The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-09-04
THE LADY AND THE ROBBERS.
An Exciting Story.
BY NORMAN A. CUTLER.
TCoNCLUDED.l

whether he might rely on the truth of
what she said,-whether she actually
wished to be released from the tyranny
of her husband, and to 60 with them /;
and whether she was willing to sign her
self to one of them, to himsel for instance,
during the few peaceful days they could
enjoy. Having replied in the affirma-
tive to all these questions; having not
only suffered the warm embrace of the
robber, but returned it (for what will
not necessity excuse O,-he at length
said,-
Come along, then and lead us roundt
The devil trust you ladies of rank: bu
we'll venture for once. But let me tell
Won beforehand, that, if you were twice
az handsome as you are, this weapon
would cleave your skull the moment We
saw the least disposition to betray us"
Then it will be safe enOuugh and, if
this were the only condition of my being
put to death. would outlive you all, and
even the Wandering Jew himself"
The Baroness smiled when she pro-
nounced these words and hastily caught
mp the nearest lamp as though she had
been rs anxious as any Oft them to collect
the plumber, and be gone conducted the
whole company through every apart
ment, opened every door, every drawer,
and every chest, assisted in emptying
them, and packing up the valuables,
looking with the utmost indifference
over the mangled bodies, with the famil
iarity of an old acquaintance to each one
nf the horrid troop, and willingly aided
with her delicate hands in The most la
horious occupations.
Plate. money, jewels, aul other valna-
allies, were now collected together, and
rho captain was giving the order for
marching when his destined bride caught
him by the shoulder.
Did l not tell YOU" said she, that
you should not repent making a friend
of me, and sparing my life q! You may
indeed have everything in places y0n
find open; but it is pity you cannot
come at the treasure that is concealed
What do You suppose that Among cof
fers so full there is 10 secret place =
Look here, and then you will be con-
WINGED to the contrary"
She pointed to secret spring i'll the
baron's desk. They pressed upon it, and
out fell the sum of two thousand guild
ers.
POUNDS" cried the leader of the rob-
bers, "now see you are an incompatible
woman. will treat you for this like a
duchess"
And perhaps better still, she replied,
laughing, when | tell You one thing
more. am well aware you have spies
who informed you of the absence OF my
tyrant, but they did not tell you OF the
four thousand guilders which h. re-
ceived yesterday"
Not q syllable. Where are they ?"
'Oh, safe enough under half a dozen
locks aud bolts. You would certainly
not have found them and the iron chest
had it not been for me Come along
comrades we've finished up stairs, aud
we'll see what's to be seen below. Come
along with me down into the cellar"
The robbers followed, but not with rat
precaution. At the entrance of the eel
lar, which was provided with a strong
trap-door. man was posted rs sentinel.
The baroness did not take the least
notice of this She conducted the whole
troop to vault at the farther extremity
of the cellar She unlocked it, and in
the corner of this recess stood the chest
she had mentioned.
Here" said she, giving the captain
bunch of keys,-"here: unlock it, and
take what you can, and as wedding gift
if you can obtain the consent of your
companions as readily as you have gained
mine"
The robber tried one key, and then
another; but none wonld fit it. He
grew Impatient, and the baroness seemed
still more so.
Lend me them" said she. Il shall!
find the way sooner. Indeed if Sou don't
make haste. the morning may over. X,
ia. fla. the reason why neither t.! ns
could unlock it, is because | have the
wrong bunch of keys. ri obtain an
other"
She ran upstairs, aud presently they
heard her coming down; but she went
slowly, as if out of breath with the haste
che had made.
1--WE found them" cried she at dis.
lance. She was within about three steps of
the man placed at the entrance of the
cellar, when she male a spring a, The
wretch, who as much expected dissolu-
ton of the world rs such an attack. A
single push with all her strength tum-
ble1 him down stairs from topto bottom.
In twinkling she closed the trap-door.
bolted it, and thus had the whole compa-
NY secured in the cellar This was the
work of a single moment. IN the next
sue flew across the courtyard. and with
the candle set fire to detached pig-sty.
The Waterman in the neighboring vii
lage, perceiving the flames, instantly
gave the alarm. In few minutes the
inhabitants were out of their beds, and
a crowd of farmers and their servants
FASTENED to the mansion. The baroness
waited for them at the door Of the court
yard
"A few of you will be sufficient to put
out the fire, and prevent it from spread
ing. Bnt now provide yourselves with
arms, which you will find in abundance
in ny husbands srmory Post yoar-
selves ct the avenues of the cellar, and
suffer not one of the mnrderers and rob
bers shut in it to escape"
Her orders were implicitly obeyed, and
mt 0na escaDed the puniahmanf dna HE