will be on fire in mir
ute" said the man, putting the helpless in
noceut closer to the flames. The mother
looked into his eyes. She saw there the
look of heartless determination. She was
aware that the cotton garments of the child
! were smoking with heat
3" How shall it be? ?" asked the rufian
Hurry, or the child dies. have no time
| to waste here"
Anything, anything, only give me nv
child % she cried. The next instant it was
handed to her. and she sank upon the floor
and folded it to her BOSOM
Come" exclaimed the man, touching
her rudely with bis foot. "you have not told
me where the money is"
In the box on the upper shelf" she
replied, pointing to the closet.
The man found the box, placed it on the
table, and opened it, saying:
" So far, so well. 1t is nearly all gold.
| will pocket it with your leave or without
your leave. just as you please" He filled
his pocket with the golden coin, and threw
the empty box into the fire. Then he came
and stood beside her.
- Put your baby in the CRADLE" he said,
"if you wish to save its life. l have other
business with you"
What do you mean ?" cried Milly, eve.
ing the man with suspicion.
Let me have him." he said, trying to
take it.
mo, no; 1 will put the baby in the
| Ia LII
roor little thing. Now, sir" she continued,
almost choking with excitement, "what is
it" After having laid the pretty infant on
It's downy place Of rest, she stood erect and
awaited the reply.
Kill me !" she exclaimed, her face
growing pale with terror. Kill me
What have l ever done to you that YOU
should kill me?"
Nothing, nothing, my dear, only you
know you have seen me, and you will
know me again." Aud be advanced upon
her.
40, sir, let me live. Have YOU not done
enough to take my husbands money. with.
out depriving him of his wife, tool will
never say one word against you, if YOU will
only spare me %
As she spoke, she clasped her hands and
looked Imploringly at him.
g am sorry that / cannot safely grant
your request" he responded. There's no
help for it, so come along out DOORS"
lie reached out his hand to grasp Milly.
But the instinct Of self-preservation was
strong upon her. The evaded him, few to
the chimney>piece, snatched her husband 8
loaded rifle from the hook on which it hung,
cooked and presented it at the breast OF the
ro6oer. Her motions were so rapid that
before he could prevent it. her finger had
pressed the trigger and there was an ex-
plosion. But with equal readiness the man
had stopped aside, the ball had passed over
his head, the next minute his grip was ON
her throat.
/" will teach you 70 handle arms he