Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-03-03


twice or thrice whether he might rely on
what she said whether she actually
wished to be released from the tyranny
of her husband, and to go with them
and whether she was willing to resign
herself to one of them, to himself for IN
stance, during the peaceful Gays they
could enjoy. Having replied in the af-
frmative to all these misunderstanding
not only suffered the warm embrace Of
the robber, but returned it-for what
will not necessity excuse ?-he at length
said: -&a
Come along, then, aud lead US around
The devil trust you ladies of rank, but
we will venture for once. But let me
tell you, that if you were twice as i1and-
some as you are, this weapon should
cleaye your skull the moment saw the
least disposition to betray US"
''Then it will be safe enough; and if
this were the only condition Of my being
put to death, I should outlive you all, and
even the wandering j ew himself" gas
The baroness smiled when she pro-
nounced these words, and hastily caught
the nearest lamp, as if she were as eager
as any Of them to collect the plunder and
be gone She conducted the company
| through every apartment, opened every
door, every draw, and every chest, assist
ed in packing up the valuables, looking
with the utmost Indifference at the man
gled bodies; speaking with the familiarity
of an old acquaintance to each one of the
horrid troop, and assisting with her deli
cate hands In the most Iaborious occupa-
tions -
Plate, money, jewels, were now collec-
ted together, and the captain of the
banditti was about giving the order for
marching, when his destined bride,
caught him by the arm. "Did [ not tell
yoa,' sad she, ''that you should not re
pent making friend of me, and sparing
my life You may, indeed. have every
thing in places that you find open, but it
is pity you cannot come to places that
are concealed. What! do you suppose
that among Golfers so full there are not
secret places Look here, then you will
be convinced to the contrary"
She pointed to secret spring in the
baron's desk. They pressed upon it and
out fell five bags of gol1 coin.
',Zounds!" cried the leader of the
robbers, now | see you are an incompar-
able woman, and [ will keep you for this
| as duchess p
And perhaps better STILL" said she,
laughing, when show you something
more. | am we'll aware that you must
have spies who informed you of the ab-
sence of my tyrant, but they did not tell
you of the fifty thousand francs he re-
eiVed yesterday"
"Where are they /"
ooh, safe enough under half dozen
locks and bolts. You would certainly not
have found them, and the iron chest had
it not been for me- Come along com
rades; we have finished above stairs, now
we will see what we can do underneath
Come along with me, [ say, into the eel
lar.
The robbers followed, but not without
precaution. At the entrance Of the eel
lar, secured by a strong trap-door, a man
was posted as seatlnel.
The baroness took not the slightest
notice of this She conducted the whole
troop to vault at the further end of the
cellar. She unlocked it, and in the cor
ner of this recess stood the chest she haC
described.
Here said she, giving the captain ;
bunch Of keys, 'unlock it and take wha
you find as wedding gift, if you can OBJ
tain the consent of your comra les as
readily as you gained mine"
The robber tried one key after auoth
er, but none would fit He grew impa
,tient, and the baroness seemed still NOR
SO. H# aat o 5r5
"Lend me them," said she, II shall
find the way sooner, Indeed, if you d
not make haste, the morning may over
take us. Ha! the reason why neither Q
! US could unlock it, is because have tn
wrong buHch of keys. | will obtain an
other" .--...-..-. ....- 7rn .s
D She went up stairs, and presently the
heard aer coming down, but she cam
: slowly, as if out of breath with the hast
she had made.
e Give found them p cried she at dis
b tance. Then coming up to within abou
three PAGES Of the man who stood at th
t entrance Of the cellar, she sprang sue
e denly at the wretch, who was totall
e unprepared for such move from sue
+ quarter, and pushing him with all he
y might, sent him tumbling to the bottol
d Of the st,irs. This accomplished, ST
e closed the trap door, bolted it, and tht
t had the whole company secured in the ce
is lar. This was the work Of a single m
d ment In the next she flew across tt
d court yard, and with the candle in ht
e hand set fire to detached pig-sty IL
[ watchman in the neighboring village, pc
: ceivng the flames, instantly gave Il
u alarm. In few minutes the inhab tan
Ii were out Of their beds, and crowd
/ farmers, with their servants, fastened
u the manshion- The baroness waited
e them at the gate of the courtyard.
$ "a few of you, said she" will be ST
is fcient to put out this fire, and to preve
u, it from spreading but now provide yor
y selves with arms which you will find
u abundance in my husband armory Pt
yourselves at the avenues Of the cell;
/ and suffer not one of the robbers a
a. murderers to escape.
of Her directions were obeyed, and not o
IN of them escaped the punis hment due
er his crimes.
n The editor of the Gardiner Home 10