Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-12-21

surprised u.s.
We'll let us find the owner of the
shawl, returned the other. Probably
the other two women have come back
and we can easily deal with them
He came directly towards the corner
where l was lying, but his companion
called him back.
whats the use, Bill 2 he asked.
If it's the two women they would never
think of staying here, after learning
that we are in the house. They have
probably gone for help. Our best way
is to pick up what we can and then be
off,
The man seemed to assent to this,
and they began 20 throw what silver
they found in the closets into a sack
which they carried, swearing dreadfully
all the time because there was so little
of it.
'Bill,' said the stroller, when the
closets were emptied, Il am sure there
is money in the house. We must have
overlooked it in our search. l think
we have time to try our luck again.
'They say Squire Elwood generally
keeps 4 good sum about him. replied
the other man. "Perhaps we had best
search the rooms up stairs once more.
They went cut, but l could still hear
them conversing in low tones, and by
and-by they disappeared up the stair
way. When they seemed to be quite
out Of hearing, l crept from my hiding
place, with smothered sigh of relief,
and passed noiselessly through the hall
into the open air emptying my apron
with its precious freight under the steps
where had first hidden myself.
The success of this venture seemed
to give ME unnatural courage. In 60
ing in or OFT, l had to pass right
through one end of the room where the
murdered woman was lying, and the
very thought Of her huddled there,
bathed in her own life blood, caused me
to grow sick at heart. But | entered
the house once more, keeping my eyes
carefully ayerted, so that they need not
be blighted by that horrid sight again,
passing by the scene of the tragedy with
bated breath. 1t seemed as if l would
sooner meet the murderers than look
Upon that scene again.
! I believe that a sort of terrible fasci-
nation led ne On, for l crept up the
stairs where the robbers had gone, hav-
ing in rly head only vague idea that
r.y father kept a bag of gold in his bed
room, and that | must save it, He had
left NE in charge of the house, and it
would be fulfilling my trust very poor
ly to allow SO much to be stolen from it
while under my care-at leastso | reas
oned I think now that what | had
witnessed during the evening had so
crazed my brain that l was hardly con-
scious of my own actions.
The men were in the library, as | saw
by the light shining through the key
hole; the bedroom was on the opposite
side of the landing. l opcned the door
of this latter room very cautiously and
passed through, but a draft of air
caught it and slammed it together after
me. The noise alarmed the robbers,
and they rushed out upon the landing,
one Of them opening the door of the
room where was hiding, and peering
in. l had hastily concealed myself in
the hangings of the bed SO that be dis
covered nothing, however.
1t was only the wind he said, going
back to his companion But we must
make haste, for somebody will be COM
ing soon
They returned to the library, leaving
the door open leading upon the landing.
| forgot the bag Of gold, and now only
thought of retreating. | dared not re-
main where was, as the room would
probably soon be thoroughly searched,
| knew that the light was shining full
upon the landing at the head of the
stairs, and thus all escape in that direc-
ton was cut off, and yet it was sure
destruction to remain in my present
position. Oh, how l prayed at that
moment for the coming Of Jane, with
her promised assistance.
! as l still stood irresolute, my hands
pressed hard on my aching brain, there
came The sudden roll of wheels at dis
tance. l caught my breath with
quick gasp. Nj father was coming
and probably entirely unsuspicious Of
what was going on. He and my moth
err would both be murdered unless I
could reach ard warn them in time.
Every other thought vanished before
his a..ol necessity, and [ was only
ne. yously, frautically eager to save the
lives If those so dear to me.
The means for doing this flashed
upon my mind with the suJdenness Of
thought, and I did not pause an instant
to consider TIE matter. The robbers
had perhaps heard the sound of the
wheels also, as they we're just coming
hastily from the library. Darling to,
wards the window, | wrenched it up
like crazed person. a silver-leafed
maple was growing close to the window.
[ caught at branch of this tree, which
bent plainly under my weight, so that
| easily, and without any risk, dropped
FROM it 20 the ground.
The leap only dizzied me little, and
| was up in a moment and darling over
the lawn. The men were at the win
dow above me before I had hardly reach
ed the ground. Tkey seemed to under
stand the matter at once.
There goes one of the women " ex-