The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-03-07
OPELOUSAS. PARISH OF 81
in your pocket; lend it to US
" Nhe Office key ~ cried VIII.

in your pocket; lend it to us
"TLe office key :" cried Will.
"That's t." said the man.
Good Heavens = cried Will. "N'T-
er! What are you ? Burg lars House
breakers Let me out -
Nonsense, said the man with the
cracked voice. "Stuff and nonsense
We offer you hundred dollars besides
the fifty you have, and we only want to
have the key long enough to have an
impression taken. You shall have the
original back. And as we'll not crack
the crib tonight, why the key will be
in Mats hands as usual when the rum
pus comes, and no one will charge you
with a hand in it Come. hand over
the key. We'll stop at blacksmlth's $
who is a friend ct ours and do the Job
in a minute.'
"Rascals p cried VIII. " lou are
two and l am only one, but you shall
never get the key from me! l will de-
tend it with my lift."
The man laughed.
want preteuce of ours, eh!' he
cried. "Come now, no humbug. Heres
the money, and we are both armed, you
see.'
As he spoke each man drew a pistol
from his pocket.
Hand over,' said the man" be
quick
"Nevsr!" cried Will You may
kill me, but I will never do dishonest
act. swore that before God years
ago. I will fight with my last breath
to defend the property of my employers
and onlySyssaad am powerless shall you
rob the: Fey will never know It,
They ma Xix that I have lent my
self to yoa plans, but | shall go to
Heaven, kn| Ming that I have striven to
the last to my duty"
"Stihe + youngster!' said the man
with the or k,d ~oice, and at the same
moment a awl enveloned his head and
his rms W e pinioned.
1 The sled drove away furious!y-, and
Ae boy ed e himself up for lost. \
tNAsand Etracting thoughts filled his
miNA bat midst them all he never
swerN his resolution. He would
d q, bn koull never stain his soul
SuddeN sleigh stopped, and he
was lifted IN dragged up some steps
and into a hon SSe of some kind, still
bound and bliudAd.
There he was rS Seased. and the man
with the cracked vo addressed him:
"You are in our p@E. Give US the
key and promise to ke 0ur secret, and
we'll let you go sale. fuse and you
die. We give you ten min les to think" >"
- 10 no.-need it," saiSAEi.l. AS
am in your power, porha you may
rob me of the key, but WI ureIy do
my best to trustra:e your del US upon
ny employers property. l III made
up my mind to meet death, will
not live in dishonor."
"Take off the shawl" said I'm Aa
ed voice.
And in an instant VIII. was unBs
ID dazz'pd by a blaze of light. Fo7
kent he was quite unable to distinN
Aobjects, but as he became accus
t. TO the brillancy his astanished
eyesV ed on the form of old Mr.. Bran
don stS before him. He was i'll
great pan splendidiy furnished, and
as he turlN bis eyes about him he saw
that Mr.. LIN and the head clerk were
also present.
"How did n come here ~ he cried.
Il must be in dream. How did I
come here? Some hing SO very strange
las happened, sir. DE- key, the bank
noesu1 do not kno Rether the vii
lains 6aes -"
"Be calm, my t.. Asaid Mr..
Luke. "They are safe!< 2Qn us,
we have only been trying yshe
scene through which you have p5ssalA
has been enacted to test3our honesty,
and it has been proved beyond doubt.
8" Mr.. Smith vas Mr.. Brandon's coach
man, sent to the office in which Nat had
just left you alone according to orders.
The rascals in the sleigh were myself
aud Mr.. Rcan, and you have passed the
ordeal brave,y. No one can doubt you
again; and as far as the matter lies with
the firm, your fortune is made. We will
advance you to a post of confidence at
once and esteem ourselves happJ in hav-
ing one so faithful and reliable in our
service"
The: all three offered their hands to
WILL, and he, after one moment of in
dignation, subdued himself sufficiently
to offer his in return.
llels -
I'D As Mr. In1n had Said-hiS