Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-10-18


could and pretending to be asleep,
but he reasoned very justly that, I'M
less j was deaf or dumb, must have
been awakened by the second
.You're awake msrm," said he. in
5 grIlff voice; sits no use shamming,
II y0u don't want a tap with this
life preseryer You just look alive"
opened my eyes exceedingly
wide at this and beheld q man with
Grape over his face, standing by the
bed; he held q sort of club with two
knobs upon 1t in his right hand, and
with bis left be pointed to the iron
safe.
lis the money theref" said be.
The plate is" said 1 in tremb-
ling voice; ''pray take it, sir; / am
sure you are welcome" fer he might
have had everything of value out of
the house with all my heart, so long
as he left my life.
1.-The money-the gold-the notes
are they there?" cried he again in
s terrible sort of whisper.
..It's all there, replied I. although
/ knew nothing abont it. All except
fifteen and sixpence in nv purse,
On the dressing table yonder. There's
q silver mustard pot besides in the
pantry, and couple of candle sticks
in the study, only they are plated, for
l would not deceive you, sir, upon
any account"
"fou had better not" observed
| the burglar, grimly, cor it will be
woBe for you" He produced key
like that ihy husband used, and ap-
preached the iron safe, bit as he did
so his guilty ear caught a footstep
upon the stair case.
WHO'S that" cried he.
"My husband, SIR returned l,
'.but pray don't hurt him
! SIS he not gone to town then:"
cried the ruffian, with an oath Of dis
appointment!
''He is going at II o'clock" re-
piled l, ''he is indeed"
If you tell him. said the burglar
hoarsely, fyou breathe but one word
of my presence here, it will be the
death doom OF you both" He had
slipped into the alcove and drawn
back the bed again to its place in an
instant Ny husband entered i'm
medlstely afterward and even while
! he was in the room, heard the aw-
ful threat repeated again through the
thick curtain behind me:--''if you de
but whisper it woman, | will kill you
where you lie. viii you swear not
to tell him?"
Il will, said solemnly, II prom
ise not to open my lips about the
matter"
/ Frank leaned over the pillow to
kiss me, and observed how terrified |
looked.
"Yon have been frightening your
self about robbers again, ! suppose,
you silly child"
mot /, Frank" returned /, as
cheerfully as / could, "I've only a
little headache" but / said with my
fingers, so that he could plainly read
it in the fire light: For Gods sake
hush! hut there's man behind the
bed head"
/ Frank was as bold as a lion, and
had nerves like iron, although he
was so tender-hearted and kind:
"Where is your salyolatile, dearest?"
and went to the mantle-piece to get
it. thought he never could have
understood me, he spoke with such
GOODNESS snd unconcern, until saw
his fingers reply as he took up the
bottle ''All right; don't be afraidn'
And then / was not afraid, or at least
not much, for l knew that l should
not be left one instant in that room
alone, and / felt that my Frank was
match fer any two men in such
case. Only he had no weapon. HE
has life-preserver," said l with my
fingers.
"Your fire is getting rather low,
Geergy," observed he, as he took up
the poker. (Ah, he hadsa weapon
then,) II must leave you q good
blaze to comfort you before l SO. -
He peked the fire and left the poker
in the ire but without ever taking
his eyes Off me and the bed-head.
/ will just ring the bell, and see
whether Thomas has got the port
mantesu ready. Mary" he contin-
ued to the woman that answered the
bell, .'send Thomas up Then
when he had gone upon that erraud,
by Jove 1 never gave him that
key. Where is it Georgy? / have
not minute to lose Ifit is in your
dressing case, with the rest there l
shall be an age looking for it,
Might l ask you TO get out of bed
for an instant, and show me which it
is?' He said with his fingers,
Jump" and 1 jumped YOU may be
sure, quickly enough, and with the
door locked in half second.
"Come in Thomas" said Frank
''come in" For Thomas was mod
estly hesitating at the chamber door.
There's some blackguard got in
I to the house, and Denlnd nay beu
there. II he makes the least resis-
tance I'll kill him with this hot pok-
err"
At these words the bed was push
ed slowly outward, and the burglar,
without his Grape mask, and with q
face pale as ashes, emerged from his
hiding place. Frank knew him as
having been Bank messenger, who
had been turned out of his situation
since the fire upon suspicion of dis
honesty.
-"Oh, sir, have pity upon me-" he
cried. II am an unlucky dog. II
| it had not been for a sneeze, / should
have had ten thousand pounds in my
/ Docket hy this time"